Genetic Flare Silicone Bar Tape

Genetic's Flare Silicone Bar Tape offers an innovative alternative for covering your bar, especially if it proves long-lasting.

The tape is available in five colours and is made from a high density silicone foam rubber that Genetic say is designed to be comfortable with or without gloves.

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At 1.8 metres per roll, there's ample for dressing the widest, deepest drops - even oversized versions. I managed to dress both my Univega's moustache bar and my Holdsworth's pursuit bars using the two rolls supplied in the pack. There's no adhesive backing or a right/wrong side either, it relies on the material's natural tenacity and won't unravel should the phone go at a crucial moment while you're putting in the bars. This also means a broken control cable or bar swap doesn't automatically spell bin fodder.

Achieving crisp effects is remarkably easy but requires a similar technique to cork - firm, consistent pressure. Slight heavy handedness won't give rise to the dreaded rip, but look closely at the photos and you'll notice some tell-tale fading/stretch marks.

This seems purely cosmetic and, to my eye, quite a fetching quirk, but might not be so alluring in black. Surprisingly enough, it hasn't tainted despite being held with my grimy hands following roadside mechanicals, though several months' use may say different.

The slightly rubbery texture is an acquired taste but quickly grew on me - upkeep aside, I'm fond of space age polymer tapes but the Genetic trumps these and classic cork whatever the heavens hurl (and there's been plenty of rain and hail during the testing period).

Water tends to bead up and roll away rather than penetrate the surface, leaving you with leach-like tenacity even when it's teeming down and you're hurtling along or cutting through traffic, flicking round pot holes and car doors being swung open.

Damping is similarly impressive on and off road, absorbing intrusive buzz, although double wrapping at key points is key. Thanks to the tape's relatively low density, doing so doesn't result in unflattering, chunky aesthetics.

I'm not so sure about riding bare handed for any distance though. Fifteen-mile commutes were fine and yes, the material's properties are very apparent, but 30-odd and fatigue was beginning to creep in around my palms/ulnar region.

So far, I'm certainly impressed and would recommend it to anyone running big mileages and seeking low maintenance alternatives to cork. Whether it ages so gracefully remains unclear.

Verdict

Innovative cork alternative for general riding - be interesting to see how it stands up to the elements long term.