General information > Tips and Guides > The guides > Choosing the right handlebars for your bike
Le handlebar tape, also called p handlebar tapear antonomase after the name of a brand, is a relatively flexible tape, adhesive on one side, similar to a non-slip grip that is wrapped around the handlebars of a bicycle in a manner re to have the best possible grip of it.
Le hanger tape is a long, fairly elastic band that wraps around the handlebars of your road bike.
It resembles the handle grip of a tennis racket and golf club and has the same function. Its non-slip coating provides better grip and ensures better comfort for the cyclist. It notably avoids blisters on the hands which can be particularly painful and uncomfortable.
There are handlebar tapes made of different materials: cotton, PVC, polyurethane, foam, leather... Some models are inlaid with gel to better absorb shock and make the road more pleasant. able.
Handlebar tape is also an easy way to personalize your bike and give it a unique style. The different brands notably offer blue, yellow, red, orange and fluorescent green bicycle handlebar ribbons or more classic shades which give a personalized touch to the bicycle.
The characteristics of different hanger tapes can vary greatly. It is important to understand what differentiates them to make the right choice of tape for your handlebars...
Plastic hanger tape : A plastic handlebar tape made of PVC or Polyurethane + ethylene offers great flexibility and excellent elasticity: perfect for good comfort on the bike! Plastic hanger tapes are also easy to install.
Perforated hanger tape: The perforated bike handlebar tape provides a pleasant grip and better grip, even when the cyclist's hands sweat during exertion.
Textile hanger tape: The cotton bicycle handlebar tape is perfect for renovating an old bicycle as it was originally. It allows you to maintain 100% of the old look and vintage ! It is also possible to use it under handlebar tape, to improve shock absorption.
Leather handlebar tape (Handlebar tape in real leather or handlebar tape in synthetic leather): It's the best for giving a look vintage to your bike without skimping on comfort! The leather provides good shock absorption, good grip and ensures great longevity of the ribbons.
Gel Bar Tape : The gel handlebar tape improves the absorption of vibrations and shocks to ensure great comfort for the cyclist!
Getting started: The handlebar tape prevents hands from slipping off the handlebars, especially when it rains.
Amortization : Shocks and vibrations are less noticeable thanks to the handlebar tape. Palms and joints are preserved.
Grip : You can choose from a multitude of materials. Looks With colored handlebar tapes or made from an interesting material, you also enhance the appearance of your bike.
Thickness : Ribbon usually comes in three different levels. A medium ribbon combines the best of both worlds as much as possible. It absorbs shock while maintaining a fairly direct handlebar feel. The hands tire less easily and the control is sufficient.
Thin: a thin tape offers a more direct handlebar feel and therefore you better feel the different terrains you ride on. It also allows you to react more quickly and offers better direction. In short, you have more control. The disadvantage of these tapes, however, is that the hands tire more quickly, especially on long journeys.
Thick: a thick tape is soft to the touch and absorbs vibrations from the ground well. It is also suitable for cyclingcross, uneven roads and long journeys. The downside of this heavy damping is that you don't perceive the feel of the road or ground as directly as with thin ribbons. Thick handlebar tapes are therefore less suitable for performance-oriented cyclists.
The handlebar tape comes in the form of a roll of variable length, with a width of 20, 25 or 30 mm. Brands generally provide two identical rollers to fit a single hanger, with two end caps to insert at each end and adhesive strips to complete the finish.
Installing the handlebar tape is an operation that anyone can do, which simply requires a little patience and a lot of care in its execution.
To help you improve the look of your bike, know that there are ribbons in various styles! Plain, two-tone, gradient, camouflage colors...