What to use for a bit of padding under bar tape?

[nirakaro]

Old inner tubes? Bubblewrap? Suggestions?

[Bigdummysteve]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bike ... -prod27995. ?

[nirakaro]

Yebbut ... what if you're a cheapskate?

[whoof]

Yebbut ... what if you're a cheapskate?

If you want to be really cheap then do without bar tape altogether and use this less than £1 per metre
http://www.screwfix.com/p/economy-pipe- ... wwodkwQEBQ

[beardy]

More bar tape under the bar tape.

Even available for cheapskates*

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BTPXEMBG/p ... l-bar-tape

*If you can ignore/avoid postage rates.

[simonineaston]

Only a fiver: http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s126p2329

[steady eddy]

Thick polypropylene wrapping fabric cut in to strips and wrapped round the bars works really well. There's nothing cheapskate about recycling something!

[Mick F]

When I tape my 'bars, there's not really sufficient tape to do the job properly. Well, maybe there is, but there's none left over, so it's an exact length. I could do with more and would rather buy rolls of tape by the metre rather than the standardised (short) rolls.

If I were to put something underneath, it would effectively add to the diameter of the 'bars and therefore reduce the length of tape available to do a good job.

[pete75]

Strips of mouse mat.

[horizon]

(A bit of searching would show that we've discussed this to destruction.)

But anyway ......

Inner tubes cost nothing
Inner tubes are really easy to use
Inner tubes are a waste product that might not otherwise go anywhere but landfill
Inner tubes fit well - exact width required
Inner tubes feel marvellous - just the right amount of padding
Inner tubes are easy to cut and trim and if you make a mistake, well you've got lots more
Inner tubes wrap well into place
Inner tubes stretch gently into place
Inner tubes won't even show under bar tape.
Inner tubes will provide some warmth in winter on cold bars
Inner tubes last well and are robust

Why, oh why, would you use anything else?

[Mick F]

Yes Horizon, and I agree with you.

What about my point regarding length on the 'bar tape rolls?

[Shoogle]

I have BBB foam on my bars but decided it wasn't comfy enough so I put Halford's Boardman gel tape over the top of the foam. They're comfy now. No problem with the length but it'll be sized for drops.

[Heltor Chasca]

I double wrapped mine. I just went over the old tape. My 1st go and I'm delighted...b

[al_yrpal]

I used these underneath bar tape on butterfky bars. I did shave the end bulges with a razor blade. You can make them even by tensioning the tape. They worked well.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/foam-bike-gr ... 86664.html
Al

[boris]

http://www.dx.com/p/bike-bicycle-water- ... red-420919
I used to use old inner tube , but to be honest this is a bit better and so cheap