Inspired by advances in racing shoe foam and F1 tires, as well as our own research into rolling efficiency, impedance, and damping, we realized that materials technology could enable a significant improvement in handlebar tape. By using a laminate of SILCAthane, SILCAlon, and 3M viscoelastic adhesive instead of a single foam extrusion, the tape can be optimized across a range of desired characteristics. The resulting tape has a softer, more comfortable feel, better wet and dry grip, better vibration isolation, and 3 to 5 times the durability of existing tape materials. Since the actual wrap of the tape can be as important as the tape itself, we also developed a fully adhesive "butterfly" to better cover the back of the lever clamp area without adding bulk.