We all said one day change your handlebar tape before a ride or when preparing your bike. Except that... Handlebar tape, it is not a generic term. It is actually a trademark registered by the French company Velox since 1975. In other words, talking about handlebar tape to refer to any hanger tape, it's like saying Fridge for a refrigerator, or Kleenex for a handkerchief. It's common parlance, but legally, it only refers to one product: Velox handlebar tape.
By Jeff Tatard – Photo: ©3bikes.fr
Hanger tape: the right term
To be precise, we should therefore use the expression hanger tape (or handlebar tape). This is the neutral term that encompasses all makes and models., whether they are made of cork, foam, fabric or modern composites.
Because today, the offer is plentiful: ultra-thin tapes for performance, thicker and more cushioning models for comfort, or even textured tapes which ensure better grip in wet weather.
A little history of cycling language
Si Handlebar tape has stuck in our heads because Velox dominated the market for a long time, and their tapes equipped countless bikes. Usage has exceeded the mark, to the point of becoming a common vocabulary word among cyclists. But as is often the case, antonomasia (when a brand becomes a common noun) ends up sowing doubt.
So, what do we say?
No language police of course : if you are talking about handlebar tape in a cycling cafe, everyone will understand. But if you are writing, advising a client or exchanging in a more specific setting, it is better to use hanger tape. It's fairer, and it avoids using a trademark as a generic term.
In short: we don't change it. handlebar tape, we change his hanger tape. But In the hearts of cyclists, this little word will surely continue to stick to the handlebars for a long time to come....
