Two questions

[daveireland]

What is the best tape/handlebar cushioning for drops on my Nomad? I use gel gloves and have still got the original Marsas tape fitted by Thorn, (which could do with replacing), but I still get sore palms for the first 5/6 miles or so. Any suggestions? I used to be a fan of those spongey sleeves, but don't know if they're still made and can be fitted with my bar-end shifters.

Also, looking at the download of the Thorn EXXP, I see the bike is fitted with a rear splashguard which fits under the rack, but without attachments to the seatpost. I have a Roberts cross-country bike with a Tubus rack fitted and awkward angles to fit a seatpost or frame mounted splashguard to. The splashguard featured looks like the ideal solution. Any ideas what make the Thorn-fitted item is?

[john28july]

Hello, I have a Nomad and a Thorn Audax 853. I suffer from vibration too. I have laid two layers of standard cork bar tape (Black) and with this I get a very comfortable ride. Try it you will be amazed. One thing to note. The second layer needs to be pulled quite tight to form the correct shape round the levers and bars.
Best regards,
John.
www.pbase.com/john28july

[xtc girl]

On our bikes, we have grabbon- black spongey sleeves that go around our handlebars.  On all the bikes that have grabbon have dropped handle bars and bar-end shifters. I am not sure how it is fitted (I will find out soon enough), but Dad seems to use my Mum's best knitting needles (and bends them).

http://www.team-triplet.com/TTSite/xtc1.htm This link has picture with my bike with grabbon on.

Ceri

[daveireland]

Thanks for your suggestions John and XTCGirl. I'll keep you posted.

Dave

[hoogie]

i used specialised bar-phat tape on my drop handlebars that i had on my nomad ... it is a bit thicker at 2.5mm and comes with gel inserts as well ... a bit more expensive, but worth looking at ...

http://www.hoogie.co.nz/bikes/nomad.htm

[daveireland]

quote:Originally posted by hoogie

i used specialised bar-phat tape on my drop handlebars that i had on my nomad ... it is a bit thicker at 2.5mm and comes with gel inserts as well ... a bit more expensive, but worth looking at ...

http://www.hoogie.co.nz/bikes/nomad.htm

Thanks, Hoogie. Nice website! Sounds as though Bar-phat may be the answer. I'm assuming the gel inserts can be place on the top or the trailing edge of the bars? Did you find they withstood a good rain soaking OK?

Thanks for your help.

Dave

[hoogie]

hi back,

been on a course so haven't been able to check in for awhile ...

there are two types of bar phat tape, 2.5mm and 4mm thick ones ... the 4mm one is way thick, and even with my large hands it felt like i was hanging onto the business end of a baseball bat ... the 2.5mm version was ample for my drop bars ...

the gel inserts ... there are 4 that come in the packet, 2 for each side ... one to go on the drops, and the other goes onto the top of the bar, or in the two places where most folks ride i guess ...

i never got my stuff wet so can't comment on its wet weather performance, but it looks like normal bar tape, just thicker, so i guess it would perform the saem as normal bar tape in a good wetting?

thanks for your kind comment on the website ... i try my best!

cheers,
hoogie