I need to replace my stock bar tape that came with my CAAD10 since it's falling apart and I can't avoid it any longer. I've never dealt with bar tape before and my search on these forums really didn't produce much information. The best thread I found was this: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-Review-Thread. But it's from 2009 and I am not sure if most members agree with that review.

So having said that, what I didn't like about my current bar tape was that it's almost impossible to clean due to its absorbent surface. Is there anything out there that will make it possible to really clean the tape by just wiping it with Lysol/water? I sometimes ride in dusty environments and I also sweat a lot on my trainer, making it hard to keep the tape clean. I almost always ride with gloves, but having a comfortable bar tape will still be a plus.

Some of the tapes that most cyclists seem to use are:

S-Wrap Roubaix - I have no idea why there is a 30mm and 40mm one and which one is "better"
SRAM Supercork
Fizik Microtex

I don't know if any of these are easy to clean.

Of the three, I think Fizik would be the easiest to clean.

Cork is porous and anything sueded is super porous as well.

In just the last few days there was an extensive thread on this subject. Also a 'dale guy looking for easy cleaning. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding it.

[QUOTE=Bathwater;15936098]Of the three, I think Fizik would be the easiest to clean. ]

+1

After reading some more, I think I'm going to go with Stella Azzurra Eleganza. If anyone has any comments on this brand, let me know.

I have white fizik microtex. I use magic eraser to make it white again. Fast and easy.

Never thought of that. I use Stella Azzurra with the sugar wafer surface in white. Maybe the magic eraser will clean it up.

Use black tape and forget all of the cleaning stuff.

I am using black tape - I got the tape in my link. This is not about keeping the color clean, but rather the material itself clean from grime and sweat. Spongy bar tapes seem to be impossible to clean unless you remove and wash them. The Stella Azzurra seems to be like Fizik and I am assuming that the reflective surface means it's easy to wipe. I'll update the thread once it arrives.

Another +1 on the microtex. Even the white is pretty easy to clean.

Warning though, it is very thin tape and if you like a little more padding look elsewhere.

Fizik microtex

My two favorite bar tape brands are fizik microtex and lizard skins dsp.

Both are amazingly easy to clean, the dsp being a little easier.

The Fizik microtex is EXTREMELY easy to clean. Tough stuff.

For comparison, another of my bikes had Arundel tape on it. Mold started growing on it, and when I tried to clean the mold off, the entire surface texture scraped off with the mold! The mold had even penetrated into the underlying structural fabric.

Much prefer the Fizik.

SRAM Supertech is synthetic and super easy to clean. I used to prefer synthetic over cork, but I recently stopped wearing gloves and now use cork tape (which happens to be SRAM Make the Leap - I believe is the same as Supercork).

Instead of $19 Fizik... buy two sets of $9 super cork stuff... just change it when it gets dirty