bar tape

Jon_H said:

What would be the best bar tape to wrap drop handlebars with. Is it worth
paying for a branded make or just any old bar tape will do.
I think the cork tape is ok but does anyone have any better suggestions.

That has no answer.

I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
covers. Grant Peterson even suggests twine wrap with natural
dyes.

Oh, and the leather adherents - wrapped strips or sewn covers.

To each his or her own.

It's just tape - live a little! If you change your mind
later, it's cheap. You can sometimes change the whole
aesthetic of a bike with the right accent color.
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 23:58:29 -0600, A Muzi
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
covers.

[snip]

Dear Andrew,

I buy my godawful foam grips a dozen at a time from J.C.
Whitney. They fit both motorycle handlebars and bicycle drop
bars, and they give a rakish air that otherwise can be
achieved only with dark socks with sandals.

I'd put them on the Fury RoadMaster, but removing its hard
plastic grips would probably require a hacksaw.

Carl Fogel

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 23:58:29 -0600, A Muzi
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
covers.

[snip]

Dear Andrew,

I buy my godawful foam grips a dozen at a time from J.C.
Whitney. They fit both motorycle handlebars and bicycle drop
bars, and they give a rakish air that otherwise can be
achieved only with dark socks with sandals.

The effect can be enhanced by inverting the handlebar in the stem.

Quoted message said:

I'd put them on the Fury RoadMaster, but removing its hard
plastic grips would probably require a hacksaw.

But has any bike ever been more deserving of such sporty and stylish grips.

Ron

Jon_H said:

What would be the best bar tape to wrap drop handlebars with. Is it worth
paying for a branded make or just any old bar tape will do.

I think the cork tape is ok but does anyone have any better suggestions.

cheers
Jon_H

Hi, I really like the padding that comes with the Specialized Bar Phat
and the cork tape is fine, but only comes in black. It is also $30 for
the kit, but the pads seem to remain good for many tape replacements.
They do sell the tape separately.
For colors, I have been using Profile Design. I had some problems with
short tape, the Ciclolinea brand was short and cut to uneven lengths.
Some of the regulars recommended the Profile. I find the Profile is a
little longer and the price is good.

Bar tape wears out or with lighter colors, gets dirty, it is
inexpensive, so experiment.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Jeff Starr said:

Jon_H said:

What would be the best bar tape to wrap drop handlebars with. Is it worth
paying for a branded make or just any old bar tape will do.

I think the cork tape is ok but does anyone have any better suggestions.

cheers
Jon_H

Hi, I really like the padding that comes with the Specialized Bar Phat
and the cork tape is fine, but only comes in black. It is also $30 for
the kit, but the pads seem to remain good for many tape replacements.
They do sell the tape separately.
For colors, I have been using Profile Design. I had some problems with
short tape, the Ciclolinea brand was short and cut to uneven lengths.
Some of the regulars recommended the Profile. I find the Profile is a
little longer and the price is good.

I've been using the Profile cork and always have enough for my 44cm bars. It
feels good, price is reasonable and I never need to use the same color twice.

Quoted message said:

Bar tape wears out or with lighter colors, gets dirty, it is
inexpensive, so experiment.

Yep, this is easy to have fun and play with.

Ron

RonSonic said:

I've been using the Profile cork and always have enough for my 44cm bars.
It
feels good, price is reasonable and I never need to use the same color
twice.

Quoted message said:

Bar tape wears out or with lighter colors, gets dirty, it is
inexpensive, so experiment.

I like Profile too. I stock up when it's on sale at Nashbar. I tried
"colors" for a while, but have gone back to basic black. It looks good, and
you don't have to worry about it fading or getting dirty.

Art Harris

Jeff Starr said:

Hi, I really like the padding that comes with the Specialized Bar Phat
and the cork tape is fine, but only comes in black.

Were you referring to Specialized cork tape (if there is such a thing)?
Cork tape has been available in a dazzling array of colors.

See, for instance: http://home.comcast.net/~mandmlj/meatcrater.jpg
(Cinelli Red & Yellow cork tape)

Don't know if this particular color is still made, but I see lots of
wild colors on LBS shelves.

Mark Janeba

Mark Janeba said:

Jeff Starr said:

Hi, I really like the padding that comes with the Specialized Bar Phat
and the cork tape is fine, but only comes in black.

Were you referring to Specialized cork tape (if there is such a thing)?
Cork tape has been available in a dazzling array of colors.

See, for instance: http://home.comcast.net/~mandmlj/meatcrater.jpg
(Cinelli Red & Yellow cork tape)

Don't know if this particular color is still made, but I see lots of
wild colors on LBS shelves.

Mark Janeba

Hi, yes the various brands of tape that have a bit of cork in them,
often come in a variety of colors. Even Specialized offers their
"S-Wrap" tape in colors. The Bar Phat kit, which includes the gel
packs, only has been available with black tape.
Take a look, the price did go up to $36.99:
http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=10018&JServSessionIdroot=almwv4jp7r.j27010

Life is Good!
Jeff

Jon_H said:

What would be the best bar tape to wrap drop handlebars with. Is it worth
paying for a branded make or just any old bar tape will do.

I think the cork tape is ok but does anyone have any better suggestions.

I used to use shiny thin plastic tape (one brand was actually "Shiny
Tape"😉 for years, but can't find it any more. The advantage was that it
could be wiped clean and didn't go mouldy in damp conditions, like cork can.

