Hand-Friendly Bar Tape and Grips

These often-overlooked accessories play an important role in ride comfort and control by damping vibration and improving grip. Here are some good choices for the road and trails.

::GEARBOX
Gel Smart Silicon – $16
PRO
24076

This lightweight bar tape does not skimp on comfort thanks to a shock-absorbing gel-layer on the bar side. As an added benefit, this silicone gel delivers excellent adhesion without leaving any sticky residue when removing the tape.

::GEARBOX
Bar: Gel – $46 with bar tape, $23 without
Fi’zi:k
24029
Consisting of four pieces of shock absorbing gel and two rolls of grippy tape, riders can now customize their level of cushioning and comfort. The gel pads are cut to fit on the contact points of the bar drops and flats, providing excellent vibration damping without the marshmallow feel of some overly-padded bar tapes.

::GEARBOX
Superlight Racing Locking Grips – $34
Octto
24030
These lightweight mountain bike grips are ideal for cross-country racing. The resilient foam does a good job of damping trail vibrations, while the lightweight aluminum locking collars prevent the grips from slipping or rotating during challenging conditions.

::GEARBOX
Brake Hood Gel Over-Grips – $15
G-Form
24043
Road riders spend a lot of time on the brake hoods and these gel pads are designed to relieve the vibration and ensuing numbness when riding in this position. The Over-Grips are self-adhering to the stock hoods and can be repositioned to ensure a comfortable fit.