Arundel Gecko bar tape £14.99

US-based Arundel made its first steps into the cycle world with a range of beautifully made carbon fibre bottle cages, and now it’s doing bar tape as well, with Cork and, as tested here, the interestingly named Gecko tape.

Gecko is made from EVA foam and laminated ventilated polyurethane, and gives good shock absorption and a tactile feel. It’s a smidgen thicker than other tapes which gives noticeable comfort on those long summer rides.

Fitting is straightforward enough, though the lack of stretch in the material makes achieving a smooth finish slightly more time consuming. An adhesive strip along the back of the tape keeps it in place and does aid fitment.

The surface is finished with small square indentations which add to the grippyness of the tape, while the recessed Arundel logos along one side look both subtle and classy. Available in five colours (black, blue, red, yellow and white), each pack comes complete with a couple of spare bits to go around the back of the hoods. Bar end plugs have the Arundel logo printed on.