Handlebar
Handlebar
In the days preceding the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix you’ll find WorldTour mechanics hastily re-wrapping handlebar tape – often not with one roll, but two.
Double handlebar tape is one of the oldest tricks in the book and provides plenty of cushioning up front but, unless your racing on the pavĂ© of northern France or tackling the Paris-Roubaix sportive, it’s unlikely you’ll need double tape unless you suffer particularly badly.
However, you can upgrade your current tape to a wrap with more cushioning, with a variety of tapes providing additional padding, while many manufacturers offer tapes in a number of thicknesses. The popular Lizard Skins DSP tape, for example, is available in thicknesses of 1.8mm, 2.5mm and 3.2mm. The thickest tape was reportedly used by the Vacansoleil-DCM team at the 2012 Paris-Roubaix.
You can also fit padding underneath your handlebar tape – another favourite trick with riders and mechanics during the Spring Classics. Foam and gel pads are available to position under the tape to enhance vibration absorption, or you can also use an old wrap of handlebar tape.
Whatever method you choose, it’s important to consider the effect it will have on the bulk of your handlebar. Make sure it’s not so thick that it’s difficult to get a grip of.
Other things to consider as far as your handlebar is concerned are shape and size, rotation, and the position of your shifters/brakes. Can you comfortably reach the brakes from the drops? If not, it’s time to do something about it.
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