Price Paid:  $5.00 at Performance Bike

Favorite Ride:
Paradise Loop

Bike Setup:
2006 Specialized Allez Elite

Summary:
Great tape in a variety of colors. (although I chose black, replacing my worn white tape) Stretches quite a bit, I did not feel that it would break at any point.

Strengths:
No Sticky Backing.
Stretches well with no sign of tearing after significant stretching.
Came with pair of shiny bar end caps.
Relatively inexpensive bar tape, allowing more frequent replacement

Weaknesses:
Not as cushy as older Specialized Tape with Bar Phat

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Bar Phat

Price Paid:  $5.00 at Performance Bike

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere

Bike Setup:
Custom Seven Alaris, Campy Chorus, Proton Wheels with FSA Cranks and Speedplay zero pedals.

Summary:
I tend to be pretty devoted to Cinelli tape and use it as the gold standard.

Unlike Cinelli (and like Profile tape), this tape does not have any double stick tape backing. Some people like this, I don't. My hands sweat a lot, so I like having the tape stuck to the bars to keep it from moving around.

I did find this tape to be a bit thicker than Cinelli, and pretty durable for stretching.

Overall a good budget alternative, but not for me. I bought two rolls, so my kid's bikes will inherit the other!

Strengths:
Cheap. Thick.

Weaknesses:
No sticky backing.
A little thick for my liking.

Similar Products Used:
Cinelli, Deda

Price Paid:  $5.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
Long & Hard

Bike Setup:
'92 Paramount PDG2

Summary:
Great value, high cork, more dense & thicker than Cinelli. May not have as much cush, but lasts longer & rolls the bar phatter.

Strengths:
Cheap, looks right, dense & thick. Costs what bar tape should cost.

Weaknesses:
No "I Ride Pinarello" embossing.

Similar Products Used:
Cinelli, Profile, Stella Azzurra, GT, Sala reg & Gomma, Ciclolinea

Price Paid:  $10.00 at Performance

Bike Setup:
LeMond Buenos Aires

Summary:
Not at all pleased with the durability of the tape. Went on easy, looked good new, was comfortable, but after 3,000 miles it is shot.

Weaknesses:
durability

Similar Products Used:
cinelli, stella azzura (unbelievablely good, but tough to find - wish I had bought some extras)

Price Paid:  $8.00 at Performance

Bike Setup:
Torelli Brianza

Summary:
I was pleasantly surprised by this product. I've been a fan of Cinelli cork tape for a few years. I saw the Forte cork tape and sale and bought 2 rolls for two of my bikes. So far, I don't notice any difference between the Forte tape and the Cinelli and the Forte tape obviously saves some money.

Strengths:
great feel of cork
value

Weaknesses:
cork tape gets dirty fast

Similar Products Used:
Cinelli cork
Profile cork-filled
Sampson fatwrap