How do you keep white bar tape white?

AndyChud
AndyChud Posts: 39
edited March 2008 in Workshop
Hi, my name is Andy and in the summer I bought my first race bike, a Stevens 'San Remo'. It's a great bike and I love it. The only problem is that as winter came in, I found my beautiful white bar tape and gleaming white saddle becoming less and less white with every ride! Does anybody know how to clean it and prevent this from happening again?

Cheers, Andy

Comments

  • Salsiccia
    Salsiccia Posts: 405
    How to keep white bar-tape white? Leave it in the packet...
    I was only joking when I said
    by rights you should be bludgeoned in your bed
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    well - salsiccia has the best answer..

    or

    you will find that products like muc-off and a brush do wonders for reviving the tape - although I have to admit that I think those same products are actually pretty harsh on the rest of the bike.

    in addition - just think of it as a consumable item and be prepared to renew it a couple of times a year..
  • AndyChud
    AndyChud Posts: 39
    yeh, leaving it in the packet would be fine, but it came with the bike and i was just wondering how to clean it...
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Swap it for White Fizik tape, it's more leathery than cork tape and will keep white. It's also easier to clean.
    I like bikes...

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  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    redddraggon wrote:
    Swap it for White Fizik tape, it's more leathery than cork tape and will keep white. It's also easier to clean.

    Hmm - don't be so sure - those little perforations in the fizik stuff can hold some crap and can spoil the look of tape just as much as a generally grubby cork tape! - I know from experience!
  • schlepcycling
    schlepcycling Posts: 1,614
    Flash liquid bathroom cleaner (the original white stuff in a bottle), or a cheaper supermarket own brand is great for cleaning bar tape.
    'Hello to Jason Isaacs'
  • djb1971
    djb1971 Posts: 565
    Vanish carpet / upholstery cleaner :wink:

    I think i posted this on monday, must be my age :oops:
  • AndyChud
    AndyChud Posts: 39
    will using these household cleaning fluids not damage the rest of the bike at all? or the bar tape itself? is it not possible to get special stuff from the shops for this kind of job?
  • Nelson Longflap
    Nelson Longflap Posts: 129
    Make sure your mitts are clean too. Have at least a couple of pairs and rotate them.
  • graeme_s-2
    graeme_s-2 Posts: 3,382
    I swapped mine for the Fizik white tape as well. It's been fine since, just wipes clean.
  • sprintkid
    sprintkid Posts: 315
    I always ride white bar tape. And all I can say is ride it for the rest of the bad weather and then change it for the summer. Give your whole bike a good old overhaul as well It'll feel like your riding a new bike :D
    sprintkid
  • AndyChud
    AndyChud Posts: 39
    Make sure your mitts are clean too. Have at least a couple of pairs and rotate them.

    yeh but surely the tape still gets dirty eventually?[/b]
  • campagchris
    campagchris Posts: 773
    I spray Mr cif or dettol surface cleaner onto some kitchen roll then clean the bar tape.
  • AndyChud
    AndyChud Posts: 39
    thanks for all the advice guys! ill try some methods out tomorrow with any of the above cleaning fluids i can find in the house :?
    thanks again, appreciated and any other advice is welcome, also for cleaning white shoes
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    You do like your white kit don't you ?

    It may be an idea to emigrate to somewhere drier and sunnier, or failing that - wear overshoes for the whit cycling shoes ?
  • Bernard Durand
    Bernard Durand Posts: 2
    I have been using this amazing degreaser from Castrol called "Super clean" Both my road and cross bikes has white bar tape and one would never know how old it is. You will find it in automotive department - in Canada at Canadian Tire, Part Source and also Wallmart. In fact, I use it all around the house either to clean carpets, bad stain on a shirt....you get the idea. I have even managed to clean very old stains on some on my friends jerseys just by applying the cleaner on the garment and washing it 30 minutes.

    Bernard Durand
  • Bernard Durand
    Bernard Durand Posts: 2
    Back to Stevens bar tape, where can I buy some on the web?

    Bernard Durand
  • Hugh A
    Hugh A Posts: 1,189
    Baby wipes are pretty handy for a quick once over - also very good for removing dark oily marks.
    I\'m sure I had one of those here somewhere
  • Sea_Green_Incorruptible
    Sea_Green_Incorruptible Posts: 431
    Tipex?
  • ridleydan
    ridleydan Posts: 52
    i'm surprised nobody has mentioned Cillit Bang. Barry Scott reckons its good stuff. That said, i would have it nowhere near my bike!!
  • Mercury-10
    Mercury-10 Posts: 48
    use White Fizik tape it lasts one season thats one summer then change it in the spring, sorted
    Yea I'm getting on
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    Mercury-10 wrote:
    use White Fizik tape it lasts one season thats one summer then change it in the spring, sorted
    +1

    fizik tape is quite unbelievable for it's staying whiteness.

    it's the only tape i've found that can do this. my other white tape is black

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