Joann, the red '08 Ruby Pro is a beautiful color. I wish my bike came that way, although black pretty much "goes with anything."

I used to use the Spesh barphat tape but didn't like it. It was cushy on the hands but it just sucks up liquid like anything. Even after a hard rain my bar tape felt spongy.

The Fizik Microtex not only seems to repel rain water, but anything that lands on it (sports drink, grease, etc.) seems to lie on the surface, and becomes easy to wipe away. The trick is never to let things lie on it long enough to stain or become ground into the "holes." I scuffed it pretty good in a crash as well. There's a few tiny pieces sticking out but the rest sanded away nicely with some fine grit sandpaper.I use the bar gel underneath as a cushion.

It's called Fizik Microtex and the color is Chalk White. It's not quite a paper-white but close enough. I will never use a cork tape again.