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 23:58:29 -0600, A Muzi <[email hidden]> may

have said:

Jon_H said:

What would be the best bar tape to wrap drop handlebars with. Is it worth
paying for a branded make or just any old bar tape will do.
I think the cork tape is ok but does anyone have any better suggestions.

That has no answer.

Or, for any group of n riders, >(n+1) answers.

Quoted message said:

I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
covers. Grant Peterson even suggests twine wrap with natural
dyes.

I find that two layers of 3/4" videotape with an overcoat of clear
shellac gives it a certain techie air.

Quoted message said:

Oh, and the leather adherents - wrapped strips or sewn covers.

It has to be the right kind of leather, though. (If Chrysler had made
bikes, it would have to be Corinthian leather for those, of course.)

Quoted message said:

To each his or her own.

It's just tape - live a little! If you change your mind
later, it's cheap. You can sometimes change the whole
aesthetic of a bike with the right accent color.

Yes, but those fuschia stripes on the seatpost and downtube are a
little much.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail.
Typoes are not a bug, they're a feature.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Mark Janeba said:

See, for instance: http://home.comcast.net/~mandmlj/meatcrater.jpg
(Cinelli Red & Yellow cork tape)

Don't know if this particular color is still made, but I see lots of
wild colors on LBS shelves.

I had some of that on my racing bike when it was still sprayed in "Z"
team colours. It looks much worse with a bit of mildew growing on it
(the shed was damp at the time).

Quoted message said:

Jon_H said:

What would be the best bar tape to wrap drop handlebars with. Is it worth
paying for a branded make or just any old bar tape will do.
I think the cork tape is ok but does anyone have any better suggestions.

Zog The Undeniable said:

I used to use shiny thin plastic tape (one brand was actually "Shiny
Tape"😉 for years, but can't find it any more. The advantage was that it
could be wiped clean and didn't go mouldy in damp conditions, like cork
can.

Benotto is still available in most colors

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

begin quoting A Muzi <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
covers.

I put those godawful foam covers on the front bars on the tandem, even if
they are made by scary creationists, and they seem to help (along with
46cm bars) given the amount of work I do at the front.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!
Today is First Monday, February.

Pearl Izumi "Greptile" tape is great - it's sticky (easy to grip with
gloves in winter).

It's even better when it gets wet too.

Only downside - i can only find it in White.
Not a color you want to use (trust me)..

DB

RonSonic <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 23:58:29 -0600, A Muzi
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

Quoted message said:

I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
covers.

[snip]

Dear Andrew,

I buy my godawful foam grips a dozen at a time from J.C.
Whitney. They fit both motorycle handlebars and bicycle drop
bars, and they give a rakish air that otherwise can be
achieved only with dark socks with sandals.

The effect can be enhanced by inverting the handlebar in the stem.

Quoted message said:

I'd put them on the Fury RoadMaster, but removing its hard
plastic grips would probably require a hacksaw.

But has any bike ever been more deserving of such sporty and stylish
grips.

Ron

: The effect can be enhanced by inverting the handlebar in the stem.
Nice. Would you put the plastic bucket on the back to hold your tin
cans, a beer case taped to the handlebars, and wear a pot on your head
for a helmet? Oh, and who needs tires pumped up to proper pressure?
Those half flat tires create a plush ride.

PatC said:

RonSonic <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 23:58:29 -0600, A Muzi
<[email hidden]> wrote:

[snip]

>I have customers who demand and will accept no substitute
>for cork tape, Cinelli Brand cork tape,(I personally can't
>tell the difference) cotton tape, French Only cotton tape,
>Benotto, Supple Tape, Pelten, and those godawful foam
>covers.

[snip]

Dear Andrew,

I buy my godawful foam grips a dozen at a time from J.C.
Whitney. They fit both motorycle handlebars and bicycle drop
bars, and they give a rakish air that otherwise can be
achieved only with dark socks with sandals.

The effect can be enhanced by inverting the handlebar in the stem.

Quoted message said:

I'd put them on the Fury RoadMaster, but removing its hard
plastic grips would probably require a hacksaw.

But has any bike ever been more deserving of such sporty and stylish
grips.

Ron

: The effect can be enhanced by inverting the handlebar in the stem.

Quoted message said:

Nice. Would you put the plastic bucket on the back to hold your tin
cans, a beer case taped to the handlebars, and wear a pot on your head
for a helmet? Oh, and who needs tires pumped up to proper pressure?
Those half flat tires create a plush ride.

Nothing adds style like the Volkswagon hubcap centered in the middle of the
handlebars as a frame for the picture of a tiger's head. Excellent shielding
characteristics as well.

Proper fitting and technique are also very important and often underestimated.
First get that saddle down where it belongs, not up in the air, tilt it back a
little so your arms can pull in comfort instead of having to push. Next put the
strongest part of your foot on the pedal, that's the heel. Makes you wonder why
people try to pedal all up on their toes like those racing sissies. Next protect
your knees and ankles by making sure to point your toes and knees in the same
direction, outward. If you point them forward you're just going to keep nutting
yourself on the upraised front of that tilted, lowered seat. Besides you walk
with your toes pointing out, makes sense you should ride that way.

There, you see how fit and technique work together now.

Now get a milk crate and a couple of old innertubes, like the ones with the six
inch long strings of patches from when you didn't notice it was flat. And next
week we're going to fit a proper cargo carrier on the front.

Ron
Cycling consultant to the stars.