get it clean, closer to looking like new? by the way it's blue
sorry, just saw 8 mile
dirty handle bar tape
Thu, 08/11/2005 - 9:27pm
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 6:14am
#1
Black is beautiful
"Always buy black handlebar tape. It has a classic look and never seems dirty or faded. Buy black shorts too.
""Chainwheel"""
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 8:21am
#2
Chainwheel,
Usually we agree, but here we're 100% opposed. The rule is: always buy tape a few shades lighter than your seat. Black tape, especially with black hoods, is so boring and dull. White, red, or even rasta tape, however, looks very fetching.
I do agree about the shorts though.
- Christian
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 8:50am
#3
Likewise . . .
I rarely disagree with Chainwheel.
But black cork isn't classic. Black cork is the lowest common denominator. Classic is white cotton, applied the morning of the ride by your loyal team flunky.
Truly obsessive retro-geeks use shellacked cotton. No dirt, no fading, none of those unsightly tears, and a 5-minute touchup every six months keeps the bars looking good as new for years at a time. And cheaper than fancy-brand cork.
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 8:41am
#4
Wash it . . .
"I used to have a bike with ""natural"" (the color) cork tape. I found that the Phil hand cleaner that worked so well on my hands also did a pretty good job of cleaning up the tape. Other detergents/spray cleaners probably work just as well.
"
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 10:38am
#5
friday fun
Since nobody has suggested it (yet), why not forgo the tape and just use a blue handlebar? Think of the weight savings not using tape. I'm certain anodizing your handlebars blue is just as much fun as riding them bare.
peter
(tongue planted firmly in cheek)
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 11:57am
#6
Aero, too.
Less drag than taped bars.
;^/
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 3:04pm
#7
to say nothing of matching your fingertips and toes on mid-winter rides.
Fri, 08/12/2005 - 11:03pm
#8
why the hell
aren't these replies in
the lyrical style
of eminem, suckas?
Sat, 08/13/2005 - 7:29am
#9
Yo don't be so whack. Why are all you people suggesting 'Black'?
Why give up color and style, just so your bike looks clean for a while?
Changing cork takes about 20 minutes... and then you can go about your business.
Cleaning cork takes 30... and in the end, that sh*t's still dirty.
Use white, yellow, cork, cotton, or lace... but don't clean it-- just replace.
I'm outta here to ride my bike so bright... with handlebars of shiny white.
Sat, 08/13/2005 - 8:29am
#10
Stayin' alive, stayin' alive I ... I ... I ... I'm stayin' alive
For that got-to-go-disco 70's look:
Grab-On Foam Grips for Drop Handlebars $13.95 set of 4 pieces
These are the real McCoy, denser, longer lasting foam than the many inferior knockoffs.
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/handlebars.html#tape
Mon, 08/15/2005 - 9:44am
#11
Disco tape
"Benotto tape (on the same Sheldon Brown page) was called ""disco tape."" It came in a lot of groovy colors, like tangerine orange and bright pink. It's also very easy to keep clean."
Tue, 08/16/2005 - 10:33am
#12
Benotto Tape
"On a couple of bikes, I put benotto tape over foam or cork tape. It looked great, was easy to clean, and still gave a cushy ride.
But,
Whatever happened to closed cell foam tape with a sort of vinyl coating on one side? It was soft & cushy, yet very washable. I never see the stuff now, but I had some that came stock with a mid-level Giant Road bike in the early 90s. I bought some in the mid-90s to re-tape my Burley Tandem. Both bikes were sold in the last couple of years with the same tape still on, washed many many times.
Some places sell closed cell foam tape that they advertise as ""washable"". I can never get it clean!"
