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Silca brings grip, shock absorption, and style with Nastro bar tape

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Indianapolis-based Silca continues to expand their range of bicycle accessories – from inflation, to tools, to packs, and more. Today they’re announcing a new line of bar tape, called Nastro. It features two distinct styles: 1.85mm-thick Nastro Piloti, and 2.5mm-thick Nastro Fiore. Featuring a unique laminate construction, tunable grip level, and custom fit butterfly hood clamp cover, Silca is challenging the bar tape world head-on.

Silca Nastro Piloti & Nastro Fiore road and gravel handlebar tape

Bar tape is all-new for Silca, who is better known for their work in high-end pumps. They didn’t want to sell any old bar tape, however, and sought to re-think the project from the ground up. In an e-mail from Silca CEO, Josh Poertner, we learned of their laminated construction, which allows for more exotic foam to be used. To get around trade names, they’ve dubbed the technology SILCAthane and SILCAlon.

SILCAthane is a tacky TPU (if you’re like me, you had to Google this to find out that it means thermoplastic polyurethane). We’re told this has great wet and dry performance, and is five times more durable than other tapes. SILCAlon is said to be the big story, however, and is a custom durometer of ultra high-efficiency foams used in high-end running shoes like the Nike React.

According to Josh Poertner, Silca CEO,

“My vision here is that ultra supple tires and tubes are faster AND more comfortable because they absorb lower energy on bump and return more energy on rebound… they also work better under high frequency vibration because they return to their original thickness faster than damped foams. The problem with traditional damping foams used in bar tape is that your weight compresses the foam, then under vibration, the foam can never fully recover thickness fast enough to properly absorb vibration.”

Using this theory, Silca opted to offer thinner tape options for lighter weight and better feel, with vibration damping that’s equivalent to thicker tape. Specifically, they claim that the 1.85mm Nastro Piloti has cushioning equal to competitors’ 2.5mm tape, and the 2.5mm Nastro Fiore has cushioning equal to competitors’ 3.2mm tape.

Hands On: Initial Thoughts & Impressions

Product releases don’t always happen on a perfect schedule, so we had just one afternoon to install and quickly evaluate the new Nastro bar tapes.

 

The packaging is as you’d expect from Silca (nice), and explains the unique features of the two tape options. I only had one bike ready for tape, and went with the thin Nastro Piloti.

This is where the two tapes start to differ. The thin Piloti has two grip patterns, and you wrap the bar accordingly to give you High grip or Max grip. I picked Max because… why not? The thicker Fiore doesn’t have the tunable grip, instead going for a single grip and floral graphic pattern.

Above: With the thin Piloti tape, you have to wrap it very tight and be careful to avoid wrinkles.

While wrapping the tape, I noticed that you have to be very careful to avoid wrinkles. The Nastro Piloti is quite thin and doesn’t seem as stretchy as traditional tapes, so the leading edge of your wrap doesn’t always conform to the bar. Wrap it tightly and meticulously to help avoid problems. This is not the tape for first-time wrappers.

The piece of tape behind the hoods is a source of great controversy, but Silca nailed it. There is full adhesive backing on this piece, meaning that it actually sticks down where you want it.

After installing the tape and going for a quick glove-less ride, I can tell you that it is indeed very grippy and feels quite nice (though it’s impossible to tell if it lives up to the vibration and energy return claims, at least for an initial review). Both Nastro tapes are available now, with the thin Piloti selling for $40 (black, white, red), and the thicker Fiore for $44 (black w/ white floral, black w/ neon yellow floral, white / black floral).

Silca.cc

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Gillis
Gillis
5 years ago

No impression of how it actually feels in hand?

dockboy
dockboy
5 years ago
Reply to  Gillis

From the last paragraph: “I can tell you that it is indeed very grippy and feels quite nice”

Gillis
Gillis
5 years ago
Reply to  dockboy

That paragraph wasn’t there when I commented. Otherwise I wouldn’t have commented.

Gordon
Gordon
5 years ago

Isn’t that just rebranded Supacaz tape?

JRF
JRF
5 years ago
Reply to  Gordon

It appears to be, right down to the packaging even.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
5 years ago

Lizard Skins for the best feel, durability, cost in my experience… $30 retail versus $40.

Van Halen
Van Halen
5 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

Lizard Skins tape feels great ok , but come on, durability is close to none and cost are high even if the tape doesn’t wears immediately, at this price I can have a leather bar tape who can last for years…

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
5 years ago
Reply to  Van Halen

Durability changes where you live and ride. Again for me it’s the trifecta of all three… not saying it’s the most durable, it just rates high on my list of favorite tape for the money.

daveqbDaveQB
5 years ago
Reply to  Van Halen

My first wrap of Lizard Skin lasted me 3 years.

Cheese
Cheese
5 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

But Lizard Skins are made in China versus Taiwan.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
5 years ago
Reply to  Cheese

What does made in China versus Taiwan have to do w feel, durability and cost? Most of what we have in your house is made in China. Most volume carbon bicycle products are made there as well.

Cheese
Cheese
5 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

What does it have to do with cost? Everything. You try making cheap crap with Taiwanese labor and land costs. Maybe that’s true in your house, but not mine, Mouse.

Maus Haus
Maus Haus
5 years ago
Reply to  Cheese

Wow, congratulations on being the first household w no Chinese anything inside. FYI, the company I work for switched a few Chinese vendors to Taiwan vendors since the cost and MOQ were lower. It’s not cut and dry as it seems. My only issue w China is no recourse for legal action so you must have strategies to combat counterfeiting. We’ve also been ripped off by a a Taiwan owner w patenting our ideas.

Cheese
Cheese
5 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

Good for you for having no qualms about Chinese products, Mouse. As long as it’s cheap, who cares where it’s made.That means counterfeits are great, right?

Gears4Good
5 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

I switched from LS to Joystick for tape and have been impressed. That said, I just ordered the Fiore to try out next.

typevertigo
typevertigo
5 years ago
Reply to  Maus Haus

Personally have not been impressed with LizardSkins tape at all. It crumbles into its layers very quickly. Fizik has better tape; even old stock of their tape holds up much better than a LizardSkins equivalent.

Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot
5 years ago

(deleted)

Robin
Robin
5 years ago

90% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

oeympe
oeympe
5 years ago

So, after few months, could you tell us a bit more about the feeling and the cushioning, please?

daveqbDaveQB
5 years ago

To the author of the article. I don’t think it’s a “floral graphic pattern” Looks more like am atom symbol to me.
Thanks for the review.

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