White handle bar tape

[Jo-n-NY]

Since I see many bikes with white handle bar tape, I was wondering how it is kept clean. As I ride most everyone that has it the tape is clean and white. I never think to ask the question on a ride.

I thought of changing it, but I don't want to do that just yet. So does anyone clean their handle bar tape and if so what do you use.

Thanks ~ JoAnn

[kfergos]

I second this question, and I actually *have* white handlebar tape. When I got it, the people at the bike shop said "Oh, just rub a little degreaser on any spots and it'll come right off."

Sure. Except the dye from my fuzzy gloves actually bleeds off the gloves and leaves red or black handprints on the white tape, and degreaser (Pedro's citrus stuff) is no good for that. Dirt also doesn't come off very well with degreaser. So I'd say degreaser = out.

My dad says just regular soap and water keeps his white bar tape nice and clean, so I may have to give that a try next. I'll let you know.

[VeloVT]

I highly recommend Fizik microtex bar tape. I recently switched out my bars on my new bike, necessitating a new tape job. The white cork tape that came on the bike had gotten pretty dirty very quickly (a couple of rides on the trainer plus two or three on the road). I put Fizik tape on the new bars and so far so good. It is easy to clean, but more than that, it just doesn't seem to attract and absorb dirt the way cork does. (I rode a season with light pink Fizik tape and it didn't get dirty at all).

My Bianchi has dirty celeste cork tape. I try to clean it when it gets really dirty. Soap and water works OK, but bike wash works better (I have the scary bubblegum pink kind from Finish Line -- called "Super Bike Wash"). One of these days I'm going to put microtex tape on that bike too.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

scruffy dirt doesn't bother me too much on handlebar tape. It's a badge that shows you ride your bike a lot. If it gets impossible gross you can then change it if you feel compelled to.
There's a word for such charming wear: beausage.
Some people pay extra for it!

[redrhodie]

I have white cork bar tape. It comes pretty clean with a damp sponge and dishwashing liquid. It comes perfectly clean with a damp sponge and octagon soap! A friend gave me a bar of octagon soap, and I don't know much about it, but I think it's been around since the dawn of time, and it works like a champ.

I found a link:
http://www.americarx.com/Products/12707.html

It's excellent stuff. Probably your great-grandma used it.

[SadieKate]

We use a paste made from powdered laundry detergent and a toothbrush.

[yetigooch]

A clean white bar tape is an unused bar tape.....a dirty one means your bike is being ridden........Only thing that needs to be clean is your chain (and cables).

[ZenSojourner]

My new Terry bike came with white bar tape and it didn't stay white very long.

It's the one thing about the bike I DIDN'T like, and I actually did say something to Georgena Terry about it.

Obviously it didn't make any difference, since Terry bikes STILL come with white bar tape, LOL!

I'll be getting it replaced as soon as I get my bike out for it's spring tune up. It makes the whole bike look ratty, and I'm danged if I'm going to be spending time with a toothbrush and a basin of soapy water trying to get the stains off every time I ride!

[AnnieBikes]

My new Felt FW3 came with the white and I would NEVER choose it. I will try to clean it up (though it is not too bad yet, even with 500 miles) I think that I will do what most sane people would do ...use it until it is worn out and then replace. I am all for a greener environment and would not think of replacing it just to get rid of the white. I will "use it up" before I replace it!

Thanks for all the help.

[elc11]

My Ruby came with white BarPhat tape--that comfy grippy white tape that is also a dirt magnet. So far the best cleaning method has been to apply a paste of Oxy-Clean and water, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub with one of those kitchen scrubber sponges. It takes several rinses to remove the soapy residue and the grainy mixture gets all over the place, but the tape really sparkles afterwards. Until the first ride.

It helps to wash my gloves weekly, and I carry a couple of those wet-wipe towelettes (in the foil packet from fast food restaurants) to clean my hands if I have to work on the bike while on the road. And I just put up with it kind of dirty most of the time; its too hard to keep clean all of the time so I wait until its really filthy.

I'm going to try SoftScrub next time. I like the idea about the Saran Wrap...I wonder what the guys in the shop would say if I did that before taking it in for a tune up?

[kfergos]

Update:

I never found a good, relatively low-labor method for keeping white bar tape clean, so I'm not really adding a lot to this thread . But I thought I'd toss this out there: A picture of me and my (now ex-)bike to show what happens if you just let white bar tape go without ever cleaning it (and if you don't suffer some horrific hand injury as shown in Zen's picture! ).



You can decide: Is it worth hours of scrubbing and care to keep that bar tape clean? Or will I just live with black handprint spots where I put my hands most often? I decided on the latter, and went with black bar tape when I got my new Seven.