Reading Wayne's post about using leather on handle bars reminded me of two things:
I've had people ask about sourcing leather tape for classic bikes.
What kinds of leather would be thin and not stretchy - basically the leather would have to be finely pored but not too dense, and it occurred to me....?
Kangaroo hide, bark tanned (or chrome tanned for bright colors) would be the *perfect* leather bar tape. Now I know Wayne's not in Australia, but I'm reminded that there are makers of single tail whips in both New Zealand and Australia, who are expert at cutting hides into far thinner strips than we would need for bar tape, and beveling the edges.
I've messed around with targeting with single tail whips (think Indiana Jones - but not quite so large!) and am constantly impressed how well the kangaroo hide holds up. It is incredibly strong, it is almost impossible to break by pulling on the very thin strips that narrow down from the handle to where the fall attaches on my 4' bullwhip. It does not seem to stretch at all. Because it is so finely pored, its not so great for shoes, but it's the stuff for woven belts.
I know that water isn't all that great for kangaroo hide (another reason not to use it for shoes) but I'm thinking no one is getting those bikes wet anyway...
Ann Phillips Atlanta Ga - where it is supposed to snow tonight...
Date: Wed, 22 Jan 03 12:16:01 +1300 From: Wayne Davidson <wayne.collect@xtra.co.nz> To: "CR BIKE LIST" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: [CR]Re I hate tape...... Message-ID: <20030121231449.DNYX29171.mta4-rme.xtra.co.nz@[219.88.1.38]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" MIME-Version: 1.0 Precedence: list Message: 1 Hi all, to save sending out many emails I will answer all in one go, The leather is made for handlebars, it comes as a strip and you sew it on, like Cinelli VIP, I use black, I think you are not able to buy anymore, I have bought mine over the years from various sorces - mainly from old racers who don't need it anymore. I don't clean it, and I never get it wet, so donot know what happens when it does. On a passing, I have thought about getting some made and marketing it, as I have not seen it for quite some time......regards wayne davidson Invercargill New Zealand