Although low-tech, I wrap a layer of leather bar-tape across ~3-4" region, underneath the main layer of bar-tape, where my hands sit at the tops and drops.

 

Not sure they are still available but in the past Cinelli and Fizik made pads, Zipp makes some also, theirs are kinda small.

 

I like the Planet Bike gel pads, the best part is they are cheap and if I am careful removing old tape, I can re-use the pads many times. I trim them to the size of my handlebar and hands, they are plenty big to experiment with.

DT

 

Thanks for the recommendations, I will add them to the opening post later.

Does anyone have an opinion on using something like a Ergon GA3 under the tape?
Grips like that seem to match the shape of the Redshift grips. I just wonder how the rather soft grips will feel under the bartape and if the bartape might be hard to be wrapped over those grips. Would a dropbar grip need to be any different to an ergo-MTB grip with wings? Those Redshift ones look like cheap Ergons.


I found a few cheap AliExpress ergonomic grips, and will likely just try, to put them under bartape. It will take a while to gather all the necessary parts though.
I do have access to a 3D printer, but never used it, nor the software. It would be cool to print something, but the only videos I found on that subject were extremely brief.

 

How about use old tape to double or triple up under strategic places.

Trek also sells gel pads they use on their Checkpoints. I’ve used the Cinelli pads too. Those I picked up in a discount bin at a bike shop. Saw Fizik brand on Amazon just now.

Bontrager IsoZone Gel Handlebar Pad Kit - Trek Bikes

www.trekbikes.com

Bontrager Race X Lite IsoZone Handlebar Pad Kit - Trek Bikes

www.trekbikes.com

 

How about use old tape to double or triple up under strategic places.
Trek also sells gel pads they use on their Checkpoints. I’ve used the Cinelli pads too. Those I picked up in a discount bin at a bike shop. Saw Fizik brand on Amazon just now.

Thanks, added those to the opening post!

Although low-tech, I wrap a layer of leather bar-tape across ~3-4" region, underneath the main layer of bar-tape, where my hands sit at the tops and drops.

Thanks for the recommendation. Do you use the leather bartape because it harder, so double/triple taping doesn't feel too spongy?
I am after an Ergon-style grip shape, as I hope that would feel best, but I also bought cheap EVA-tape, to use it for additional double taping. It was super cheap, so I I can play around with different layering options, without breaking the bank.

I just ordered a knock-off Ergon GA3 grip for a few bucks, as well as a few rolls of cheap bartape to experiment with. There is someone selling 3D printed insers on local ads, and he claims that the soft TPU feels just right, when put under the tape. I therefore hope the Ergon GA3 knock-offs won't feel too soft/spongy, when put under the tape.
Since the tape also adds some thickness, I went with the GA3 and not the full fledged ergo grip shapes.

I hope to be able to report back in two weeks or so, about my findings. Feel free to suggest other solutions in the meantime.


Another idea I just had, would be to cut gel pad or silicone sheets into shape, but I would not know which sheets would have the right density/hardness to begin with. Any ideas?

 

Thanks for the recommendation. Do you use the leather bartape because it harder, so double/triple taping doesn't feel too spongy?

Not intentionally, but you're correct that leather tape is less "spongy" than conventional tape. I just happen to run leather tape on my dropbar bikes because of its durability; old sections of leather tape is what I had laying around.

 

Member @Volsung posted this solution on another forum. Maybe he wants to chime in here too?


I found talks about using closed cell tape from 3M, not sure if there are others, but the 4008 tape looks like it would fit the bill.


I also wonder how long the tape actually has to be, for a gravel bar, considering I would at least double the circumference of the bar, at half of the length.

 

That solution was nice and plush but the bar tape had some wiggle to it. It never came unwrapped but didn't feel great out of the saddle. Maybe because it was Lizardskins and the adhesive they use sticks to bars better than it sticks to itself? Not sure.

 

Thanks, I assume you are refering to the first photo of yours, where you show off the black bar tape being 1.5" thick? That would harden my assumption, that you need a firm(-er) core, like you have with the actual handlebar, and should not layer too many soft layers of one another.

 

The Redshift grip system looks like a pretty good solution, but I don't like the drop bar grip over the tape

The redshift grips go UNDER the tape, not sure why you came to the conclusion they go over. I run them and they add a nice broad flat to distribute the weight over. I also added the Fizik gel strips over them and the drops all wrapped up in some thick amazon bar tape.

Additionally, there is another hand position you can add to curly bars by slightly trimming the inner diameter of SQLab inner bar ends and sliding them inboard the tops before mounting all your other controls. When tightened down, they are solid. This position is a great ergonomic alterntative that puts the hand in a neutral angle and the body more upright--great for grinding out some smooth flat miles at the cost of a little control (you dont want to use this position for trail/DH/sprinting ,etc).

 

The redshift grips go UNDER the tape, not sure why you came to the conclusion they go over. I run them and they add a nice broad flat to distribute the weight over. I also added the Fizik gel strips over them and the drops all wrapped up in some thick amazon bar tape.

