White leather handlebar tape?
05-12-22, 06:45 PM
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White leather handlebar tape?
Aside from the insanely cool factor, I’m guessing there’s no real advantage to white leather handlebar tape—especially in the getting-dirty and hard to clean department.
I use white vinyl now. Just discovered the leather tape a few minutes ago through a random Google search. But I’m still intrigued...
I use white vinyl now. Just discovered the leather tape a few minutes ago through a random Google search. But I’m still intrigued...
05-12-22, 07:31 PM
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Hello, I really like Fizik micro tec classic. It is 2.5 mm think and wears very well. It can get dirty but cleans up easily and quickly, just get in the habit of wiping it down every couple rides. I use light soap and water. It can take a bit to get a good wrap you have to wrap it pretty tight, but once it is set it looks wonderful. Add a white saddle and the cool factor goes up X2.
Have a great day
Have a great day
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05-12-22, 07:38 PM
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Damn you john903. I was hoping you’d talk me out of this!
05-12-22, 07:44 PM
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If Fizik still offers the glossy version, it's even easier to keep clean.
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05-12-22, 08:16 PM
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Hello, I really like Fizik micro tec classic. It is 2.5 mm think and wears very well. It can get dirty but cleans up easily and quickly, just get in the habit of wiping it down every couple rides. I use light soap and water. It can take a bit to get a good wrap you have to wrap it pretty tight, but once it is set it looks wonderful. Add a white saddle and the cool factor goes up X2.
Have a great day
Have a great day
My first serious attempt at wrapping a bar correctly. I’m okay with it.
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05-12-22, 08:24 PM
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05-12-22, 08:45 PM
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White leather can have various final finishes on it, some are a bit glossy which will be less grippy but much easier to clean. For white leather I would look at the stitch on strips.
do it off the bike and a clamp or two with a block of wood to maneuver things.
and time, don't try and do it in one shot.
do it off the bike and a clamp or two with a block of wood to maneuver things.
and time, don't try and do it in one shot.
05-12-22, 08:52 PM
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The Fizik stuff is great, It's not real leather, but it looks and feels like it. It cleans up really easily, and if you get any chain grime on it, just use some degreaser, and you're good as new.
05-12-22, 09:21 PM
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I will also throw myself into the Fizik tape love fest, I have used both the old 3mm Microtex Classic and newer Tempo Bondcush and found them to be spectacular, hard wearing and easy to keep clean and looking sharp. The Bondcush stuff is my favorite but at $40/roll not all my frames are worthy 
05-12-22, 10:49 PM
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Fizik on both my bikes and it ruined me for anything else.
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05-13-22, 12:37 AM
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I’m another Fiz’ik white Classic Touch fan.
In the process of trying an alternate handlebar, I retaped bars three times with the same tape. Didn’t quite get the tiny smudges re-aligned the last time, but oh so close. Great stuff.
I’ve been using white self-fusing silicone tape for finishing tape. Minimal creep, no sticky residue!
In the process of trying an alternate handlebar, I retaped bars three times with the same tape. Didn’t quite get the tiny smudges re-aligned the last time, but oh so close. Great stuff.
I’ve been using white self-fusing silicone tape for finishing tape. Minimal creep, no sticky residue!
05-13-22, 02:30 AM
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Oh, you have to get a white saddle to go with it...
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05-13-22, 06:35 AM
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05-13-22, 07:32 AM
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From a previous post:
Handlebra is the best leather tape I’ve come across. Expensive but worth it.
HandleBra : Exemplary Leather Bicycle Handlebar Wrap : "Wait ' till you put your hands on this!" TM
This bike gets ridden less than 300 miles per year but the tape has been on since 2012 and still feels great for bare-handed riding. The chamfered edges make for a very smooth wrap. Only been wet a few times but I never had issues.
Handlebra is the best leather tape I’ve come across. Expensive but worth it.
HandleBra : Exemplary Leather Bicycle Handlebar Wrap : "Wait ' till you put your hands on this!" TM
This bike gets ridden less than 300 miles per year but the tape has been on since 2012 and still feels great for bare-handed riding. The chamfered edges make for a very smooth wrap. Only been wet a few times but I never had issues.
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05-13-22, 02:04 PM
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The Handlebra stuff looks very nice indeed. I ordered from the site I linked to, Leh. Of course, I already have the white saddle--a Selle San Marco Regal with titanium rails and silver rivets.
Anyone remember the magazine ad back in the 80s of--I think it was a Tommasini? Painted in kind of a fuchsia and white?--that had Cinelli bars with a stitched white leather wrap? Talk about classy...
Anyone remember the magazine ad back in the 80s of--I think it was a Tommasini? Painted in kind of a fuchsia and white?--that had Cinelli bars with a stitched white leather wrap? Talk about classy...
05-13-22, 02:22 PM
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Used Selle Italia Smoothtape Classica Leather handlebar tape On my Zullo recently.
will be using black Brooks leather handlebar tape on my Tesch rebuild.
will be using black Brooks leather handlebar tape on my Tesch rebuild.
05-13-22, 02:28 PM
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That Zullo is a work of art. *drool*
05-13-22, 03:09 PM
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great thread.... helps for a future build
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(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
05-13-22, 03:32 PM
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The Handlebra stuff looks very nice indeed. I ordered from the site I linked to, Leh. Of course, I already have the white saddle--a Selle San Marco Regal with titanium rails and silver rivets.
Anyone remember the magazine ad back in the 80s of--I think it was a Tommasini? Painted in kind of a fuchsia and white?--that had Cinelli bars with a stitched white leather wrap? Talk about classy...
Anyone remember the magazine ad back in the 80s of--I think it was a Tommasini? Painted in kind of a fuchsia and white?--that had Cinelli bars with a stitched white leather wrap? Talk about classy...
I've posted this photo before but I love seeing my bikes on the interweb
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Montana, where men are men and sheep are lying little tramps.
Montana, where men are men and sheep are lying little tramps.
05-13-22, 03:38 PM
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05-13-22, 05:19 PM
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Thanks, please post photos of the completion. I have another set of wheels (actually three more sets) for this one to continue the whiteness.
Some might say "too blingy" but I think that's impossible.................. since it's 100% Italian (er, except for the bar tape)
Freshly restored 10 years ago. Hard to find 8-speed Campy cable housing now.
Some might say "too blingy" but I think that's impossible.................. since it's 100% Italian (er, except for the bar tape)
Freshly restored 10 years ago. Hard to find 8-speed Campy cable housing now.
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Montana, where men are men and sheep are lying little tramps.
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Last edited by majmt; 05-13-22 at 05:32 PM.
05-13-22, 05:27 PM
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So it sounds like you ordered the LEH natural Leather bar tape. I also have that brand in white. I like it with two exceptions it is a bit to slippery, and it stains easily. If it is dirty it cleans up ok, but if you ride in the rain and your gloves are wet somehow the dye from the gloves stained the bar wrap. For cleaning traditional leather wrap it was suggested on another forum to use tooth paste and a tooth brush to clean the bar wrap. Sure enough it works quit good. So don't forget to brush.
05-13-22, 05:42 PM
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I have bought from Handlebra and Leh Leather. Both gave excellent customer service. . In both cases, they went out of the way to get me what I wanted.