I picked up the *BERTHOUD* leather bar tape for my Crust EPO build.
This was the first time using a leather bartape for my own bike. It’s been about 8 months since building the bike and the bartapes are looking pretty nice from aging.
The bartapes were originally black, but the area I grip has faded dramatically.
I haven’t really taken care of the bartapes since I applied them. I even had the bike sitting outside on rainy days, and this is the result.
At first, I didn’t like how it changed colors, but I somehow became attached to them. I guess this is because I ride this bike everyday.
When you first wrap it, it has a moist texture, but the oils from your hands make it look shiny after time.
I didn’t expect them to be so tough to be honest.
The bartape is still intact, even though they have scratches on the surface. They’re still wrapped on the bar tightly.
↑Rubber and foam tapes often end up like this.
Bartapes are bound to become filthy and stinky over time, due to sweat and rain, but the leather bartapes haven’t had that sort of issues so far.
I haven’t done any kind of maintenance other than applying a ton of the included oil after wrapping the tape on to my handlebar.
Just smiring them by hand should do the trick.
From here, I’d like to write a report of my little experiment.
I started to wonder what would happen if I apply maintenance oil to the bartape.
I prepared three samples: one treated with oil, one untreated, and one treated with Proofide oil from Brooks.
Then, starting in October,
・Tape left outdoors at all times
・Tape kept outdoors during business hours and stored indoors after closing
I prepared these two scenarios.
And the results…?
No difference…lol
If I had to say, I feel like the color fades less when I apply oil. The experiment started at the same time as I wrapped my handlebar, but it looks like the sunlight is not the only thing that makes the leather fade.
Anyhow, I’m going to keep experimenting.
