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What Color Of Handlebar Tape Do You use?

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Old 06-22-23, 12:16 PM
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Colorado Kid
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What Color Of Handlebar Tape Do You use?

I was browsing through the e-catalog of Planet Bike the other day and I noticed something different. Day Glow handlebar tape. https://www.planetbike.com/shop-all/...dayglow-yellow Good idea or not?
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Old 06-22-23, 12:31 PM
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Bar tape of any color is neither good nor bad. It's up to the rider what they prefer for the appearance of their bike. That yellow might look really good on a bike that has graphics of the same color.
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Old 06-22-23, 12:33 PM
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Black...
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Old 06-22-23, 01:14 PM
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I remember getting red tape and yellow tape, and using them.

But now that I've started buying tape well in advance of using it, I've become sensitized to the potential color mis-match as n+1 has hit. Black tape complements all my bikes with all their different colors.
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Old 06-22-23, 06:58 PM
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depends on dork disk color
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Old 06-23-23, 09:18 AM
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Any dark color, preferably black. White bar tape = bad idea.
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Old 06-23-23, 09:19 AM
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Originally Posted by timdow
Any dark color, preferably black. White bar tape = bad idea.
But sometimes it looks so right.
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Old 06-23-23, 09:27 AM
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But looks terrible after a few months.

Originally Posted by Eric F
But sometimes it looks so right.
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Old 06-23-23, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by timdow
But looks terrible after a few months.
Back in the days when I had a bike that looked great with white tape, I found that Cinelli cork actually cleans up pretty well. In those days, I also didn't mind replacing tape to keep things looking sharp. With my current bikes, black is the choice, but that's also largely an aesthetic decision.
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Old 06-23-23, 11:09 AM
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Hot pink bar tape for me!
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Old 06-23-23, 12:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Colorado Kid
I was browsing through the e-catalog of Planet Bike the other day and I noticed something different. Day Glow handlebar tape. https://www.planetbike.com/shop-all/...dayglow-yellow Good idea or not?
It couldn't hurt, but it would be a small amount of extra visibility next to a day-glo jersey.
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Old 06-24-23, 03:38 PM
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Bar tape matches saddle like the seat post matches the stem.
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Old 06-24-23, 03:47 PM
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I typically use black, but I do have some dayglow yellow Deda Mistral on a couple of bikes.

I make sure I wash my hands every time before getting on

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Old 06-24-23, 03:54 PM
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Orange splotch
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Old 06-25-23, 02:25 PM
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Sometimes red.





Sometimes black (in leather)



Sometimes orange.



And sometimes that orange gets reused.



Even had yellow

93980011 by Stuart Black, on Flickr

And sometimes silver.

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Old 06-29-23, 12:33 PM
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I walked up to the counter with black tape in hand, and the cashier asked, "Did you find everything you were looking for?" I replied, "Well actually, I was hoping to find yellow tape, but didn't see any." The cashier called my bluff, and said, "Hmm, I think we might have some." Did some digging, and there it was.

It's pretty grungy now, a few years later, but I think the yellow goes well with the green bike. No regrets.

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Old 06-29-23, 02:52 PM
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I just wrapped a set of Nitto Bosco bars with dark gray Paracord
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Old 07-17-23, 10:39 PM
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I went with red. I do have another bike with white bar tape, which mainly gets used on the trainer.
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Old 07-18-23, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Colorado Kid
I was browsing through the e-catalog of Planet Bike the other day and I noticed something different. Day Glow handlebar tape. https://www.planetbike.com/shop-all/...dayglow-yellow Good idea or not?
I don’t think there’s much different about day-glow yellow or otherwise brightly colored handlebar tape; it’s been around forever. As for what about it might be a good idea, if it makes your bike look sweet, it’s a good idea.

I don’t think it does much of anything important for visibility, if that’s what you’re asking, although I won’t argue with anyone who wants to put forth the notion that every bit helps. I don’t find it that difficult to avoid cars, other bikes, pedestrians or obstacles during the day irrespective of my bar tape color (which is never black, BTW).

I might suggest that *reflective* bar tape is more effective for enhancing critical visibility, and you can find examples from Ciclovation, Cinelli, Supacaz, and Serfas (among others).
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Old 07-19-23, 05:55 AM
  #20  
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Boston Bruins team colors on my commuter! The white brake lever covers from a Peugeot U08 complete the color scheme.
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Old 08-21-23, 05:23 AM
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Black. Goes with any color and hides dirt and grime. I do have some camo tape I thought looked cool, but never installed.
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Old 08-21-23, 05:31 AM
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I forgot if I mentioned already but now have baby Blue
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Old 08-21-23, 07:32 AM
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@jaxy357 that's a blinding combination of wheels and backpack! But it's close to the parking stripes' color where you took the picture.
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Old 08-22-23, 03:01 AM
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Black = most practical. If you don't know how to choose colors, take black
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Old 08-29-23, 07:21 PM
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(Disclaimer... this is not my commuter bike.)

Blue looks nice with titanium.

Friction shifting for front triple.
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