I'd like to say Benotto is really sexy and looks quite nice on a classic bike. I used to barber-pole all my bars until one fateful ride in the rain about 10 years ago. I must still have at least 10-12 rolls in my parts boxes. After riding the STP (Seattle -to-Portland) double century in one day I rode the bus back to Seattle. I got back to the late Kingdome around 1:00 a.m. and decided to ride the last few miles back to my apartment on Capitol Hill in the pouring rain. At some point while climbing up Pine St. my numb hands and the wet Benotto tape conspired to put me on an even wetter street.
I'd always thought that Benotto was a little slippery in the rain, but I was young and also thought fenders were for woosies. What was a little slipping and sliding when you looked cool? After that I decided good cork tape was the way to go. Now I live somewhere where Benotto would be just fine but I just can't bring myself to use it anymore. I've found the path of double layered cork and won't be turning back anytime soon. ciao, Brandon"monkeyman"Ives Now has fenders on all his bikes in sunny Santa Barbara, Calif.