gel handlebar pads

[Elliot M]

i used to have a set of Specialized gel pads under the tape on my old bike

was planning to use them on the new bike but found they'd split and gel was leaking out everywhere, so i thew them away and am just using tape

i am now remembering how effective they are - I seem to be particularly susceptible to hand/wrist fatigue from road vibration

anyone else use any other makes? i have a feeling there was a review in CW a few months back and one kind came on top - seem to recall they were described as being cuttable to size which the Specialized certainly wouldn't be

Alternatively have been thinking rather than double up spiral tape on the entire bars, maybe use a couple of short strips of tape laid lengthways and secured with sticky tape under the spiral bar wrap?

[Will]

Although not exactly answering your question, I saw these nicely padded Pearl Izumi gloves the other day...

[url=http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360024840][img]http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/pi%208568%2006.jpg[/img][/url]

Cycle Surgery stock them.

[adrian]

I've had that Specialized gel tape on my (ahem) training bike for nearly four years now, and it's still going strong. I think it's brilliant stuff.

I don't want to hack away at perfectly good new tape on my new bike, but as soon as it starts to go a bit, will replace it with the gel tape.

[Chris&Lisa]

Dude

FIZIK Gel bar tape in the nuts - gel works well, and nice tape too - a colour for all seasons!

About £20 for tape and gel, c£8.50 for the tape - or about £100 with a free Arionne to match your favorite tour team.

[Sylv]

I like the buzz from the road - minimum taping (none in the centre) and no gloves when possible

Is it just me?

[adrian]

[quote]
FIZIK Gel bar tape in the nuts

[Elliot M]

will: i tried a whole range of gloves in a shop recently including those, which had so much padding i could hardly grip the bars... bought some new Spesh gel gloves which are better but think for me padding on bars not on gloves might be way forward - seem to get numbness in odd places like crook of thumb where gloves don't have pads

sylv: you are a hard man!

chris/lisa: think the fizik pads may be what i'm looking for.

i haven't ever actually used gel tape, just cork tape over gel pads, but have just looked at a pack in a shop and the gel layer on the tape seems very thin... am i right in thinking these don't have glue like cork tape, the gel acts as the adhesive? i want to experimenting with lever position and was thinking might be easier to take off and replace than cork tape?

[Elliot M]

after a bit of playing with position with different stems and replicating position on old bike as a starting point i think the new handlebar (Deda 225) is a factor in discomfort, i bought it for its shallow drop/reach but it it drops quite steeply from the flat to the bar area unlike the previous one which was very flat to the hoods (Deda 300 I think). So will probably swap back for now.

But I get numb wrists on every bike including MTBs with a very different position. The few times I've tried track bikes I've ended up with no sensation up to the elbows or shoulders! I kind of put up with it but think gel pads on my cannondale were a genuine help. The fact that my wrists are the skinniest you have ever seen (only 15cm circumference) is I think related...

[-Adam-]

[quote="Sylv Choufflard"]I like the buzz from the road - minimum taping (none in the centre) and no gloves when possible

Is it just me?