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05-15-12, 12:51 PM
First chance I've had to take a photo showing my old bike as newly dressed up.
I had always used simple black cotton tape on this bike, but recently took a chance and was pleased to find some modern tape in a closely matching color. It's not nearly as thick as most of the very cushioned tapes available today and it also has a smooth finish resembling a semi-glossy finished leather. So far, I'm really pleased with both the near match of the color and the ability to easily clean off this rather light colored tape.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7204122252_557cea8cb0_b.jpg
... A larger image of this same photo can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stronglight/7204122252/
And, here is a closer view of the bar tape:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6027/5955817241_bf2872d7d1_b.jpg
... more details and larger view available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stronglight/5955817241/
It will take a bit of time to get used to seeing "color" on my handlebars. But, now that I have finally found a reasonable compromise between old plastic Hunt-Wilde or shiny vintage Benotto tape (both with zero cushioning) and most thick and highly padded modern bar wraps, I may be changing even more of my old bikes.
Here was my first similar modification - to my Motobecane Grand Record - the red color is in fact more like the "original" (cotton) tape color would have been than the black tape I had always used...
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6008/5971872027_f87295f472_b.jpg
:innocent: With the discovery of these nice modern tapes... and finally recently discovering a rare color catalog photo showing my c.1971 Motobecane Le Champion in blue with WHITE bar tape (and gum hoods on Universal brake levers), I am already planning my next daring bar tape project.
:50: Don't worry guys. Although my recent inter-ocular lens replacement eye surgeries now have me seeing the world both clearly and in vividly true color, I will never warm to the gaudy "splash" cork tapes - which I will forever consider far too distracting for any bike, new or old.
Bob
I had always used simple black cotton tape on this bike, but recently took a chance and was pleased to find some modern tape in a closely matching color. It's not nearly as thick as most of the very cushioned tapes available today and it also has a smooth finish resembling a semi-glossy finished leather. So far, I'm really pleased with both the near match of the color and the ability to easily clean off this rather light colored tape.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7097/7204122252_557cea8cb0_b.jpg
... A larger image of this same photo can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stronglight/7204122252/
And, here is a closer view of the bar tape:
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6027/5955817241_bf2872d7d1_b.jpg
... more details and larger view available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stronglight/5955817241/
It will take a bit of time to get used to seeing "color" on my handlebars. But, now that I have finally found a reasonable compromise between old plastic Hunt-Wilde or shiny vintage Benotto tape (both with zero cushioning) and most thick and highly padded modern bar wraps, I may be changing even more of my old bikes.
Here was my first similar modification - to my Motobecane Grand Record - the red color is in fact more like the "original" (cotton) tape color would have been than the black tape I had always used...
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6008/5971872027_f87295f472_b.jpg
:innocent: With the discovery of these nice modern tapes... and finally recently discovering a rare color catalog photo showing my c.1971 Motobecane Le Champion in blue with WHITE bar tape (and gum hoods on Universal brake levers), I am already planning my next daring bar tape project.
:50: Don't worry guys. Although my recent inter-ocular lens replacement eye surgeries now have me seeing the world both clearly and in vividly true color, I will never warm to the gaudy "splash" cork tapes - which I will forever consider far too distracting for any bike, new or old.
Bob