Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

old fashioned bar tape?

Search
Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

old fashioned bar tape?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-07-14 | 06:43 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 21
old fashioned bar tape?

Just got some bar tape at the local and installed it on my '85 super course, hmmmm, no, not right, looks like the bars are wearing a winter coat. Much too thick and modern looking for a retro ride.

So where can I get some good old fashioned thin bar tape?

Someone did tell me to try Fizik so went to their web site and the superlight is only 2mm thick but really can't tell unless I see it in person and to do so I have to order it. Anyone have experience with Fizik superlight or maybe there is another tape I should look at to get that old time feelin' when grabin' the bars.

Last edited by teisco; 06-07-14 at 06:56 PM.
teisco is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 07:15 PM
  #2  
Branimir's Avatar
Merckx wannabe
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 254
Likes: 1
From: Zagreb, Croatia

Bikes: Rampon EL/OS 5700 groupset

I have F'zik's 2mm white bar tape.

This is by far my favorite tape. It's not thick, so it doesn't make your bars look like they are wearing a winter coat. Also they are very very durable, easy to clean, don't turn into mush, and are not sticky.
Can't say enough good words about F'zik bar tape

Branimir is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 07:19 PM
  #3  
shoota's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 7,853
Likes: 717
From: Stillwater, OK
LizardSkins 1.8mm

https://shop.lizardskins.com/products/dsp-1-8mm-bar-tape
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
shoota is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 07:36 PM
  #4  
BluesDaddy's Avatar
I got 99 projects
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,581
Likes: 2
From: Hills of Central NH
Newbaum's?
BluesDaddy is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 07:42 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,904
Likes: 2,987
From: Elwood Indiana

Bikes: they change so much I'm tired of updating this

fizik for newer bikes, cotton tape for c&v bikes.
__________________
Semper fi
sloar is online now  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 08:18 PM
  #6  
jjames1452's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 107
From: Dayton, Ohio

Bikes: Trek 720, Trek 620, Trek 520, Steel Schwinns, AD Puch, Kona, Nishiki Pro, All City Disc Spacehorse, Waterford

I like the Brooks bar wrap.
jjames1452 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 08:19 PM
  #7  
MRT2's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 6,321
Likes: 221
From: Wisconsin

Bikes: 2012 Salsa Casseroll, 2009 Kona Blast

How about leather?
Robot Check
MRT2 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 08:44 PM
  #8  
Chombi's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 11,128
Likes: 39

Bikes: 1986 Alan Record Carbonio, 1985 Vitus Plus Carbone 7, 1984 Peugeot PSV, 1972 Line Seeker, 1986(est.) Medici Aerodynamic (Project), 1985(est.) Peugeot PY10FC

Most padded type tapes will add a bit of thickness to your bars. Cork's a good alternative but some people don't like the way they get dirty quick if you get light colors, but you could always get black too..,,,
Newbaum's cloth is really nice. I think it's softer and maybe a little bit thicker than the cloth tapes I used in the early 80's. Best thing about it is Newbaums gives you a long enough tape, so you don't have to be skimpy with the wrapping overlap, like I remember having to do so with cloth tapes of the past.
Chombi is offline  
Reply
Old 06-07-14 | 08:49 PM
  #9  
Full Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 248
Likes: 78
From: SoCal
If you don't require the padding, Benotto celo tape would be a choice.
Campagnerdo is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 04:14 AM
  #10  
oddjob2's Avatar
Still learning
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 11,529
Likes: 88
From: North of Canada, Adirondacks

Bikes: Still a garage full

Looks like leather, cheap, easy to apply, thin. A little slippery, but if you wear gloves, a non issue.
Robot Check

Used below.
oddjob2 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 06:16 AM
  #11  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
Likes: 6,637
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

That Deda stuff looks nice, and the price is decent. I happen to like Newbaum's but of course, it doesn't stay clean for long.

I finally tried leather tape. I got it from Nashbar, and unfortunately, they don't sell it any more. Leather tape is fantastic, and I expect it to last long enough to justify its price, too. I should have tried it years earlier. I have a set of leather tape from Brooks but haven't put it on a bike yet.

This fake cork stuff (or is it real cork?) is awful for me. It's delicate, and I don't like the feel.

