Categories: Accessories and GearKitNostalgiaThe Hardmen

Ride Like a Leader: White Bar Tape

The Prophet rode white tape, how about you?

When done correctly, Cycling can be both the hardest and dirtiest of sports. We relish in the glory of returning from a ride, battered by the four winds and soaked by the seven rains; our bodies, faces, and machines covered in the reasons why most people might stay indoors. Given that, there is something almost cavalier about submitting to the deluge in the color white, particularly when it comes to shoes, socks, jerseys, and bar tape.

Modern cycling teams, with budgets outsized only by the egos inhabiting the roster, are tending strongly towards a Three Musketeers, unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno mentality. Yet, in years gone by, when Rule #5 was a way of life more so than a badge of honor as it is for us, teams were dominated by a single leader who shouldered responsibility in all manner of races throughout the season. In those days, team bikes were generally built, as they are now, in accordance with Rule #8, with bars wrapped in blue, black, red, or green tape. One bike, however, always stood out as the exception: the team leader’s bars were always wrapped in white.

White is a glorious color to grace a set of handlebars. It emphasizes the sensual sweep of the drops and the beautiful curve from the hoods to the tops. It brings out the crisp shadows of the cables running beneath the tape to highlight a perfect wrap. It stands as a testament to the care that is undertaken in maintaining the machine, for without meticulous attention white does not stay white for long. It states that these bars are graced not by the sullied hands of a domestique, but by the clean grip of a leader.

When it comes to wrapping bars, there are many classy possibilities – black is always stylish and versatile (you can dress it up or you can dress it down), red is fast, celeste is classic – but for Bike #1, I always choose white not because it’s Pro, but because when I go out, I ride like a leader.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

Jarvis says:

Feb 15 2012 at 8:59 am

@Mikel Pearce

@wiscot
And none of us would ever ride in a group like that, as we would most likely take out the entire group!

Hopefully the group wouldn't allow you to ride with them like that in the first place.

As an example to the point I am making, I refer you to the picture accompanying this article. Look how bent the arms are...far better for control.
DerHoggz says:

Feb 15 2012 at 9:18 am

@Jarvis
Bull.
frank says:

Feb 15 2012 at 9:29 am

@Jarvis

Stiffer wheels, straighter arms, skinnier riders, desperation... all add to the mix. I think the originator, or at least a supporter of the low bar position theory is De Vlaeminck*
*I'm probably wrong on this

Correct, you are wrong on this!
marko says:

Feb 15 2012 at 9:37 am

@frank
Is my back flat?
Mikel Pearce says:

Feb 15 2012 at 9:40 am

@Jarvis

@DerHoggz

No group I have ever ridden in would allow someone in an Obree egg position, simply for safety reasons.

Lots of pros can ride with arms bent despite huge saddle to bar drop (they are PROS after all), but lots of them can't, or don't. Look at the footage from Qatar for some great examples of both. Boonen in particular seems to be quite flexible.
frank says:

Feb 15 2012 at 9:54 am

@all
Obree was a track racer and no one in their right mind would ride like that now, let alone in a pack. His photo was included as a joke.

Lets move on. There are pictures of Roger de Vlaeminck in this thread now, for fuck's sake!
Souleur says:

Feb 15 2012 at 9:54 am

Fella's, De Vlaeminck is the gold standard when it comes to the flat back position and drilling it. No others IMHO match his aggressive stance. Many, including Spartacus come close, but lest we forget, the bikes and geometries have changed also. That may account for some subtlty here.

and...I AM SO STOKED, just bought a Ridley Damocles! will post pics later, and yes, it will have white Fizik microtex wrap
Tartan1749 says:

Feb 15 2012 at 10:00 am

@DerHoggz

Gotta love Faboo's 140mm stem ......

As Frank stated in a previous discussion, as you drop your bars, you will probably also need to lengthen your stem. I went through this recently going from a 105mm stem where I felt really cramped and my knees/elbows nearly in constant contact. Dropped the stem a spacer and went 135mm. Much mo' betta now. BUT I wouldn't have dared do that 1+ yrs ago. Amazing what more riding will do for you.
Nate says:

Feb 15 2012 at 10:34 am

@Ron
So much for that idea. Can't deal with those compact bend bars.
BrianG says:

Feb 15 2012 at 11:13 am

I recently went through a proper bike fit and did some research on positioning. According to Andy Pruitt, aka fitting guru, it turns out that Faboo's position was actually not as efficient as a slightly more upright one from a wattage standpoint.