Specification

​

Measuring 198cm long and 3cm wide, some would argue The Hi-Grip is best suited to road drops. I empathise with that, but reckon this is only problematic with really broad gravel drops.  The textured, perforated PU surface and an EVA foam padding translates to 3mm thickness-a nice balance between comfort and bulk.  Tried and tested stuff, but sometimes that’s just what’s called for.

​

Continuing this narrative, you can have it in any colour you fancy, so long as it's black. Now, I like a bit of complimentary colour, I also like some contrast. Either way, when talking bikes in hard service, tape should be low maintenance. i.e. hide grime, oily finger marks, and scrub up nicely.

​

The finishing kit comprises of press fit chrome effect plugs, cheater, and stretchy finishing strips. By OEM standards, the plugs are secure and the same goes for the finishing strips’ adhesive backing. The tape itself features a lightly tacky 3m adhesive, which allows easy correction, should you need to rewind, or fancy greater, personalised overlap, depending on where your hands spend most of their time.

​

Test Bike/Contexts  

I’d toyed with dressing Denise’s Genetic Digest drops (46cm wide) but decided against it, given the flare would likely give The Hi-grip Indigestion. Not just a length thing, rather the H-Grip is less stretchy than others I’ve tested recently. Next in line was Muffin Bicycle Strip Down and Rebuild | cycling-not-racing my fixed gear winter/trainer. I’d recently switched from 44cm D-Riser-4 GENETIC DRISER 4 HANDLEBARS | cycling-not-racing to some 44cm shallow drop bars with 8 degree flare a uninform profile and diameter. More convenient when mounting and aligning lights and similar accessories.

​

Muffin, though much loved, also serves year-round and racks up a decent mileage. Much along B roads, lumpy lanes with some town-work for good measure- another obvious candidate. Ours arrived mid-April, which has been changeable in that warm, cold, showery, and sometimes wet sense. A suspension stem and relatively big section (38 &40mm) tyres certainly help iron out the lumps, bumps, and battle-scarred tarmac.     

 

Fitting

​

Though not unduly difficult to work with, the fabric is less supple than many, meaning stuffing into the end, fitting the plug, and getting a nice, uniform weave took a few attempts. Applying a hairdryer 20cm away on moderate heat for a couple of minutes seemed to improve matters, although I resorted to the cheater strips having failed to get a nicely flowing figure of eight loop around the brake levers. The Hi-Grip also required a firmer pressure than corks and showed a tendency to unravel at the crucial moment. Have the finishing strip primed once you’ve reached the top and you’ll be fine.

​

Each roll was sufficient to comfortably dress the 44cm bars. There wasn’t oodles of excess left, but came in handy for adding a grippy, shock absorbing platform on accessory mounts. The overall aesthetic was similarly pleasing and, in my view, wouldn’t look out of place on a skinny-tubed 80s classic. Like the M Part Primo Anti-Slip Silicone Gel Bar Tape, finishing strips benefitted from some more intense smoothing to prevent unwelcome lift. Thus far, the Hi-Grip is proving tolerant of being rewound- I decided to upgrade the otherwise likeable Dia Compe 287 V brake lever, for its more refined EVO V counterpart with no issues. Just make sure you’ve some decent quality electrical tape handy, since the finishing strip will be bin fodder.

​

Grip 3.75/5

 

The subtly embossed satin texture offers excellent grip, meaning I could just settle into my rhythm and cruise along. Gloves and mitts featuring silicone detailing around the palms and fingers were undoubtedly the best pairings, but leather and plain Amara types weren’t far behind. Wearing mitts, the fabric feels tactile, less coarse, and slightly cooler than a cork but without the tackiness of polymers and some silicones (which as we know, I’ve a soft spot for). Regardless of glove and in temperatures between 5 and 20 degrees, connection to the bars is positive, allowing for a more relaxed stance and consequently, less palm fatigue when I’ve been out along the lanes for three hours or more.  

​

This was particularly welcome when fatigue and sudden inclines were thrown into the mix. Wet weather performance was very similar to M Part M Part Primo Anti-Slip Silicone Gel Bar Tape. The texture becomes faintly tackier, enhancing the union with silicone palms and fingers. However, no issues with it absorbing water and it dries very swiftly, given a break in the cloud and a gentle breeze. I’ve never been death-gripping the bars when descending fast and moderately laden, weaving around the odd curious muntjak for good measure. Characteristics that lend it quite nicely to rush hour commuting.

