Bar tape

BBB Cycling ReflectRibbon stuurlint

BBB Cycling ReflectRibbon is handlebar tape for a road bike, with reflective material in its name. You wrap it around your bars for grip and comfort.

What you get

Handlebar tape for road bikes
Reflective (ReflectRibbon)
BBB Cycling brand

Why good bar tape?

Your hands carry a good share of your weight, and road vibration goes straight into the bar. Bar tape damps it and prevents numb fingers and sore wrists. On a long ride you feel the difference.

Thickness sets the feel. Thin tape, about 2 mm, gives a lot of feedback and little cushioning. Standard tape is 2.5 to 3.5 mm. Thicker tape, 3.5 mm or more, is soft and damps well, which is welcome on gravel. Thick tape also makes the bar fatter, which can be awkward for small hands.

The material decides the grip. Cork is light, feels firm and holds grip when you sweat. Synthetic and microfibre tapes are tough and easy to clean. Gel or foam tape damps most, but can wear in heat or over time. Leather lasts and looks classic, but needs some care.

Well-wrapped tape stays put. A roll is usually about 2 metres long, and one set is enough for a standard bar. For a wider bar, such as a flared gravel bar, you may need a little more length.

How the materials compare

Thickness and material together decide grip and comfort.

Type	Thickness	Grip	Cushioning and wear
Thin synthetic	About 2 mm	Firm, direct feel	Little cushioning, durable
Cork	About 2.5 to 3 mm	Good even when sweaty	Moderate cushioning, light
Foam or EVA	About 3 to 3.5 mm	Soft and grippy	Good cushioning, wears faster
Gel or thick gravel tape	3.5 mm or more	Soft, sometimes slightly tacky	Strong cushioning, fatter bar

Thickness is a rough figure: each brand measures it a little differently.

Choose it if

You want to rewrap your drop bars
You want extra visibility on your bars in the dark
Your tape is worn, torn, dirty or faded.
You get numb fingers or sore wrists and want more cushioning.

Choose something else if

You have an MTB handlebar with grips, which does not use tape
You have a flat bar or MTB: that takes grips, not bar tape.
The tape is only dirty: clean it with water and mild soap.

How to wrap bar tape

Strip the old tape
Remove the old tape and any glue residue. Peel the hood covers up and lay the cables neatly against the bar.
Start at the bottom
Start at the end of the bar, leaving a quarter of the tape’s width over the end. Wrap in the direction that makes the tape tighten under your hand.
Wrap with overlap
Overlap each turn by about a third to a half of the one before. Keep the tension even and cover the lever clamp with the supplied small strips.
Finish at the top
Finish just below the lever or at the bend in the bar. Cut the tape at an angle and secure it with the supplied finishing tape.
Fit the bar plugs
Push the bar plugs firmly into the bar ends. Finally pull the hood covers back down.

Good to know

Read the product page for how much tape comes in the set
Wrap tightly and evenly so the tape does not come loose
Wrap onto a dry, clean bar. Grease or sweat between bar and tape lets it slip.
Do not pull thick tape too tight: it loses its cushioning and tears sooner.
Wipe off dirt and sweat now and then with a damp cloth, on cork and synthetic tape too.
Replace tape yearly or when the grip fades. New tape brings the comfort back quickly.

What you get

Why good bar tape?

How the materials compare

Choose it if

Choose something else if

How to wrap bar tape

Strip the old tape

Start at the bottom

Wrap with overlap

Finish at the top

Fit the bar plugs

Good to know

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