Rough pavement telegraphs vibration straight through your handlebars into your hands and wrists. The Bar Gel from Fizik intercepts those impacts with 2.5mm of Technogel cushioning that sits between your bars and tape. You get four pieces in the kit—two curved strips for the tops where your hoods sit, two straight strips for the drops—and each one cuts to length so you can dial in coverage exactly where you need it.

Technogel behaves differently than standard foam or generic gel padding. The material absorbs shock without turning mushy or migrating under load. You can wrap bar tape as tight as you normally would and the gel maintains its cushioning properties instead of compressing flat. The self-adhesive backing holds the strips in place during installation, and if you need to reposition them or move them to a different handlebar later, they peel off cleanly without leaving residue.

The difference shows up on longer rides where hand fatigue typically starts creeping in after a couple hours. Fizik manufactures these strips in Italy, and the Technogel composition stays consistent through temperature swings and doesn't harden with age. If the strips get dirty after removing old bar tape, you can wash them and reuse them multiple times. The thickness adds minimal bulk to your bar diameter while spreading pressure across a wider contact area, which reduces concentrated stress on your palms.