Classic & Vintage - "THE"Tape

What ever happened to "THE" brand handle bar tape.
only old timers from the 70's will know what i'm talking about. it was the best!
Please help me find out what happened. I miss it. It needs to be remade for this generation.
Long Live T H E tape!!

There's some on ebay right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NOS-4-ROLLS-TAPE-SUEDE-IVORY-PRO-BICYCLE-HANDLEBAR_W0QQitemZ7205096155QQcategoryZ42333QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and
http://cgi.ebay.com/SUEDE-FINISH-Vintage-1970s-HANDLEBAR-TAPE-NOS_W0QQitemZ7205389146QQcategoryZ56197QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Funny, I rode during the 70's and I can't remember seeing the stuff. Looks pretty good, though.

I had some of THE TAPE on my first ten-speed, a Kabuki back in the '70s. After much searching, I was able to find some more when I got my Miyata in '84. The bike hasn't seen a lot of use in the last few years, but THE TAPE is still on the bars and it still looks good. I would like to get some more for my other bikes.

Of course, to do things properly you have the THE TAPE with THE SEAT.

That looks like very nice tape, but I don't remember it either. However, back in the FIFTIES one popular way of taping bars was to put on a layer of friction tape (a black, tarry, cotton electrical tape) and then wind rim tape over it. Maybe some folks don't even remember rim tape for clincher rims because it was replaced by rubber tape you just snapped into place, but it was made of heavy cotton with a "buckle" you positioned over the valve hole.

I am not familiar with THE SEAT. Could you enlighten us?

Of course, to do things properly you have the THE TAPE with THE SEAT.

.....on your Exxon Graphtec with the Weyless hubs.

THE SEAT was a mid-1970s attempt by Cool Gear at producing an anatomic saddle using gel inserts. The early samples were a bit of a disaster. The gel quickly broke down, the seat rails were too weak and synthetic base (nylon?) too flexy.

Chongo's comment implies that they were also light weight. While they were lighter than leather saddles, they were heavier than the racing standard Unicanitor.

Maybe some folks don't even remember rim tape for clincher rims because it was replaced by rubber tape you just snapped into place, but it was made of heavy cotton with a "buckle" you positioned over the valve hole.
Cotton rim tape is de riguer for road bikes still, the rubber strips are only in cheap bikes. Everyone uses Velox rim tape. Ritchey and Pedros make competing cloth rim tape.

I still have "THE" tape on my 1976 Centurion Super Lemans, and it still feels great after 29 years.
Wow! I remember "THE" seat.But i had no use for it because of my Wright English Leather saddle.
I am now a Brooks person with 3 B-17's, that are the best thing i have ever ridden on. If only Kool Gear made a leather saddle?I love the old cotton rim tape!