Cyclists are a particular bunch. Each individual has their own preferences and peccadilloes. While the application of tape to a set of handlebars might appear from the outside to be an inconsequential matter, there are a great many things to consider beneath the surface. The average cyclist is rather a lot like Goldilocks, finding one kind of bar tape too thin and another set too bulky. The next set might seem too flimsy, or rigidly durable to the point of discomfort.

In devising the Cotton Cork Bar Tape, Brooks has endeavoured to create a product that is ‘just right’. The tape benefits from the gentle give of natural cork on the inside, providing comfort and vibration-reduction. Then, wrapped around the outer part is cotton, a lightweight, breathable but robust material. This outer cotton part has the additional benefit of gradually changing and improving with age, so that your bars develop a patina rather like that of your Brooks England leather saddle.