So I have been looking around at a lot of different upgrades for when I can afford a higher end road bike, and I stumbled across the Trek Silque. Components and materials aside, it was the unique bar tape that really caught my eye.



The subtle pink accents look really sophisticated because the pink is understated. My Fuji's frame is mostly silver and black with tiny purple accents, but I think the full on purple tape it comes with is too much.



Somehow, I'd like to emulate the look of that Silque's tape. I am thinking about getting perforated black leather tape and either gluing a purple ribbon to the bottom between the adhesive strips, or perhaps double wrapping it with thin purple bar tape underneath. I am also considering getting black tape and using a plastic based professional grade paint to either paint the dots or even make my own designs. I just worry that there is no paint durable enough to withstand all the rubbing.

Has anyone tried any of these methods, or am I the only one who thinks about these kinds of arbitrary aesthetics?

I think about stuff like that all the time but most of the time I'm not skilled enough to pull it off to my satisfaction.

The nice thing about bar tape is, if you decide you don't like it, it's not the end of the world to redo it. If it was my bike I'd haunt the internet until I found a handlebar tape that I think I might like, order some and see how it goes.

Busyman Bicycles: Split Tape


This person double stitched leather bar tape to add a purple highlight.

On my bike I stuck with black bar tape, but put red bar plugs in for an accent.

Can't beat Busyman. His sh*t is insane.

Oh that's sweet! I didn't even think about sewing, I'm so used to cork tape that it didn't even cross my mind. That opens so many possibilities...

@Retrogrouch I'm glad I'm not the only one haha. I'm pretty crafty, but I've had issues in the past of customizing objects with materials that end up degrading with use, so I try to be more discerning beforehand now. The sewing idea is much more durable than any of my ideas; paint and glue are both pretty fragile to abuse but leather holds stitches really well.

I'm looking through Busyman's refurbishing projects and I'm getting leatherworking envy.. his craftsmanship is really impressive!