Review: BT OrthoCell Road Tape Update & An Idea

 Note: Ergon sent the SR Allroad saddle and the BT OrthoCell Road handle bar tape to Guitar Ted Productions at no cost for test and review. Ergon has not paid for, nor bribed Guitar Ted for these reviews. All opinions and images, unless noted, belong to Guitar Ted/Guitar Ted Productions.

What It Is & Expectations:

It is time for an update on this review of the Ergon BT OrthoCell Handlebar Tape. You can check back on previous posts on this product by following the link HERE and clicking back to the intro from a link on that post.  

The promise of this handlebar tape is that it will reduce vibrations which are generated by riding over gravel or rough roads. This would be realized as less numbness, less fatigue in the hands, and a reduction in any pain, hopefully. I think this BT OrthoCell tape does do all of these things. 

While BT OrthoCell does not eliminate vibrations, pain, or numbness, it can be a vital element in helping to make a rider more comfortable. It needs to be mentioned that previous physical conditions and ailments a rider brings with them, and how a rider is fit to any particular bicycle will have major implications as to the effectiveness of this product. So, if one goes into using BT OrthoCell tape with a poor fit to a bicycle, or previous ailments which are going to persist whether or not you use any brand of handlebar tape, that person may feel this review is in error. This is something I would expect and understand if it happens. 

An Idea:

One more thing to add. In my years of experience being a retail bicycle mechanic, and after talking with many riders, it is evident many riders spend their time "on the hoods" while using drop bars. 

This is something which struck me as I was using the BT OrthoCell tape. Unless you ride a lot in the drops, (I tend to), or on the tops next to the stem, (I do occasionally), you would miss any benefits of the BT OrthoCell tape. 

So, what if Ergon got with Shimano, or SRAM, or ideally both, and made hoods for their drop bar levers using this OrthoCell material? Wouldn't this be even better? 

Actually, I suggested this very thing to my Ergon contact, so.....maybe someday? I think it would be a stellar idea. It would provide an entire systemic approach to handlebar tape/hood comfort using a material proven to make riding more enjoyable. 

My Thoughts On The BT OrthoCell Tape So Far:

Finally, before I ride off from this update, I did want to mention the tape has a good grip quality. Either with or without gloves,  The great grip qualities come with no tackiness or sticky feelings at all. The "give" in the tape also enhances this quality of the tape. While it has been too cool for any sweat-inducing riding where I could gauge how well the grip is sustained through a sweated surface, I hope to find this out before the final update.

So the BT OrthoCell tape is a good tape for vibration reduction. It is comfortable, but not squishy. It remains firm in the hand, like a good, thick cork/cork-like tape would feel. It is not rubbery, plastic feeling, or slippery. The BT OrthoCell is definitely more "traditional" feeling despite the techy material it is made from. So far, I am quite happy to use it for gravel rides. 

The final update should occur within the next few weeks, hopefully. Thanks for reading this review!