 

Talking of which, riding bare-handed is not something I do per se. However, doing so on a couple of fifteen-mile loops (one wet, one dry) proved relatively pleasant-no aches, numbness or tingling and my hands stayed where I’d wanted them, so all good. Not on par with Ciclovation Grind Touch CICLOVATION GRIND TOUCH BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing, or Enve Handlebar Tape Enve Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing but then it’s worth saying you’ll be forking out £10 more and they’re also a little heavier. Not an issue on a tourer, trainer, or daily driver, but a consideration on a hill climb, or TT build.   

 

Comfort/Damping 3.75/5

 

The EVA does its thing very capably, more supple than traditional cork/EVA mixes, firmer than polymers or silicones, though crucially very supportive, which took a few longer rides to appreciate. Even allowing for the suspension stem and portly rubber, the EVA has proven supportive, minimising vibration and ultimately reducing fatigue around my palms, fingers and consequently shoulders and neck when rides have exceeded three hours or so. 2.5mm tapes seem the benchmark for road-biased riding, offering insulation without bulk and therefore a more connected bond with the bike.

​

They may also be a better choice for people with smaller hands. Nonetheless, the union has never felt remote when I’ve donned thicker winter weight gloves on a couple of unexpectedly chill dawn outings. Calling its bluff and satisfying my curiosity, I dressed Ursula’s new bars in some and disappeared along the green lanes, dirt roads, and bridleways. Silicones, such as T-One Mr Fantastic and Acros certainly have an edge in this context but compared with the long serving Wolf Tooth Supple Lite (2.5mm thick) the Hi Grip matched its tenure and shock absorption was marginally better.

 

Care/Durability 3.75/5       

       

The Genetic Hi-Grip is very easy to live with, not least since black hides a multitude of grime, although some lubes will leave a scuzzy calling card. Unhampered by sensitive coatings, or similar, so you can just go to town with your chosen medium soft brush dunked in a sudsy bucket. I’ve leaned ours against a wealth of different hosts from rustic fence posts, trees, and farm gates to rendered brickwork with no issues. I’d still use a DIY parking brake of some sort with a heavily laden tourer, or tandem but otherwise, the Hi-Grip has rested reliably against the host. Moss, dirt, and dusty transfer from brickwork disappeared when given a damp cloth once over.   

 Value 3.25/5

 

The Hi-Grip is a competent all-rounder, though good value I wouldn’t go so far as to describe it as a bargain. There are similarly capable wraps, some markedly cheaper and offered in a range of colours.  Though thinner (2.5mm) Cinelli Classic Cork Wrap is £12 available in 9 colours, is grippy, displaces moisture effectively and the EVA backing absorbs lower-level vibration very effectively. However, though reasonably long, I’ve found it better suited to bars of uniform shape and diameter. BBB BHT-14 Flex Ribbon Bar Tape TESTED: BBB BHT-14 FLEXRIBBON GEL BAR TAPE  (now £19.99 rrp) proved another rugged, grippy tape offering excellent damping. It’s also available in several colours. The M Part M Part Primo Anti-Slip Silicone Gel Bar Tape is £24.99 M Part Primo Anti Slip Silicone Gel Bar | cycling-not-racing  is another capable all-rounder with slightly better finishing kit and is available in three colours. Kranx Stretta Primo Anti Shock Bar Tape KRANX STRETTA PRIMO ANTI SHOCK BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing 

 

Wolf Tooth Supple Lite Wolf Tooth Supple Lite Bar Tape | cycling-not-racing is £27.99 and is very rugged. While it doesn’t rival some silicones in terms of grip and damping, this is surprisingly good on and off road. However, while black is also ultra-practical, it’s not to everyone’s taste. Obviously, you can pay a good bit more. Ciclovation Grind Touch Bar Tape CICLOVATION GRIND TOUCH BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (now £35.99) is longer, so better suited to the latest generation of buxom gravel drops. The Enve Handlebar Tape Enve Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing is another similarly capable option delivering excellent performance without bulk and is very easy to work with. Limited colour options and more basic bar plugs are considerations.   

 

Summary  

 

The Genetic Hi-Grip’s finishing kit could be improved; the tape a little longer and the single colour option could alienate some. Nonetheless, it has proved grippy, shock absorbing and very practical. Qualities that lend it nicely to trainers, tourers and daily drivers.

 

Michael Stenning

 Verdict: 3.5/5 Grippy, comfortable and seemingly hardwearing handlebar tape for general, road- biased riding.

Welcome to Ison Distribution | Ison Distribution