Reddit reviews Planet Bike Century Gel Pads
We found 4 Reddit comments about Planet Bike Century Gel Pads. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Set of 4 gel pads for road bike handlebarsMaximizes comfort in variety of hand positionsFits under handlebar tape; ideal for rough roadsPairs easily with Planet Bike's gel comfort tapeBacked by limited lifetime warranty
+1 to everything everyone else has been saying, and also something which I haven't seen mentioned yet:
Some people prefer gel pads in their gloves, other prefer the gel on the handlebars under the wraps, for example this.
Personally I have a JakeTheSnake which I ride with gel gloves, and a pure road bike (custom build) with gel on the bars. For long rides (100km+) I find the bar gel to be more comfortable and provide better numbness relief. I've done similar distances on the Jake, but my posture is a bit different on that and bar gel there does nothing for me.
So anyhoo just be aware of that option, some people find it helpful.
I use some nice thick bar tape like Nashbars Get a Grip tape along with some Century gel pads underneath them. The result is nice and cushy and very thick. Most important thing is the gel pads underneath and to double wrap/only half overlap the tape using the entire roll.
I've been really happy with Cinelli Volee Tape with these gel pads underneath for a little extra cushion since I do a lot of long-distance riding
Did you buy this bike new at a bike shop? If so ... it's odd they'd sell you a WSD, unless they measured you and thought it a good match for your proportions. If you're still within the returns period, have you considered swapping it for something more suitable? If you're going to stick with this bike, the situation you describe above definitely sounds like some wider bars could help you out with.
As for those "Isozone" bars ... I can't speak to them directly, but you can probably achieve close to the same as what they offer by just adding some gel pads under the bar tape. So, if you're going to stick with alloy, purchase on shape rather than any other features.
That said, carbon doesn't have to be $300 (just one example, but Easton is a reputable brand). You can spend $300, but my bet is that once you get much above $150, you're probably well into the land of diminishing returns. Do some shopping around, and read the reviews!