Bar tape choice is one of those small decisions that shapes how a bike feels every time you ride it, and the Ritchey Classic falls firmly in the heritage camp. It's a synthetic leather tape designed to evoke the look of a vintage steel build without committing you to real leather's maintenance routine. If you're wrapping a Ritchey Logic frame, a classic steel road bike, or anything where polished hoods and a chrome stem deserve a tape that matches the vibe, this is the obvious pairing.

The construction is straightforward: soft, supple premium synthetic leather, 2.8mm thick, in a 200cm length per side. That thickness sits in the middle ground — enough cushion to take the edge off chip-seal buzz, but thin enough that you still feel the bar shape through the wrap. Synthetic leather behaves differently than EVA or cork tapes; it has a denser, slightly tackier hand feel and ages without the crumbling you get from foam-based tapes after a couple of seasons.

Practical notes: the tape ships with end plugs stamped with the subtle Ritchey TR logo, and you get enough length to wrap modern compact bars without running short at the tops. Synthetic leather is more weather-resistant than real leather — rain won't darken it permanently or require conditioning — and it doesn't need the break-in period that genuine leather wraps demand. Pick black if you want it to disappear into the build, or brown if you're leaning into the classic steel aesthetic with a tan saddle to match.... Read More