I may have worded this poorly, when I said "drop bar grip". I meant the grip for the actual drops of the dropbar. That goes OVER the tape, or at least the end of the rubber overlaps the first 10mm of the tape.
I myself thought about putting gel strips on top of the TOP Redshift undertape thingies. I found cheap EVA foam sheets, that I can cut into the right shape. What thickness do you think would be appropiate? 2,3,5mm? I haven't found a sheet of gel material (whatever that actually is...) but silicone mats of 2-10mm thickness, any opinion on what thickness to choose there?

Additionally, there is another hand position you can add to curly bars by slightly trimming the inner diameter of SQLab inner bar ends and sliding them inboard the tops before mounting all your other controls. When tightened down, they are solid. This position is a great ergonomic alterntative that puts the hand in a neutral angle and the body more upright

Thanks for the suggestion, I am not sure if I can become acquainted with the looks of those horns, but they do look like they offer some relief inbetween other grip positions.

 

I may have worded this poorly, when I said "drop bar grip". I meant the grip for the actual drops of the dropbar. That goes OVER the tape, or at least the end of the rubber overlaps the first 10mm of the tape.
I myself thought about putting gel strips on top of the TOP Redshift undertape thingies. I found cheap EVA foam sheets, that I can cut into the right shape. What thickness do you think would be appropiate? 2,3,5mm? I haven't found a sheet of gel material (whatever that actually is...) but silicone mats of 2-10mm thickness, any opinion on what thickness to choose there?




Thanks for the suggestion, I am not sure if I can become acquainted with the looks of those horns, but they do look like they offer some relief inbetween other grip positions.

Still not clear on the grip over tape comment. Do you have a pic that illustrates this?

Frankly, the surface area and load distribution that the redshift under grips create will add the most comfort. Adding gel strips there may not make it appreciably better and may perhaps make it worse by adding peaky pressure points. Perhaps use gel gloves instead as a substitute?

 

Still not clear on the grip over tape comment. Do you have a pic that illustrates this?

Sure: See, the Cruise Control system consists of two different grips, the top insert is the one you have, but the Ergon-wing-style-grip is not taped over, in fact the part towards the bend is pushed over the first 10mm of bar tape. See also this installation video by Redshift.

Frankly, the surface area and load distribution that the redshift under grips create will add the most comfort. Adding gel strips there may not make it appreciably better and may perhaps make it worse by adding peaky pressure points. Perhaps use gel gloves instead as a substitute?

I don't really need the extra cushion gel gloves, or the gel pads. I am not really sensitive to pressure points, I just want to tinker around a bit TBH, hoping I may get an even nicer grip experience. But I expect the undertape inserts from Redshift or similar are already plenty good, without any gel or EVA put on top of them, but why not try to make them a bit nicer with a a few lost measures?

 

Sure: See, the Cruise Control system consists of two different grips, the top insert is the one you have, but the Ergon-wing-style-grip is not taped over, in fact the part towards the bend is pushed over the first 10mm of bar tape. See also this installation video by Redshift.

I don't really need the extra cushion gel gloves, or the gel pads. I am not really sensitive to pressure points, I just want to tinker around a bit TBH, hoping I may get an even nicer grip experience. But I expect the undertape inserts from Redshift or similar are already plenty good, without any gel or EVA put on top of them, but why not try to make them a bit nicer with a a few lost measures?

I see, it overlaps over the tape a little bit to hide the transition. I remember looking at the drop grips and thinking that i dont spend as much time in the drops so i didn't need anything added there. If i am in the drops, its for a quick sprint or short rough section on the gravel rig where long term comfort wasn't prioritized. If you spend significant time in the drops, i can see the potential benefit though. I get a lot of milage out of the under grips on the top flats though.

 

Just a quick update, in the case that anyone is following this thread:

I have received some 2+3mm EVA-foam sheets framAliExpress, as well as two replica Ergon grips, that I plan to put at the end of the drops and cover with bartape. I got a few rolls of very cheap bartape to experiment as well. Will also order the Redshift top grips, as I was unable to find anything comparable.

Still havent looked into 3D-printing yet, so any pointers would be still highly welcome.

But that will have to wait another 4-6 weeks, due to surgery and currently only able to use one hand.
I will keep this updated, keep posting, if you feel like having anything to add in the meantime!

 

Just a quick update, in the case that anyone is following this thread:

I have received some 2+3mm EVA-foam sheets framAliExpress, as well as two replica Ergon grips, that I plan to put at the end of the drops and cover with bartape. I got a few rolls of very cheap bartape to experiment as well. Will also order the Redshift top grips, as I was unable to find anything comparable.

BTW those ergon grips won't fit. Road bars are a wider diameter than flat bars, and the redshift version of the grips are designed for the wider bars.

I own the redshift bar grips and top grips as well as some aliexpress versions of the same. They're mostly indistinguishable to me, except for some small fit and finish details that suggests that the aliexpress version is probably a factory reject from red shift. They cost around $15 so a less expensive alternative (if you're OK with that).

I find that the top grips are pretty chunky, and if you use thick bar tape, a little too much so. On my dropbar MTB I'm using ergon gravel tape and I decided against the ergon top grips because it was actually too thick. On my trek Checkpoint the tape is thinner and the top grips work well. Your plan to use some EVA foam is probably better if you're using thicker tape (~3 mm).