Last week I ripped the shit out of my bar tape and started to contemplate a replacement brand. I have been using Ambrosia wrap for a few months and wanted something with more tactility. I wanted something white and perforated but with a good amount of grip. After seeing the Brooks Leather Bar Tape around, I figured I’d give it a try.

Check out the finished product below.

I was impressed at how well it pulled to the bars. Since I don’t use the cheater strip, I do a criss-cross wrap around the hoods. Turns out , there’s just enough tape in the roll to cover each side with the tapered ends meeting perfectly at the bar clamp.

The final product is quite nice but that’s not without critique. While I think it’s a nice touch for Brooks to taper the roll on each end, most people (myself included) would rather cut it ourselves.

There’s also a seam, mid-roll that you have to watch for. Don’t pull too hard or you’ll end up splitting the tape in two pieces. It wasn’t an issue for me but I thought it’d be best to point it out.

So my initial reaction is a plus. It’s grippy and well padded. It pulls well and looks great. The cork bar ends are a nice touch and finally, someone supplies some nice finishing tape with their product. The Brooks Leather Bar Tape is perfect for a city, track, road or touring bike. In fact, I’ll be putting this on my Geekhouse Woodville!