anyone try the new Brooks Cambium bar tape yet

[AngryScientist]

and what are your thoughts? the saddles seem to get pretty universally excellent reviews, wondering if anyone has tried the new bar tape and has a review to share?

http://ysroad-yurakucho.com/itemblog/mt-images/QWER2.jpg

http://www.wallbike.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/product_full/cambium2.jpg

[ultraman6970]

specially designed to ride in cobblestones.

[eBAUMANN]

havent tried it but i have photographed a few royal h's with it and spoken with the lucky gent who got to wrap it (bryan).

my take-aways:
- zero stretch so it doesnt really lay nice and flat on the bends
- zero padding
- hard/slick compared to traditional cloth tape
- seems like it would be pretty durable
- matches the saddles nicely

so yea, aesthetically it looks good from a distance, but not as good up close (doesnt lie flat) and i cant imagine its very comfortable on the hands.

[R3awak3n]

Everyone seems to complain that its really stiff and hard to install. I have never used it though

[Cicli]

I tried it. Very hard to install and hard as hell. I left it long on puropse by over wrapping on the tops. May try it again by wraping it over something like Fizik 2mm or something. Maybe that will help. It sits in a wad in the basement tape box right now.

[AngryScientist]

maybe it would be a good idea to wrap over some cheap cork tape for a little compression and cushion.

[Avincent52]

maybe it would be a good idea to wrap over some cheap cork tape for a little compression and cushion.

My thoughts exactly.
That said, how much stiffer can it be than the cloth tape they used back in the day or Benotto cellotape? I remember wrapping some cloth tape that had no adhesive at all and managed to get it to stay flat and happy after a fair bit of trial and error.


http://www.raydobbins.com/pantografata/finished/photo19.jpg

Doncha just love how the housing matches the decals and the paint in the lug cutouts? And those blue Campy lever covers?

[Tickdoc]

My thoughts exactly.
That said, how much stiffer can it be than the cloth tape they used back in the day or Benotto cellotape? I remember wrapping some cloth tape that had no adhesive at all and managed to get it to stay flat and happy after a fair bit of trial and error.


http://www.raydobbins.com/pantografata/finished/photo19.jpg

Doncha just love how the housing matches the decals and the paint in the lug cutouts? And those blue Campy lever covers?

yes, that is a "Nailed it" for real.

[bicycletricycle]

I have seen it on a bike.

Not stretchy enough to wrap nice and flat.

Didn't feel very nice, thin and hard.

[ultraman6970]

what about putting it wet, or wetting in the required areas?

[Mzilliox]

crap tape and way too expensive. i would look elsewhere

[Cornfed]

maybe it would be a good idea to wrap over some cheap cork tape for a little compression and cushion.

That's what I did. Over Cinelli gel cork. Felt OK, looked OK and eventually laid down where I needed it to, but all in all, not sure it's worth all the hassle.

[beeemmjay]

The website seems to note 3 separate Cambium tapes:
Cambium, Cambium Cotton, and Cambium Rubber...
Which specific tape seemed less than ideal?
It's not overly clear on the Brooks site which is the closest to the saddle, and only one speaks to a little bit of padding.

[Dan0930]

Seems kinda like all show and no go.