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

Oli says:

Feb 16 2012 at 11:38 am

Just wind it the right way and it will work fine.
Mikael Liddy says:

Feb 16 2012 at 2:50 pm

@Souleur

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.

I think lo Sceriffo might want a word on this topic...
Oli says:

Feb 17 2012 at 3:14 am

Moser usually had quite a rounded back, although he sure could get low in the drops.
chiasticon says:

Feb 17 2012 at 3:39 am

@sthilzy

Now - who has the best method of lining up the stem straight in-line with the frame/wheels?

quick trick if you don't have the option of giving the bike a quick verification spin (say, wrenching in the basement or garage at night, etc): line it up the best you can giving it the old "close one eye and use the other to line the tire up with the stem line" method. but don't tighten it fully. now get beside the bike and line the stem up with the frame. now grab the back of the saddle and push the bike forward, using care to make an absolutely straight line and not touch the handlebars. is the stem still straight in line with the frame? if not, adjust it.

this won't be perfect, but it'll get you damn close.
Calmante says:

Feb 17 2012 at 5:59 pm

This picture is from the excellent folks at Bike Rumor:
Integrated hydraulic Di2 levers at Bike Rumor

So, the question is... What's worse; the hood shape, or the awful wrap job?
itburns says:

Feb 17 2012 at 7:11 pm

@Calmante

This picture is from the excellent folks at Bike Rumor:
Integrated hydraulic Di2 levers at Bike Rumor

So, the question is... What's worse; the hood shape, or the awful wrap job?

Hood shape - you can fix the wrap job. Those look like antlers instead of hoods.
frank says:

Feb 17 2012 at 7:46 pm

@chiasticon

@sthilzy

Now - who has the best method of lining up the stem straight in-line with the frame/wheels?

quick trick if you don't have the option of giving the bike a quick verification spin (say, wrenching in the basement or garage at night, etc): line it up the best you can giving it the old "close one eye and use the other to line the tire up with the stem line" method. but don't tighten it fully. now get beside the bike and line the stem up with the frame. now grab the back of the saddle and push the bike forward, using care to make an absolutely straight line and not touch the handlebars. is the stem still straight in line with the frame? if not, adjust it.
this won't be perfect, but it'll get you damn close.

THAT IS FUCKING BRILLIANT.

@itburns
Exactly, though its hard to pick the chunks from the vomit and say which is better.
Nate says:

Feb 17 2012 at 7:47 pm

@itburns

@Calmante

This picture is from the excellent folks at Bike Rumor:
Integrated hydraulic Di2 levers at Bike Rumor

So, the question is... What's worse; the hood shape, or the awful wrap job?

Hood shape - you can fix the wrap job. Those look like antlers instead of hoods.

Both, and the levers only add to the atrocity.
chiasticon says:

Feb 17 2012 at 8:12 pm

@frank

@chiasticon
THAT IS FUCKING BRILLIANT.

hah. thanks. nine times out of ten it'll be dead on.
Chris says:

Feb 19 2012 at 4:01 pm

Tomorrow marks another step closer to la vie velminatus. I pulled the bar tape off after this evening's roller session, I'd been putting it off for a while but realised the only way was to bite the bullet.

The left shifter is lower than the right and has been leaving me in a bit of pain as a result. A bodge job hadn't sorted the problem so tomorrow after a good clean down, I'll probably end up swearing a lot before having to buy more tape after ruining the microtex stuff I've bought.