While the first thing people notice about your bar tape is the color, function is more than meets the eye. With that, PNW Components Coast Bar Tape not only comes in snazzy colors, but it functions well in wet and dry conditions.
PNW Components Coast Bar Tape Features:
- Shock-absorbing material
- Anti-slip, PNW-embossed surface
- Matte black anodized bar end plugs
- 2.4mm thickness
- MSRP: $29.00
Wrap it up, wrap it in, let me begin
PNW Components aims to deliver high-quality road and mountain bike components at journeyman prices. We’re talking dropper posts starting at $139 and a range of other road, gravel and MTB components that won’t bust your wallet. One of those is their Coast Bar Tape that’s suitable for road and gravel bikes. Available in 6 different colors, there’s bound to be one that matches your ride. Of course, you could always go black, but I quite like adding some extra pop by going with something a little more colorful.
So, when I switched out the stock bars on the BMC Roadmachine X with a set of Zipp SL-70 XPLR bars, it was the right time to wrap up the safety orange Coast Bar Tape. PNW has chosen to go middle-of-the-road on the thickness at 2.4mm. Zipp Service Course CX bar tape is my favorite, so this tape is 0.5mm thicker than that. Immediately, you’ll notice that the Coast Bar Tape is substantial. Installation will also remind you of that as it doesn’t quite stretch as well as other tapes.
Admittedly, I’m still a hack when it comes to wrapping bars. No matter how many YouTube videos I watch, I still haven’t mastered it. I typically like to use a section of tape to cover the clamps, but you’ll have to trim those yourself from the extra length provided. It works great because you can trim it to the exact length. In the end, the tape installed well and the results are great. The pattern is also consistent enough to maintain your reveal between wraps. At that thickness, it doesn’t stretch quite as well as thinner tape, but that’s to be expected.
The end plugs are nicer than most. In fact, they are nice enough that you’ll want to keep them around with other tape that uses standard plugs. Snug them up and you’re all set.
Onto actual performance. You’ll love how grippy the tape is right away. The bar/tape combo is outstanding, in my book. As the miles have ticked off, that tackiness has continued. With a trip to the Washington coast, wet and soggy weather testing was inevitable. As I rolled into the tree-lined roads throughout Cape Disappointment State Park, the misty morning made everything wet. Happily, the bar tape works as advertised when wet. Back home in Utah, a summer downpour further reinforced how well this tape grips when wet.
One of the downsides of non-black tape is that it gets discolored with use. On the hoods and in the drops, you’ll notice some dark areas with use. I can clean it up somewhat with wipes, but that’s just par for the course with colored bar tape.
The Good
- Grippy when wet or dry
- Good thickness for general use
- Wide variety of colors
- Simple pattern looks nice
The Bad
- Not as stretchy as I would like
The Bottom Line: PNW Components Coast Bar Tape
With tons of bar tape options on the market, it can be daunting pulling the trigger on something you’ve not had a chance to try out. The PNW Components Coast Bar Tape really is easy to recommend if you’re down with a thicker tape. You can’t beat the grip and color options. Plus, the end plugs are above and beyond what’s included with most tape.
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