BkSaGo

Had white bar tape on my CAAD 9 5 for a while. Hard to get real clean, but general household cleaners worked OK, but I image the foam rubber tape being more porous would be even harder to keep clean. I wear gloves, but tape still got dirty pretty quickly. Changed to black tape - problem solved.

cxwrench

I worked for a team that used white tape one season. I (and a couple other unfortunate mechanics that had to deal w/ white tape) used this:

Bleche Wite

Koyote

If you run white bar tape, just replace it every few months. If you don't know how to wrap your own bars, run black tape.

Desert Ryder

I used to try and keep some things clean. Some areas just show wear, like bar tape. I let it show as a badge of honor.
It shows that it's being used as it's supposed to. The wear, dirt, and scrapes will all tell a story that the rider will more than likely remember.

I changed from black to blue/white.

Retro Grouch 

GoJo. Get the kind without the pumace if you can find it. Simply slather it on and hose it off. Takes about as long to do as I spent typing this.

qwaalodge

That looks like good alternative. Dirt would be less obvious. I'd probably go for white and red.

qwaalodge

Not a bad option. My cork tape only cost $3. Except, taping is not my favorite task on the bike. I wrap and unwrap multiple times until I get the spacing, tightness, and thickness right and it has to be gobsmack in the middle. I make the loops on mine closer than usual so the wrap is thicker and more comfy.

...and then you need super extra care on the white tape. You can't let the other free end touch the floor, the tires or any greasy part of the bike while you wrap it! I could relate why LBS crew take a special liking to white tape guys.

If I had to clean, I prefer not to remove it.

Camilo

I just spray with a general cleaner (Like "409") and rub it clean with a cloth. It's not rocket science: stuff gets dirty? clean it.

Fredo76

White Tressostar or similar cloth tape cleans up nicely in a self-service car wash. Just blast it at close range with the soap and it comes out nearly new. I haven't tried it with the white Cinelli gel/cork stuff - don't know if the jet would be too powerful and tear up the tape, or not. I have gotten greasy spots (oops!) mostly out with toothpaste.

It's funny how guys can work on total rust-buckets without concern, even bragging about the 'patina', but get picky about handlebar tape that looks like it's been ridden. And I'm not talking about ridden 'til it's black, just ridden some since the taping was done.

To a rider from the seventies, white tape just looks pro.

dedhed

Body odor and eating exotic food attracts dirt to white bar tape, so you either stop those things or go with a different color.

It also attracts dogs like white on rice.

jamesdak 

I just don't worry about it. I keep my bikes in pretty much pristine condition but I do ride them no matter how good they look. If white bar tape gives the look I want I use it. When it get's dirty I just don't worry about it. It's just a bike's Badge of Honor that proves it's being used.


I won't use white Lizardskin again though. Expensive, doesn't feel good, and attracts dirt like no other!

big chainring 

The way Dino's roll.

Jrasero

I had white tape once and I hated it. It looked good for one ride. I tried cleaning it and there would always be residual stains and grease.

mprince

I clean my white bar tape with a fresh wrap of black bar tape.

Calsun

Usually only the bikes at places like Wal-Mart have white tape. Bike tape is available in many colors and no reason to use white tape. If you are going to have the tape replaced or do it yourself, consider putting the new tape over your dirty white tape as it makes the handebars thicker and provides more of a cushion for your hands. I have use the type of tape made for tennis rackets and wrapped the handlebars between the stem and the brake levers to make this section fatter.

Taymob

I use simple green on the seat and tape.