How a pro rider chooses and wraps bar tape

Small choices at the bars matter more than most riders expect. Over long climbs, hot races, and wet roads, those decisions add up to either confidence or distraction.

Below is what a professional rider actually thinks about when he evaluates bar tape. Not as marketing, but as use, day after day.

The tape he is talking about

This is the same tape used by Caja Rural–Seguros RGA during the 2026–2027 seasons at the highest level of professional racing, and it is built to deliver comfort, control, and reliability under demanding conditions. 

1) Grip in real conditions, not just in theory

The first thing the rider notes is grip. Not warm, fuzzy praise, but specifics: rain, sweat, and riding without gloves.

• In heavy sweat or on hot climbs when he removes gloves, the tape still feels secure.
• In wet conditions, he does not worry about slipping.
• He compares it to cork tapes he used in the past and finds this one more secure.

Why this matters:

• Bar tape is one of the few contact points that must work across all weather and effort levels.
• A rider cannot stop, re-adjust, or think about slipping in the middle of a long climb or a technical descent.
• Grip needs to be real, repeatable, and obvious, not a claim buried in a spec sheet.

This is not just comfort. It is reliability. Reliability is what a rider notices first when everything else is already acceptable.

2) Thickness by zone, not uniform

Here is the strongest practical insight from the rider:

Use different thickness depending on where you wrap it.

• Thicker on the tops for cushioning when climbing.
• Thinner on the drops so he can wrap the whole hand around the bar and reach the brakes easily.

That is a nuanced, pro-level setup decision. It says several things:

1. Feel is adjustable. It is not only about the tape’s raw thickness. It is about how you apply it. Stretch, overlap, zone placement change how the bar feels under your hands.
2. Control and comfort are a tradeoff by design. On tops you want more cushion for long, hard efforts. On drops you want a secure, direct hold with full brake access. Different zones deserve different compromises.
3. This is actionable for any rider. You do not need a new bike or a different handlebar. You just wrap thoughtfully.

Most advice online is generic. This is specific. Try it immediately: wrap slightly thicker on the tops, keep the drops tighter and cleaner.

3) Color choice is practical, not just aesthetic

He prefers black tape rather than white. Reason:

• White gets dirty too quickly, especially when training a lot in wet conditions.
• Over time, that dirt becomes a constant reminder of wear, rather than a clean, functional cockpit.

This shows how professionals think: not about how something looks on day one, but how it behaves and looks after many rides in real weather.

Takeaway:

• Choose color based on use, not only style.
• Black or darker options often make more sense for riders who train in rain, mud, or dusty roads.

4) A quiet comparison, not a shout

He refers to using a very popular tape in the past, implying the new one may be even better.

This kind of comparison is powerful because it is not a slogan. It is a lived experience:

• A rider used something widely regarded as good.
• He used this tape.
• He sees potential for this to be better.

The message is not about ranking brands. It is about signal strength: if a rider who already trusted something popular finds this superior in certain conditions, the observation matters.

You do not need to name or attack competitors. The value is in the honest contrast itself.

Why this matters beyond one rider

This is insight, not a standard endorsement.

• It shows how serious riders think, not how a marketing team imagines they think.
• It validates a logical approach to design and setup. Grip, zone thickness, and practical use choices line up with how the product was built.
• It gives any rider a path to tune their own setup using real criteria: weather, glove use, climbing comfort, brake reach, and care for long-term cleanliness.

When choosing bar tape or re-wrapping your bars, these are exactly the questions that matter. They are more useful than vague claims or flashy visuals.

Short final note

This conversation shows what happens when you move away from hype and toward use. You do not need to be an elite rider to benefit. You just need to think like one:

What will I feel on a hot climb, in the rain, after 200 km, with or without gloves?

Then set up the tape to answer that question, not to look a certain way in the first hour. That is the practical side of performance. That is what real riding is built on.

What is coming next in AMS bar tape

From these real-world insights we keep building. Soon we will add another layer to the range with a new texture and two thicknesses, tuned for different riding styles:

• Honeycomb 1.8 mm — for performance road riders who want direct feel and more control with less bulk.
• Honeycomb 2.5 mm — for performance road and all-road riders who want a denser, more balanced feel with extra comfort on longer rides and rougher surfaces.

These additions are informed by what riders and mechanics actually do on the bars, not by trends or buzzwords. Expect more details soon.