Bar tape lives in that category of components you don't think about until you've wrapped a set that goes slick in the rain or peels at the finishing tape after a month. Ritchey's WCS Race tape sits in the middle of the road tape spectrum — not the thinnest race-only wrap, not a thick gel pad — and leans on a perforated polyurethane construction that's been on Ritchey's shelves for years because it works. The embossed Ritchey logo down the length is the giveaway if you're trying to spot it on a bike at the coffee stop.

The build is 1.8mm thick, which puts it right in the road-feel sweet spot. Thin enough that you still get road texture through the bars on a fast descent, thick enough that you're not feeling every chipseal crack on a four-hour ride. The perforations across the surface give the tape some breathability and a touch of give where your palms sit, and they're functional rather than decorative — they help the tape conform around the lever hoods without bunching.

Polyurethane is the right material for riders who want grip that holds up in wet conditions without the squishy dead feel of a gel tape. It stays tacky when your gloves are wet, doesn't get slimy when you're sweating through a summer climb, and cleans up with a damp rag when it picks up chain grease or bar-end residue. At 63 grams for the wrap, it's not adding meaningful weight to your cockpit either.... Read More