Fizik gets a grip on rider specific bar tapes with new handlebar wrap range

Written by Zach Overholt Jan 03, 2019 12:45 p.m. ET

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Do you need a specific handlebar tape for gravel? Fizik thinks so… along with tapes for racing, casual riding, and everything in between. After years of collecting feedback from their pro teams, casual riders, and test engineers, Fizik is introducing three new ranges of bar tape called the Vento, Tempo, and Terra.

Fizik gets a grip on rider specific bar tapes with new handlebar wrap range — 3mm tape with gel backing, 3mm, 2mm, and 2.7mm tape profiles

Each is designed with specific types of riding in mind and as a result has different thicknesses and finishes for comfort and control. The thinnest of the new tapes is the Vento range which are meant for racing and performance riding. Available either in a 2mm Microtex or a 2.7mm Solocush, each have a tacky finish with a raised texture for control making this the grippiest handlebar tape of the range.

The Tempo range is also available in 2mm Microtex or a 3mm Bondcush which uses a layered mid-padding polymer foam to cut down on road buzz. These have a perforated leather like finish for Classic or a softer, moisture absorbing Soft Touch finish.

Finally, the Terra range is made specifically for the off-road drop bar crowd, or handlebar tape for gravel bikes if you will. As you might imagine, this introduces more vibration to the bars which is dealt with thanks to a thicker 3mm tape with a sticky gel backing instead of adhesive. The Microtex outer layer has a tacky finish for grip in less than ideal conditions.

All of the tapes are also “aero bar approved” which is to say that they have extra length to fit aero bars with wide flat sections at the top.

VENTO bartape range

VENTO MICROTEX TACKY
Thickness: 2.0mm
Price: €34.90 / £29.99 / $34.99
Colors: Black, White, Red, Orange Fluo, Pink Fluo, Yellow Fluo, Lilla Fluo, Celeste

VENTO SOLOCUSH TACKY
Thickness 2.7mm
Price €37.90 / £33.99 / $39.99
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange Fluo, Pink Fluo, Yellow Fluo, Lilla Fluo, Celeste

TEMPO bartape range

TEMPO MICROTEX CLASSIC
Thickness: 2.0mm
Price: €19.90 / £17.99 / $24.99
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Honey, Silver, Celeste

TEMPO MICROTEX BONDCUSH CLASSIC
Thickness: 3.0mm
Price: €24.90 / £21.99 / $29.99
Colors: Black, White, Blue, Green, Red, Pink, Yellow, Orange, Honey, Silver, Celeste

TEMPO MICROTEX BONDCUSH SOFT
Thickness: 3.0mm
Price: €24.90 / £21.99 / $29.99
Colors: Black, Green, Red, Yellow, Orange

TERRA bartape range

TERRA MICROTEX BONDCUSH TACKY
Thickness: 3.0mm
Price: €37.90 / £32.99 / $39.99
Colors: Black, White, Red, Dark Blue, Green Blue, Brown
fizik.com

Zach Overholt

5,633 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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5 years ago

come on, specific bar tape for specific bikes?!?!?! That is f’In ridiculous. I guess there really are that many gullible people out there

-1

Huffagnolo SuperMagna

5 years ago

Reply to M

Then look at it as different tapes for different people, different bar feels and grips! There isn’t one tape for everyone and having choice is nice and especially this amount of choice is nice. Marketing will still happen towards different sectors but if it leads to better equipment and innovation here and there I say go for it!

I haven’t tried it yet but I got some of the terra and bondcush for spring replacements. It seems nice and I have always loved their old tape, though Lizard Skins 3.2 DSP is my absolute top favorite!

Dinger

5 years ago

Reply to M

Maybe not specific “bikes”, but when offering several choices, it’s helpful to at least offer an intention for each so people can find what they need. $5,000+ bikes with technology all over them, and we wrap the control surface with- tape. Seems like an opportunity for improvement, there. We’re not still running clips & straps for pedals, after all.

Gregory Thomas

5 years ago

They really made their tape range confusing. Used to be simple.

Crash Bandicoot

5 years ago

I like the Vento’s grip pattern purely for aesthetic purposes I dont really care that it’s for gravel purposes or whatever I used to use a CX specific bottom bracket for my tt bike since it was power washed a lot. Fizik needed some cushy options I love their ultralight tape but my wife had it on her bike for about 4 miles before she pulled into the bike shop to swap for some Supacaz.

Efrain Aguiluz

5 years ago

All I care is that its long enough to wrap my 46cm cowchippers

Fred Gravelly

5 years ago

I’ll take a Grande double tiempoccino and a vente terra with a shot of bondcu…. nevermind, I’ll go with regular black tape

Patrick

5 years ago

Fizik has proven they can make great bar tape and they have some cool colors and designs here for way less money than another popular bar tape company. What’s left to complain about?

5 years ago

Reply to Patrick

Them offering options, and suggested uses for them, apparently…

I think the names are silly long too, and I don’t care what they say each is for (not that I do, but what if I want thin racing tape on my gravel bike?) but I appreciate the options. I like padded tape but don’t want a tacky or plain foam surface, and the color options are nice and wide. I got “honey” to break up the monotony of black tape without going with a crazy bright color.

Robin

5 years ago

The Vento Solocush Tacky looks interesting, but I’d like to more about the solocush tape, specifically how durable and stretchy it is. Sadly, Fizik has nothing about it on their site.

Dominic

5 years ago

I love my Fizik tape (looks like the Tempo above), it’s maybe four years now and going strong. But it’s as slippery as any when it’s rainy.
Any word on which is the best bet out of these for wet weather and or super sweaty hands days?
Nothing I’ve tried currently on the market has wet weather grip that matches its grip in dry conditions.
Bike Ribbon used to make a tape that must have been nearly 60% large flakes of natural cork and it was amazing in the rain. Hideous! and a bitch to wrap, but the best grip with wet hands I’ve ever used.
There’s got to be one of these new synthetics that is as effective??