I just tried cinelli cork for the first time. Feels very uncomfortable. Zero cushion an I get hand pain very quickly.
I suspect I did a bad tape job. I don't know if I overlapped too close to the center, or not close enough. The tape is tapered on the underside, I tried overlapping it by the adhesive tape, maybe I should have overlapped it by the taper line. In the end I got those bumpy tapes.
Im the end, my bars feel like holding a stiff broomstick. I don't know if is the bumpy tape job, or I simply don't like this tape. So is cinelli cork not for me, or is the wrapping not good enough?
by _melquiades
12 Comments
Park Tools has a good video on how to wrap bar tape.
I mean….. its just cheap cork stuff. Its not going to be super padded. I have this stuff in black on my road bike and after 100 miles my hands feel it bad. Just is what it is.
It’s just cork I think so no padding. They sell a padded cork version, just costs a little more
No amount of padded tape will save your hands if you’re putting all your weight on them. Your hands shouldn’t hurt even with unwrapped bars
I like my cinelli tape. The way I wrapped mine was to have the adhesive just on the edge of the last wrap but adhered to the bar. It came out fairly thick.
Rode with cloth bar tape back in the ’80s. When Cinelli cork tape came out it felt like pillows by comparison.
Get better gloves. Your hands will thank you.
I don’t care if your hands hurt, I don’t care if you think you did it wrong… You need to keep that tape in your life, it looks that good.
The tape job looks fine. It’s not nice tape, but if your hands hurt it’s a bike fit issue, not a tape issues
i have the solution for this ; Tennis over-grip tape my bike has 4 rolls on each side and it’s cheaper than bike tape. you can get a pack of 8 for 5 bucks Egonova is my favorite brand, also u can just roll it on top on your existing bike tape no issues.
That tape job is fine. It’s not perfect aesthetics wise, but won’t make a difference for comfort. If you’re uncomfortable it’s a bike fit issue. Either reach, saddle fore/aft, or saddle height. The only place padding matters is your saddle if you ride without padded shorts, where having a little extra can help.
Double wrap, or Cinelli also do a gel-padded cork in limited colours and also gel pads to sit beneath the tape. That or change your riding position a bit. Wrap is great!
Cinelli also has some gel pads you can use under the tape.. not used them but have seen them online. Anyone tried them?