Hello all,

After Saturday I start a transistion period leading to my base season. I want to signify the training year start by changing something notcable cheep on the bike... bar tape.

I do not like any of the red tapes on the market... too nasty looking for my taste. I do though like white, like the CSC bikes. Other than the typical "white tape gets dirty too quick" any other experience with white tape?

Thanks as always!

seriously?

Seriously... I want a change and my bike is red and white...

I could stay with black though.
I have heard so many negative things about white that I was curious if there was anything good about it...

And for me small things can make a difference... expecially in training (plus something new makes me want to ride more).

Umm....white tape feels the same as coloured tape?

That's about it really.

As a matter of fact, I am looking for some padded, perforated, vinyl bar tapes in white. None of this cork stuff for me, thank you......I've got white vinyls on a couple of bikes, including this fixed gear beater I keep at work, and they stay clean :)

Sounds like someone is in need of some attention...

Try some barbie tassles in a bright pink. Im sure that everyone who sees them will understand the statement you are trying to make.

Thank All you answered my question. I was just curious to see what the big deal with white compared to all the other colors were...

As for the poster above...

Not sure who it is though...

try photoshopping a picture of it to see how it might look. other'n that -- i have yellow tape on mine and it went south pretty quickly. but i also don't wear gloves. i can only imagine white tape being alot worse.

Why have someone on your ignore list if you are going to look anyway. duh!

I just rewrapped the bars on my bike this weekend, first time wrapping them. I used the Specialized bar fat, its cork so you can see little bits of non-white in it. Everything went pretty well, just make sure the electrical tape or whatever you use to finish off the end isn't the kind of stuff that is going to leave a mess. I used some of that at first and noticed that the gunk was getting on my hands and could start to dirty up the bars, so I covered the edges with the pieces of tape that Specialized included with the tape.

Like I said I just put it on so can't comment about how its going to hold up to dirt, grease and sweat but it looks pretty sweet so far. :D

Seeking white plastic tape? Do a search for "Pelten" or "Bike Ribbon". Such tape is not as thick, is easy to clean, and is often longer lasting than cork. For a real trip back in time, try Benotto. Very thin, much more like ribbon, but pearl looking colors very attractive and leaves you with a nice, skinny feeling on the bars. Comfort shouldn't be a problem if you have good gloves.
David...still living in Olde Fartedom.

I have white tape; got it on the theory that in Arizona it would stay cooler in the beating sun than the black that the sheep use. Don't know whether that theory has any merit or not, but it sounded good at the time. Now I'm in Alaska, not such a big deal anymore, but I'm still the only guy I see with white tape, so I've kept it.

It hasn't gotten all that dirty in three years, and I've only cleaned it off once (after a crash), sometime before I moved here so that would be a couple years ago. My tape is some kind of foam thing, not cork; and it cleans up very nicely with soapy water. It has proven to be very durable - I've gone through several gloves and the tape still looks pretty new, a good thing since I'm too lazy to clean it.

The only other thing about white tape is social. I do get comments about it, and it is a good way to get into conversations with other riders. The comments haven't been negative, and I've met some nice people by being nonconformist in this way. Go for it.

i have white tape on my bianchi, and, while it does get dirty (as rad would say... if it didn't get dirty, you're not riding enough), a shot of simplegreen fixes it up all nicelike. clean your tape as often as you clean your chain and all will be well.

I recently did the white bar tape thing and I think it makes a difference. I like the results. The bike looks better IMO and I used tape which is nice and thick, giving me a bit more comfort. All-in-all a good move.

My bike had white bar tape when I bought it and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. On a purple and blue bike, it was too like a bandage over a black eye. I ended up with purple, which I like a lot. Go for the red!

I always used white on my light blue Miyata and loved the look much more than the black it came with. But even if I was careful while installing, I would flat or lose my chain on the first ride and presto! grotty stained bar tape.....I used the Cinelli cork stuff which is nice and thick and not particularly blinding, more like an off-white color.

Cycling culture is all about being as ostentatious as possible (okay, maybe less in the US than across the pond)!!! Get the white bar tape and that rig will be a stunner...

(I recommend this with the caveat that I have white bar tape on one of my cycles and everyday consider putting white on my main ride as well).

have you considered the speckled white/red combo?

http://www.profile-design.com/produc.../wrap_bar.html

Here is a cool red and black tape. I have it on my Trek. I could only find it at World Cycling. Maybe out of production.

http://www.worldcycling.com/merchant...gory_Code=GEAR

55/Rad also gave me a cool tip. Pick two colors you like and make a transition from one color to another under the hoods of your brifters. Probably easier to do that using the Cinelli bi color, as I find it hard to make the color change occur at the same part of the bar using the Cinelli. I have to wrap one bar the way I like it, the rewrap the other side of the bar until it matches the first side.

another cheap - and kind of gross fashion trick for us misers -

works well with white or light colored tape - I did this on my old Bianchi with celeste colored tape.

1. install tape.

2. use, get flat, lose chain

3. fix flat/chain

4. repeat steps 2 & 3 on all too regular basis

5. remove tape

6. rewrap on opposite sides so grungy flattened portion of tape is hidden and fresh spongy tape is exposed.
Voila! Fresh new look just waiting for more grease and grime

all i use is white

I use white. Keep it looking dirty, gives the natrual look.