Readers' Rides #3 - Dean Wilkes' Banshee Legend

Yes it is. I have small hands and after speaking with an XC guy about thin grips, he suggested road bar tape to me for grips. It allows you to get the perfect grip thickness, is super grippy, doesn't rotate and for the weight weenies it's ~39g for both sides.

I did it for the function initially so the other benefits are simply a bonus.

Hey Dean, do you find the tape to absorb less shock than rubber grips, or no difference at all? I've been thinking about doing the bar tape thing for quite some time.

Thanks.

Hey Dean, do you find the tape to absorb less shock than rubber grips, or no difference at all? I've been thinking about doing the bar tape thing for quite some time.

Thanks.

So have I, not because I have small hands but because I like thin grips. I figure that the 8" of travel absorbs the shock, not the 1/8" of rubber on the grips

So have I, not because I have small hands but because I like thin grips. I figure that the 8" of travel absorbs the shock, not the 1/8" of rubber on the grips

Also, it is a heck of a lot easier to rewrap bar tape, than mess around with removing rubber grips. (Not counting if you have a compressor.)

But mine would be a rigid setup, so shock absorption would make a difference.

But mine would be a rigid setup, so shock absorption would make a difference.

ouch

I'd need at least 6" rubber grips

Hey Dean, do you find the tape to absorb less shock than rubber grips, or no difference at all? I've been thinking about doing the bar tape thing for quite some time.

Thanks.

I'd say they feel the same as rubber in regards to shock absorbtion.

I simply bought some cheap BBB brand bar tape that had an adhesive strip on the back ($10.00). It's enough tape to do 2 sets of grips. There are many types of bar tape, so the cushiness or grippyness can be changed with different tapes.

Start on the outside and work your way in. At first I made them too thick and cushy but re-wrapped thinner and love them. For $10 I thought I'd give it a shot and it has proved to work well for me.

I'd say they feel the same as rubber in regards to shock absorbtion.

I simply bought some cheap BBB brand bar tape that had an adhesive strip on the back ($10.00). Enough tape to do 2 sets of grips.

Start on the outside and work your way in. At first I made them too thick and cushy but re-wrapped thinner and love them. For $10 I thought I'd give it a shot and it has proved to work well for me.

Cool, thanks. BTW, they also make gel inserts that you can strategically place underneath the bar tape. But that might defeat your purpose of a thin grip.

Pure weight weenieism. nice work!

What will the pricing be like for that frame (or the one that will be avail to the general public)? The website says it's yet to be determined.

Yet to be determined…

It was the 08 site, so I thought it might have changed since then.

such a nice bike

Do I spy 6 speeds on the back there?

Bloody nice ride, by the way… I'm still dreaming of one of those in orange.

If you have small hands you should try ESI Racer's Edge grips. They're thin, comfortable, stick to handlebars like mad and very grippy with or without gloves.
I have big hands and use the ESI Chunky grips. They're not very well known but everyone that I know that has tried them loves them. You can also get them in some bling colours.

If you have small hands you should try ESI Racer's Edge grips. They're thin, comfortable, stick to handlebars like mad and very grippy with or without gloves.
I have big hands and use the ESI Chunky grips. They're not very well known but everyone that I know that has tried them loves them. You can also get them in some bling colours.

i've been using these for a couple years [HTML_REMOVED] they've been great. surprisingly grippy for a non-knurled surface [HTML_REMOVED] they stay stuck on the bar regardless of conditions, though they do wear faster than conventional rubber [HTML_REMOVED] tend to tear relatively easily in crashes. also a cheap way to save 50+g over a lock on. i like skinny grips so run the racer's edge.