bar tape that matches brown Brooks saddle?
 

hi guys...

quick aesthetic question:
any bar tape out there (besides the obvious brooks brown leather tape) that matches well with a brown brooks saddle?

the brooks stuff can be pricey...seeing what other options are out there, leather or faux-leather

ok thanx

Off the top of my head, deda, soma, salsa, fizik makes imitation leather tape. Just putting it out there, Velo orange and cinelli have their own too but the prices are too similar IMO to brooks. Nonetheless there's always chinese sellers on fleabay with bargain leather tape of questionable quality.

oh btw i am aware of some options already...like fizik, charge, deda (all faux-leather) but i guess im looking for input from people with experience with any of them...about how good of a match they are with the brooks dark brown. its hard to gauge color off of product pictures online. kthnx

leuky:
oh right on, thnx...
just curious have you seen any of the fake leather tapes next to a brown brooks saddle? i guess im looking for whatevers closest in color and price...

I've seen deda's mistral in brown and it comes pretty close if I remember correctly.
Here's a relevant sample in brown:
http://forums.mtbr.com/attachments/s...8_2508-029.jpg

As for the feel, it's pretty much given that imitation tapes would feel like their normal colored counterparts.

As for chinese leather tape, you can always manipulate the color of leather with shellac and waxes or acids depending if you want to darken or lighten.

i've had/have the deda brown, fizik brown, velo orange

they all match the brooks pretty well

Well, brooks makes bar tape as well, so their brown does match. You probably won't like the price too much though...

Brooks bartape blows. Their own branded colors don't match each other. Their honey tape does not match their honey saddles, and it ****ing pisses me off for 80 dollars. **** brooks bartape. Don't ever buy it.



Adarga Leather Bartape:
http://www.amazon.com/Adarga-Leather...I2CZWQ2VCPU80H

Adarga Chocolate = Brooks Brown


Also, their honey tape is a spot on match for brooks honey saddles.


Also, the quality on brooks tape is ****. The stuff is made in china, and not well. Its really thin, tears easily, and is just junked together leather scraps.

Are you gonna cry real tears?

I learned to wrap bars with the brooks tape. The only saving grace was the cork bar end plugs.

Not really, was just letting OP that brooks shouldn't be an option.

It's not even on my bike, it's on the sqrls.

qft

The plugs are classy. OP, get the Adarga tape, and then get these:
http://www.benscycle.net/index.php?m...4b609e2c401819

Brown cotton. Shellac it.

Thank me later.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58457141...drop-bar-wraps

I bought these a few months ago, and so far I've enjoyed the quality of the product.

Good stuff and good folks.

rite on, thanks guys. have some good suggestions, and glad to hear so many match well color-wise. definitely not going with Brooks tape.

and sheepdog: yah walnut studio makes nice stuff. the bike this bartape is for is covered in walnut studio stuff, since my wife found them on etsy and bought stuff from them as presents for me. i have the saddle bag, and that shoulder "portage strap"....and i think shes getting me the bike handle too lol (the strap and handle are totally unnecessary but this bike is covered in brown leather stuff so it looks nice visually)

ok happy pre-turkey-coma day

If you ever go To LA openroad bikes store has his own leather wrap that matches brooks, he has sew ups and regular flat wrap, and ribbed. I dont think its too expensive