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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frank says:

Feb 13 2012 at 9:23 pm

@razmaspaz

Wrapped the bars in white for the first time last year, and had more than a few "did you get a new bike" comments. Putting Frank's "I do for my own benefit" comment aside, it really does make a bike look good. +1 on the fi'zi:k tape, I've seen many a white cork wrap job go yellow in a hurry. The fi'zi:k tape looks brand new even a year on. I still will probably replace it this year. Gotta take it off to replace the cables anyway! Those don't seem to stay as white.

Cereal. The fizik bar wrap will last longer than the cables. You end up replacing it because of some other reason. Horrible business model, when you look at it from that perspective.

@sthilzy

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

Word. Replaced my fork and had to stop four times to fix my stem. I just iteratively eyeball it less badly until its right. There must be a better way.
frank says:

Feb 13 2012 at 9:31 pm

@monkeyman

Maybe I'm too old school but I was surprised to see that the rules did not include any mention that bar tape MUST BE WHITE. I move that the rules be amended to include it.

@scaler911 has it right. Besides, black does Look Fantastic (both for bar wrap and socks/shoes) - just not as good as white.

Plus, I like having a few Rules around where the letter of the Rule is different from the connoisseur's view of the Rule, as is the case with white socks. We'll just keep it as a secret between us three.

@Nate
+1
il ciclista medio says:

Feb 13 2012 at 10:03 pm

@James
Nice bike. Is that beetroot I see growing? My favourite vegetable ever.

@frank
Nice one as always frank. I have white tape on 2 out of the 3 bikes. Mainly because it suits the colour scheme of both plus have matched the saddle so it looks way cool. I like that last line because when I go out, I ride like a leader. I do think the same way, unfortunately I probably end up looking more like the domestique, but at least I believe that.
Gianni says:

Feb 13 2012 at 10:08 pm

@Nate
Busted...I'm about to ween myself off the much used frame pump and go leyzne, lezyne, leznye, however it's f'ing spelled. Yeah, I'm off the reservation out here, no one but @mauiguy to get on my case, until I put a photo up.
Gianni says:

Feb 13 2012 at 10:15 pm

@sthilzy

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

As much as I try to line everything up in the shop, I have to go for a ride with an allen wrench. Once I'm riding, the proper alignment or lack of, is obvious. It's weird.
minion says:

Feb 13 2012 at 11:58 pm

@brett

@frank

@brett

You'll be riding like a follower on the Keepers Tour.
Behind black tape.

I've learned something about the internet the last few years; people are two shades tougher and three shades faster online than they are in person.

So, nothing for me to worry about then...

Herk! Nothing out of you for months then you're mister swinging dick for an afternoon. The afternoon you're supposed to be at work. @sthilzy

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

Yep, turn up for the a grade hammer ride. You'll realise they're crooked about half a second after you arrive, and about a second before every other prick there tells you your stems crooked. After that you'll know when it's straight.
brett says:

Feb 14 2012 at 12:48 am

@sthilzy

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

Try not to line up the stem with the tyre. Use a line of sight across the tops of the bar on either side of the stem, looking down over the fork tips.
Joe says:

Feb 14 2012 at 1:21 am

I approach wrapping with minor dread. Bike A needs doing pre-keepers tour. Probably will go white, maybe.

Though it depends which bike gets an outing. Arse says, take the carbone, wallet says no....

@Marko - you and Gianni are welcome to join me in the bus!
Chris says:

Feb 14 2012 at 2:30 am

I'm slightly worried that we're going to be subjected to some form of UCI scrutineering on Day 1 of the Keeper's Tour with @frank checking not only rule compliance but that the bikes meet with his OCD driven set of aesthetics.

@sthilzy

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

@frank I'm surprised you haven't devised some sort of jig to deal with this. Combining one of your extra long low intensity training rides with OCD mutterings of "it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight, it's not straight..." might not be healthy.
Calmante says:

Feb 14 2012 at 3:03 am

As many of you know, I know everything.

I had never heard about white bar tape on leaders' bikes! Very interesting.

A note on setting up the levers. The outboard Shimano levers are not mirror images of each other. It drove me crazy until I figured that out. The cables leave the levers at different angles.