"Thomas L. Hayes" wrote:
>
> Could someone please explain to me, and also to the group if others
> might find it of equal value or, whether there is a trick, some arcane
> 1950's method for wrapping handlebars with tape such as Benetto or other
> similar plastic type of tape, like on a 1950's Legnano. I do a
> presentable--not showcase job--with tape that has a sticky back. With
> the other, however, I find regardless of where I start and finish, it
> ends up sliding or slipping and will not hold for much beyond two miles.
> I can't figure out what I am doing wrong, though wrong it is, that's
> for sure.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Tom Hayes
> Chagrin Falls, Ohio where it finally quit snowing sometime yesterday
Tom,
If you are going to use plastic tape on a 1950s bike, Benotto celo tape isn't what you want. Benotto became _the thing_ in the late 70s on pro bikes. What you want is GEM plastic tape (made in England?), which dates from the 1950s or earlier and is textured to look like shellacked cotton tape. There's lots of it around in lots of colors and pretty much zero demand for it. Post WWII I'm sure it was the latest and greatest; when PLASTIC (plastique) was exciting!
The trick is to wrap the tape on a warm day or in a warm room so you can _really_ stretch it TIGHT! No worries about tearing it either, never happens in my experience.
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California, Southwestern USA http://www.velo-retro.com (New retro t-shirt designs on site)
.