This has bothered me for years... I see white tape on bikes far more often than I'd think it's warranted.

Say you've got a black and white frame; do you want the impractical colour that'll look good for 30 seconds, or the colour that matches the colour of lots of other bits on your bike?

It's almost like lots of folks subscribe to some sort of unwritten rule on the subject or something... it seems particularly prevalent amongst the Euro pros... it's a tradition thing, right?

To my eye, many of these sexy bikes are aesthetically ruined by this jarring clash... here's a selection it just doesn't belong on, IMO (some have had white seats thrown on in an effort to create a half-arsed sort of coordination, and just failed, I reckon).



What do you think? How wrong is that last one? It's like, "YOUR HANDS GO HERE!"

Can someone provide a bit of background on why white is so de rigueur?

you're an idiot, people should put whatever color tape on their bike they want to.

Agreed. With the low cost and effort involved in changing bar tape, who really cares if it looks dirty faster?

Thanks for the thoughtful response, pal.

Did you see me attempting to dictate anyone's choice? I'm just wondering why this one is chosen so damn often, and why stupid sentiments like this abound:
I mean, that's just laughable. But you're not alone.

Its all about the THE OFFICIAL EURO CYCLIST CODE OF CONDUCT:

9. One’s bike frame shall contain between two (2) and four (4) colours IN ADDITION TO WHITE. All colours are acceptable as long as they combine tastefully and elegantly. In addition, wheel selection must also match frame and fork.

17. Saddles shall be white in colour ONLY and shall be manufactured in Italy or France. Exceptions may be made in the following cases:
i) Saddles containing World Cup Stripes or Olympic Gold when it is EARNED
ii) Italian flag colour combo when rider is ITALIAN (born in Italy)

18. Handlebar tape is required to be cork as well as WHITE IN COLOUR. Bar tape shall be kept in pristine white condition. This state shall be achieved either through daily cleansing or through frequent replacement. These jobs must NEVER be performed by the cyclist as one must maintain one’s image.

I cant believe you are even thinking of questioning the high order of the euro cyclist. Shame!

Memorize the rest and dont get on a bike till you do!

https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2258201150

Fact: white bar-tape instantly increases the sex-appeal of any bike.

+1

Awesome effort into this thread.

i like white

I for one think white bar tape looks great dirty. A bike needs to looked used/loved.

Lol. Bar tape rage.

I agree, as long as it doesn't look like it'll stain your hands, I think it looks good.

I've never made note of anyone's bar tape. The only place it's ever come up in discussion is here on BF.

I could've sworn I read an entire chapter on white bartape in Roadie. I might be wrong.


























j/k

it just looks good?

It looks fine on bikes with a lot of white, but what about my examples?

I can't believe the consensus in you lot. Must be a self-selecting thread title...



The arseholeage is strong in here.

The white version of the cateye would have just been the icing.

Looks . . . not interested.
Practicality . . . interested.
Have used black bar tape since 1975.
Black never 'looks' dirty.
Black is 'practical' for the same reason and goes with any color bike.
That's just my opinion.

Got it.



Wait, what?

Another heretic! Burn him too!

Since my race bike is white, I have white tape but with a black stripe running it's length.. One thing about white tape. Just have a flat and don't wash your hands following the repair. It's very easy to turn the tape to black.

With the secondary use of red through out ie. cables, etc.. Is that custom or did you do it.. Looks pretty cool.

I take a long a pair of disposable vinyl gloves, for these occasions.

x2

My ex-girlfriend suggested using those when I washed my bike to help keep my nails and hands from looking dirty afterwards. It also seemed a good idea to take them along on rides just in case; made use of them yesterday morning after getting a flat coming down Topanga Cyn.

Yeap,

Cable housing from bontrager (through project 1 when I ordered my bike)
red KCNC chainring bolts
Red hoods for SRAM are a sram part.
Red Tires from bontrager.
Red headset spacer from chris king.