Nothing says “amateur” more than an imperfect handlebar tape job, a dirty bike or a nasty grimy chain. Conversely, a clean bike feels faster. And new handlebar tape and a clean chain imbue a rider with extra fortitude and a little extra snap in the legs.
The professionals don’t need to wrap their own bars-they have full- time mechanics who can do it blindfolded. No matter how carefully I did my handlebar tape around shop owner George, he would regard the job, and then cruelly shoot me a look that said “amateur!” I have studied him wrapping tape. It looks effortless and he might also be talking to a customer, mocking a minion, his mind on many things – but the final result is perfection.
This drives me crazy.
It should not be so hard. I replace my tape maybe two or three times a year, just seldom enough to forget how to do it properly.
The Velominati have spent a lot of energy debating bike color co-ordination (see Rule eight) and I had a bad tire/tape issue, so I had to go white (I don’t do black tape). There is no doubt white looks great; the question is how long will it look great?
The bike shop I like to use, close to us, did not carry my favorite Fizik tape. It is bombproof and magically never ever gets dirty. So I bought what they carried, some white Deda tape.
I stripped off the old and tried to put on the new. After three attempts of rewrapping with more tension and less overlap each time, I was still short on one side. The tape was so stretched I might as well have been wrapping my bars with plastic wrap or the old Benotto cello tape. Son-of-a-bee-aatch!! (F’ing Italians, would it kill them to give me another few centimeters? The other side was better – could they be different lengths? F’ing Italians!) The only way to make it even meant both sides ended up short and too far from the stem-completely unacceptable! This put me in a mood most foul.
I called the other shop within riding distance, a Specialized shop, and was told they had three kinds of white Specialized tape. Three kinds- really? Of course when I got there, it wasn’t so-but the one they did carry has rocked my world. Specialized S-Wrap Classic 3 ply fake leather with some sweet dot perforations. It is $25 but supplies more than enough tape for the perfect wrap. It’s mighty fine looking and feels perfect; perfect cushion, perfect grip, oh, I’m in love. But, will it stay white? How bad will it look in a month? Two weeks of fair weather riding leaves the tape still bright white.
Again Specialized has impressed me with their form and function. I have some Specialized S-Works road shoes and a pair of their leg warmers and they are great. Their glue-less inner tube patches: the jury is out. Sure they lose some cachet because their items are made in China not Italy but until the Italians give me a little more tape, I’m an S-Wrap boy.
*Is it wrong to be this excited about handlebar tape? Is it dangerous to ask this question? I’m hesitant to answer either of these. And yes, Rules violations in photo, how many can you find?
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@john
Funny story. I was just down the shop, telling Saul and Gerek about how Krx10 will not let a cycling conversation pass without mention of Dag-Otto. And then he pull this shit off. LOVES IT.
@Joe
I don't think there's any Rule against mixing components. In fact, many a great bike companies have made a living of hand-choosing their components. Shimano "STI" actually stands for "Shimano Total Integration". Before those fuckheads started messing with every bit of the component tree, there was an art to how to combine components and make the most perfectest bike. Simplex shifters with a Mavic derailleur and who-knows-what-chain-that-could-handle-the-power was Sean Kelly's favorite combination aboard his stunning-yet flexy Carbon-Kevlar Vitus.
Combining bits is de rigeur, if you ask me. Send me some shots and we'll post 'em. Cheers.
@Beth
Oh, and please stop giving your husband pink tires.
You guys kill me!
It's only recently I've been willing to commit allegiance to the church of white bar tape. For I quickly learned that commitment is what's required once you take that road: dirty, dirty, dirty. With gloves, without gloves. Dirty.
Indeed, following until-bedtime maintenance of #1 bike last night, I am about to clock off work early to get back in time to perform the final, crucial act in advance of tonight's chain gang: the cleaning of the bar tape. It's either that or take #2 bike instead.
@John - it's not wrong. It's not dangerous. It's required.
@Joe
Looks like you just reached the Level 3 Velominatus status! Nice work, mate!
@john
Regarding stem choice, look into the Pro Vibe 7. I'm considering one myself; nice low rise (10 degrees), triangular shape for stiffness for the big lads like ourselves.
@drfrot
Try that Fizik tape out; the non-tacky one. No cleaning required; I have yet to clean it after a full season. Aces.
And the Church of the White Tape is a good place to be. I never say Merckx ride with black bar tape.
@frank
At the end of last season I swapped from "Pro" white tape (a bitch to clean), to one of those three offerings from Specialized - the "Roubaix" stuff. Not too fat, just a bit spongy under the hands. Nice.
Am pleased to report it's v.easy to clean too. Do you guys have GT85, the very fine lube in a spray? That works a treat sprayed directly on and rubbed vigorously with a clean white cloth. Makes your whole bike (& house) smell shop-fresh too :¬)
@drfrot
Well Dr Frot, if that is your moniker, this white tape church is new again to me and it's the only church I attend. Some white tapes are just too much work, like being a catholic. The Deda tape I used once, just to ride to the damn bike shop was already soiled(again, catholic problem). Fizik and Specialized seems to have come up with much better solutions; they rarely require any cleaning and look great! What a concept.
Recently I taped my FSA K-Force bars. I got PRO on it and went for FSA bar wrap (black, with embossed FSA logos). Not only does it match the bar (consistency counts), it's beautiful tape (try it), wraps well (unlike some) and looks sick (as I am the tape MASTER - I'll take on all comers on that one).