Bar tape ENVE: new handlebar wrap is longer, padded & grippy when wet

Written by Zach Overholt Aug 08, 2019 12:30 p.m. ET

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Handlebar tape is one of those components that’s often an afterthought. But it’s also a component that has a huge impact on your ride comfort (and control). More importantly, as handlebars in the gravel category are getting wider, many rolls of tape simply don’t measure up. The new ENVE handlebar tape aims to fix that.

In order to increase comfort and control, the tape has a rubberized finish that remains grippy even when wet. Underneath, a silicone strip improves the 3mm thick tape’s comfort and helps it to stay in place without the use of adhesives.

To fit wider bars (ENVE claims up to 50cm), the tape rolls are 250cm in length. Each pack includes ENVE bar end plugs and matching finishing tape.

Available in black, white, or grey, the tape sells for $40. Available now.

Learn more in our review of the best handlebar tapes, or at Enve.com.

Zach Overholt

5,593 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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Bmx

4 years ago

Gravel specific bar tape. Oh dear, oh dear. Thought pestilence was the forth rider but maybe Enve is

Volsung

4 years ago

Reply to Bmx

Gravel is bumpy and gravel bars are big. I don’t get why that threatens you.

Thompson

4 years ago

Reply to Volsung

He means it’s geared towards wider “gravel” bars & it costs $40. Why are there so many people that speak up FOR these companies that come up with some corny products to capitalize on corny trends at our expense?

roadstain

4 years ago

I cant figure out why they keep trying to fix the thing that has not been broken in decades……..(Cinelli)

Seraph

4 years ago

Reply to roadstain

I think you mean Lizard Skins.

blahblahblah

4 years ago

“Gravel specific bar tape” said who where??

mateo

4 years ago

You guys obviously missed Spank’s gravel specific bar tape. I also didn’t read anything about this being gravel specific. It’s just long enough to wrap wider bars.

Eggs Benedict

4 years ago

Nice!

Bob

4 years ago

(deleted)

Gillis

4 years ago

I’ve had good experience withe the Silca Nastro Piloti bar. That stuff is the grippiest I’ve ever used. I don’t know if it’s extra-long like this, but it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something more grippy.

Bob

4 years ago

at $40 this is just as big a rip off as the rest of their stuff. I would expect nothing less.

-1

Robin

4 years ago

Reply to Bob

The Enve bar tape is priced a bit less than LizardSkins’ tape and priced equal to or less than Silca’s tape, depending on Silca model. It’s only a rip-off if you’re forced to buy it. As it stands, you’re not out any money since I assume you didn’t buy the tape. As such, you weren’t ripped off. I suspect that users happy with the tape won’t feel like they were ripped off.

There must be a cycling comment section version of Godwin’s law. “As comments about a bike product increase in number, the probability of someone offering up the knee-jerk reaction comment, ‘It’s a rip-off’, approaches 1.”

Bob

4 years ago

Reply to Robin

The probability of paying a premium price for a subpar product is also 1 when it has the ENVE logo on it.

Robin

4 years ago

Reply to Bob

So, how about telling us why the bar tape is a subpar product? You obviously have much experience.

Sezam

4 years ago

Reply to Robin

Pretty sure they mean its over-priced because most any bartape will be more than ample to tape up wider “gravel” handlebars and be pretty grippy to boot.Its annoying (imo) when these companies release slightly modified products and market them in coordinance with the latest trend… For example… When fixes gear was popular companies were making smaller handlebars (less material) for a higher price.

Dave Dub

4 years ago

Reply to Sezam

Dude. Products don’t just magically happen. Yeah, fixies are/were kinda dumb. But any new product is going to have development and tooling costs rolled in and slightly less material rarely means you’re going to lower cost on a niche item.

Author

Zach Overholt

4 years ago

Reply to Sezam

@Sezam, I’ve wrapped more than a few wider bars where the tape rolls weren’t long enough for proper coverage. Wide bars with even wider flared drops need a lot of tape – and if you’re trying to wrap it thick for comfort on rough terrain you need even more. These rolls are nearly 99 inches long (98.42″). Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm role are 89″ for example. Does everyone need extra long rolls? No. But is it great that there is an option for rubberized tape for wide bars? Absolutely. And as already mentioned, it’s less expensive than DSP as well.

Robin

4 years ago

Reply to Zach Overholt

And if this tape lasts longer than LizardSkins tape, that could further justify the price. While I love the feel of LizardSkins’ DSP, it does deteriorate a bit too quickly. I’d happily pay $40 for rubberized or similar grippy bar tape that is durable.

mudrock

4 years ago

This is only worth 40 if it doesn’t rip or shred when you wipe out. Cinelli for 15 at your LBS works for me.

Robin

4 years ago

Reply to mudrock

It doesn’t work for everyone though. Some folks like or need the grip offered by rubberized or otherwise grippified (made up word) tapes. I imagine if Cinelli worked for everyone, it’d be the only bar tape people would buy.