Oddly, I like Benotto. I don't know why the slipperiness doesn't bother me. Maybe it leads me to grip harder. Whatever. I think it's pretty good. Is it still made?
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 04:12 PM
  #12  
autoteacher's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: The Witch City

Bikes: 4 Raleinghs

Originally Posted by noglider

Oddly, I like Benotto. I don't know why the slipperiness doesn't bother me. Maybe it leads me to grip harder. Whatever. I think it's pretty good. Is it still made?
Benotto Handlebar Tape

Marc
autoteacher is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 06:04 PM
  #13  
Thread Starter
Junior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 122
Likes: 21
Thanks for the replies, learned a lot and now know where to get period correct tape.
teisco is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 06:54 PM
  #14  
jimmuller's Avatar
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 13,501
Likes: 995
From: Boston-ish, MA

Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10

You want trad? Tressostar cloth tape, black.
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
jimmuller is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 08:20 PM
  #15  
elcraft
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 840
Likes: 120
From: Greater Boston
Originally Posted by jimmuller
You want trad? Tressostar cloth tape, black.
This!!! BITD, everyone used black Tressostar (or Tressoplast). If one had to fuss with the chain, no worries about any smudging on your bars! My '75 Super Course has had the same black Tressostar since '77.
elcraft is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 08:25 PM
  #16  
Velognome's Avatar
Get off my lawn!
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,035
Likes: 119
From: The Garden State

Bikes: 1917 Loomis, 1923 Rudge, 1930 Hercules Renown, 1947 Mclean, 1948 JA Holland, 1955 Hetchins, 1957 Carlton Flyer, 1962 Raleigh Sport, 1978&81 Raleigh Gomp GS', 2010 Raliegh Clubman

Cloth tape

Attached Images
File Type: jpg
8658831124_34d64c62c8_o.jpg (101.2 KB, 217 views)
Velognome is offline  
Reply
Old 06-08-14 | 08:52 PM
  #17  
SJX426's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,106
Likes: 2,762
From: Fredericksburg, Va

Bikes: ? Proteous, '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, 'Litespeed Catalyst'94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster

Bennoto NOS from when ever, not the new stuff:
]1983 Colnago Superissimo by superissimo_83, on Flickr[/IMG]
SJX426 is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 08:51 AM
  #18  
bbattle's Avatar
.
Sheldon Brown Memorial - Donating
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 12,769
Likes: 38
From: Rocket City, No'ala

Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 5.2, 1985 Pinarello Treviso, 1990 Gardin Shred, 2006 Bianchi San Jose

Velo-orange has leather bar tape for $75, elkhide bar wraps you sew on, and Tressostar cloth tape for $5Handlebar Tape, Grips, Accessories - Accessories

Cinelli cork tape for $12 and Tressostar cloth tape for $4

Lickbike.com | Product Index - Handlebar Tape/Grips

The LBS always has a big supplyof Fi'zik and that's what I normally use. I've also used the cloth tape and it looks good.

Plastic bar tape
https://chickscyclingclub.com/plastic-handlebar-tape/

Velox Plastilac tape NOS
https://www.budgetbicyclectr.com/velo...handlebar-tape

Velox Guidoline Champion NOS cloth tape
https://budgetbicyclectr.com/velox-gu...qt9auhaacce113

Last edited by bbattle; 06-09-14 at 08:59 AM. Reason: to add the plastic bartape offerings
bbattle is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 09:02 AM
  #19  
Banned
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,480
Likes: 450
Hockey stick tape. Cheap too.
crank_addict is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 03:17 PM
  #20  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
Likes: 6,637
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

I like Newbaum's better than Tressostar, and no one needs to know it's new.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 03:27 PM
  #21  
Banned
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast

Bikes: 8

Cotton bias tape , add your own adhesive on the back ..
fietsbob is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 03:27 PM
  #22  
lostarchitect's Avatar
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 6,970
Likes: 59
From: Catskills/Brooklyn, NY

Bikes: See sig

Originally Posted by noglider
I like Newbaum's better than Tressostar, and no one needs to know it's new.

Me too. For me it's either Newbaum's (for vintage bikes), Fizik (for most other bikes) and Brooks leather for when only leather will do. I don't really use cork or any other tapes. I have heard good things about lizardskins, but haven't tried it yet.
lostarchitect is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 05:17 PM
  #23  
rootboy's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,748
Likes: 138
From: Wherever
Newbaum's is the bomb.

balm….

bon,
rootboy is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 07:24 PM
  #24  
toavii's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 558
Likes: 49
From: Prior Lake

Bikes: 1989 Tommasini Super Prestige, 1985 Chris Kvale, 1977 Colnago Super, 1992 Serotta Colorado, 1984 Schwinn Cimarron

I have the VO perforated leather tape on one of my bikes and really enjoy it. It's a good thickness to the point where it's not bulky but not too thin. Matches up very well with an out of box brown Brooks as well.



Going to try Neubaum's on my other C&V.
toavii is offline  
Reply
Old 06-09-14 | 07:44 PM
  #25  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,338
Likes: 6,637
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Has anyone used Velo Orange sew-on bar covers? It's a lot of work but the price is good.

__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.