This tape matched before.......

baj32161 said:

I pul;led it tight to wrap the bars. Then it lightened up to this colour. I have to admit that I like it, but it wasn't what I expected🙁 . I also discovered that I am a lousy bar wrapper😄 .

Cheers,

Brian

Before

After

I never saw bar drops that were adjusted so far off from parallel to the road. What is the purpose?

lks said:

I never saw bar drops that were adjusted so far off from parallel to the road. What is the purpose?

Its called comfort🙄 .

Looks like the handle of a 1970's tennis racket 😄

fauxpas said:

Looks like the handle of a 1970's tennis racket 😄

Damn, you're right!!!!😄 😄

Coloured handlebar tape gets dirty easily. Perhaps after a couple of months it will match the frame logos.

Are my eyes working right? I thought I saw reflectors on those wheels... I must be going crazy...:eek:

fauxpas said:

Are my eyes working right? I thought I saw reflectors on those wheels... I must be going crazy...:eek:

Yes you did, and as long as I live and ride in New Jersey, USA they will stay there...at least until I get my lazy ass out and find some reflective tape for my rims😉 :p.

baj32161 said:

Yes you did, and as long as I live and ride in New Jersey, USA they will stay there...at least until I get my lazy ass out and find some reflective tape for my rims😉 :p.

Do you get done by the cops for not complying, or have you left them on for safety?

mikesbytes said:

Do you get done by the cops for not complying, or have you left them on for safety?

I feel a bit safer with them on. I will, however, replace them with some reflective rim tape as soon as I remember to pick some up. I have had the cops hassle me for just owning this bike when I was standing outside of a small deli (I am black....nice bike in a not so nice downtown area in Trenton, NJ....long story).

Cheers,

Brian

baj32161 said:

Its called comfort🙄 .

Your bike must not fit you or you have a body geometry different than the thousands of road bike riders I have seen.

lks said:

Your bike must not fit you or you have a body geometry different than the thousands of road bike riders I have seen.

I would guess it is a function of the bar itself. It has very short straight end sections. With the anatomical portion of the drops at a near 45 degree you will not have much of the end section of the bar left to be parallel to the ground. The anatomical part of the bar is adjusted to an angle that is within the normal range. The brakes are attached high on the bar, but a lot of Shimano riders seem to prefer a very upright position for the brakes.

From the side it looks like a TTT bar--the "Less" bar I think. If you adjust the drops parallel to the ground then the anatomical part of the drops gets put in a weird position. I never really cared for that particular TTT design. Give me an old school Merckx deep bend any day.

lks said:

Your bike must not fit you or you have a body geometry different than the thousands of road bike riders I have seen.

Funny, I don't recall ever asking for fit advice from a guy who has never seen me on my bike. I am quite comfortable with the bars the way they are. Please concern yourself with how your bike fits you.
I am sorry, I do not mean to sound rude but this thread was about my bar tape, not about my fit. If I had fit or comfort issues I would have stated such, then perhaps, your opinion would have been welcome In order to place the drops where you suggest I would have to have my brake levers in a very odd position. I prefer my brifters set up high. As I said in an earlier post, my bars are set up this way because I find it comfortable. After reading many of your posts I see that you are a bit more knowledgeable about cycling than I am. That knowledge however does not include knowing when I am or am not comfortable on my bike.

Regards,

Brian

Bro Deal said:

I would guess it is a function of the bar itself. It has very short straight end sections. With the anatomical portion of the drops at a near 45 degree you will not have much of the end section of the bar left to be parallel to the ground. The anatomical part of the bar is adjusted to an angle that is within the normal range. The brakes are attached high on the bar, but a lot of Shimano riders seem to prefer a very upright position for the brakes.

From the side it looks like a TTT bar--the "Less" bar I think. If you adjust the drops parallel to the ground then the anatomical part of the drops gets put in a weird position. I never really cared for that particular TTT design. Give me an old school Merckx deep bend any day.

They are, indeed the bars you mentioned, they came stock on the bike. My current set-up is the only way I find that I can ride comfortably. I don't use the drops very often but I do know I would like a bit longer section of drops so my hands can fit them. I have somewhat large hands and these bars don't really accomodate them well. I appreciate your rather thoughtful reply, as opposed to the "your bike must not fit you" nonsense.

Cheers,

Brian

Green bar tape rocks. I think mikesbytes is correct, it'll darken up over time. (All my bright yellow stuff - gloves, wicking shirts - does that, too.)

Hey, is this the baj I drove to PA with and almost rode with?

It's pretty cool to see a couple other NJ'ers on the forum. 😎

Nice tape, too. 😄

sgtpepper64 said:

It's pretty cool to see a couple other NJ'ers on the forum. 😎

Where are you? PM me if you want to ride sometime.

Check your PM.

I like the green better. I find it hard to believe that this is the same tape considering that there was such a drastic color change. Glad to see that you found some matching water bottles😄 .

I ride with my bars up like that also. I hardly ever ride on the drops and like to ride with my thumbs hooked over the brake levers. If I know it's going to be a fast ride, I'll take a TT bike. It really is a comfortable riding position.