Since this thread is about vintage bar tape, I ran across something today that I have never seen before. I want a shorter steering stem on my Team Miyata and I want the shorter reach stem installed before I take the bike out for the first time. Anyway, I wanted to (had to) remove the bar tape to swap the stems. The bars are perfect for me, in width and drop. But the tape, not to my liking...


So, I started to peel away the tape, discovering that the LOOK tape has a reinforced sticky backing, making the tape hard to remove and the sticky stuff even harder to remove. While unpeeling the tape, I was surprised to see this gel filled cushion stuck to the back side of the handlebar...


The same stuff was also glued to the drops. This is the first time, ever, that I have seen such an application. Anyway, thought you might like to see what vintage 1985 tape looks (no pun intended) like...