Cleaning handlebar tape

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pjgraham86

Über Member
Location
Glasgow
I've just completed my third outing on my new road bike (a return after 10 years of hybrid use and loving it) and already the white handlebar tape has turned a horrible shade of grey despite me trying valiantly to wipe clean after each ride.

Does anyone have any tips for cleaning it effectively?

Thanks

peter
 

4F

Active member of Helmets Are Sh*t Lobby
Location
Suffolk.
WD40 on a kitchen cloth
 

palinurus

Velo, boulot, dodo
Location
Watford
Good tip. I need to get some white tape for my road bike as I've just bought a white saddle and the old black tape just doesn't work.

Cleaned the bike the other day, never realised how often I grab the saddle when doing so.
 

kyuss

Veteran
Location
Edinburgh
fossyant said:
If it's cork tape, then washing up liquid on a cloth works well.

Until you go out in the rain and discover that you haven't quite rinsed it properly and end up with foamy, slippery bars. Been there, done that.

WD40 or Xlite Bike Spray do a great job. My white tape is almost as white as the day it was fitted 2 years ago.
 

02GF74

Über Member
clean with paraffin and tooth brush - gets rid of the oil/grease stains, then finish off with washing up liquid in water.

any stains left will be ingrained into the tape that you won't shift.

oh, and the same works on handle bar grips too. (on mtb)
 
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