Expensive bar tape. Is it worth it???

David9694 wrote:

I’m mainly a Deda and a Fizik guy. Most expensive departures were Brooke’s to match a saddle, Fabric Hex for a particular blue I wanted and Tortec quite padded, the latter in white.

they’ve all lasted well, including being rewrapped, but how do you get the darned things clean??

Just cleaned my wife’s white bar tape. Simple. Bucket of warm water or a hose pipe, clean cloth, washing powder/ liquid and a nail brush (not actually necessary). Dampen the tape with the cloth or hose on a fine spray. Take a small amount of washing powder in your palm and rub it into the bar tape. As it lathers work it all around the tape covering it all. 

Once it is covered, scrub gently with the brush, or run your fingernails over the surface to pull the dirt out. Rinse with spray or blot with the clean damp cloth, rinsing and wringing regularly. Work oil stains etc a second time if required.

if it is really grubby start with something like Vanish Oxy Action stain remover, which is what I did yesterday. Tape looks like new again in gleaming white.

PP

I’m mainly a Deda and a Fizik

I’m mainly a Deda and a Fizik guy. Most expensive departures were Brooke’s to match a saddle, Fabric Hex for a particular blue I wanted and Tortec quite padded, the latter in white.

they’ve all lasted well, including being rewrapped, but how do you get the darned things clean??

At a stretch (pun intended)

At a stretch (pun intended) you can use silicone plumbers/electrical tape. Plenty of colours, sticks to itself, durable, easy to apply and remove. But based on some of the prices in this thread, probably more expensive than real bar tape.

Kieran0885 wrote:

So the short answer is no. It’s all style over substance. Ok I’ll stick with the Deda I was looking at originally at 7.99

thanks

That £7.99 Deda tape feels lovely. Really nice under the hands. I’ve got it on my long distance bike.|
The only problem I’ve found with it, once it’s on, it’s on for good. There’s no readjustment possible, the glue is so strong, it tears if you try to unwrap it.

The other one I’ve been using for the last few years is Cinelli Tennis tape. That feels really luxurious.

Jimthebikeguy.com wrote:

Jimthebikeguy.com wrote:

Lifeline stuff is just about all you need. If you want more cush, wrap it twice…

That’s fine if you’ve got hands like builders shovels 

I’m 3 years in on some Lizard

I’m 3 years in on some Lizard Skins tape – no signs of wear, no movement in that time, easy to clean, still looks great.  Money well spent as far as I’m concerned.

Ah fool and their money are
A fool and their money are soon parted, and these expensive bar tapes are snake oil for the gulible.
Most expensive I’ve paid is for Fizik at about £11. Good tape, goes on easy. But I tend to buy cheap tape, Deda, BBB, Lifeline all good, no issues. Put some Ritchey on my best bike as all the stem and bars are Ritchey, that was also good and clever bar end fixing meant the R was nice and vertical.