This product is intended for raw tube handles, and for that it seems perfect. For my hybrid bike (Raleigh Route 4.0), which already has substantial rubber grips, it may or may not be the best solution. I needed something, because there's a rubber portion of the bike manufacturer's grip that's slippery when wet. Not that it's dangerous, but it has been distracting. So I thought I'd try this product. (The reflective plugs are a nice added incentive, although you could just as effectively cover existing plugs with reflective tape.) Delivery was suitably quick, but I couldn't wait. I had some extra Tourna Grip (non-tacky version) left from wrapping a tennis racket. The Tourna Grip roll happened to be light blue, and my bike is black, but what the heck. It went on nicely, just as I'd apply it to a racket, starting at the outside and securing it at the inner edge of the grip by using self-adhering tape. Electrical tape eventually unravels, so I find this self-adhering stuff often preferable. It's not sticky, but it stretches and adheres strongly to itself. Available at auto parts and hardware stores. UPDATE: The self-adhering tape got a little gooey after awhile, which has not been the case in other applications. Don't know if it's due to heat or moisture or the brand or what. So now, I'm using top-quality vinyl electrical tape. We'll see...) Then the Planet Bike tape came. It's very much like cork, pretty thick and cushiony, and the black is truly black. Applied it the same way, except I secured it using the tape supplied. (The instructions even call it electrical tape.) Overlapping about 1/3 of the width, it added significant bulk to the already bulky handle. The Planet Bike tape is a bit thicker in the middle than at its edges, which allows well for overlapping. On a 92-degree day, I rode for an hour. The Tourna Grip side was fine, added no bulk to the existing grip, and felt dry. Towards the end of the hour, it discolored for about half an inch from the outer edge of the grip, indicating that spot was saturated (later returning to original color). Meanwhile, the Planet Bike tape was obviously wet early on. In fact, it was foamy. It felt wet to my hand, yet it did not feel uncomfortable. Certainly better overall than anything else I can imagine on a raw metal bar. Both products are an improvement over the annoying slick portion of the manufacturer's grip. The added bulk of the Planet Bike tape is okay, I suppose, but not optimal in my case; I wouldn't want it any bulkier. UPDATE: After a few months of use, the Tourna Grip wrap showed wear and discoloration but survived well enough. The Planet Bike tape was virtually unaffected. I could have gotten through the rest of the summer with the Tourna Grip, but it was soiled, very gray, so I put new Tourna Grip on both sides. Unfortunately, Tourna Grip, which used to come in black, now comes only in the light blue. Ah, branding!
