I couldn't reply yesterday since I reached my posting limit for the day in
about ten minutes, but I received two noteworthy comments off list that
I'll post because they really seemed to touch what I was looking for and
folks might like to hear them. I still won't ride with that slippery,
gooey labor intensive sh.., uh ... stuff! Apologies in advance if I've
offended anyone.
>From Ted Ernst:
Back into the '30's and maybe waaay before?
People always wore gloves and this was for fixed gear/ track bikes in the
USA.
Riders used the glove(s) to stop. Ambidexterity you know.
So one or two coats for keeping from unraveling or cleaner look was more
practical.
Gloves kept one from slipping
Not many did it, but I saw it regularly as long as I can remember into the
'40's
Ted Ernst
And from Chuck Schmidt: Don't have an answer for you Dan, but it reminds me of something that I've been turning over in my brain...
I think plastic tape (shiny stuff from the early fifties) was not made to be a cheap substitute for cotton tape as we believe (like cheap bikes came with in the sixties/seventies) but as a replacement for the time intensive shellacked cotton tape.
Maybe that Gem British plastic tape from the late forties - early fifties looks like shellacked cotton tape when looked at through the eyes of a randonee guy back then
Thanks to all who replied to me. Happy trails,
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA
Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/
Tom's post brought back a question I've never had answered. When (and why) did people start shellacking their cotton handlebar wrap?
... alotta' mindless crap! ...
Please! Someone tell me what's so great about the shellac obsession and why I might actually want to do it for a bike I'd like to ride.
Cheers,
Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA