- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Cross country mountain bikes
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
Corroded aluminium handlebars
I removed the bar tape from the aluminium handlebars on my gravel bike and the wet and mud of a UK 'gravel' winter plus the odd turbo session have left an amount of white aluminium oxide. There wasn't a huge amount of it and the bars are only a few months old. I wiped it off and structurally they look absolutely fine and the areas it emanated from aren't even very visible. Does anyone have any recommendations about anything I can wipe or coat them with to try and and prevent it from happening again or reduce the extent of it if it does? I was thinking that a wipe down of GT85 (or even better something without ptfe) that leaves a film over them would be a good idea. Unfortunately the bike has to live in a shed outside!
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- Velophaart_95 6 min 18 sec ago
The figures for the Tour are always over optimistic - it makes ASO feel far better, and suits their narrative of owning the 'world's biggest...
- eburtthebike 2 hours 10 min ago
I well remember the BBC rolling out their environment correspondent to criticise LTNs.
- IanGlasgow 3 hours 30 sec ago
Agreed. I won't consider any product that doesn't use USB-C anymore. I usually have a USB-C cable and a battery bank in my toolkit which will...
- David9694 2 hours 57 min ago
Pensioner left with £1,300 vet bill after cyclist ran over dog in Swalecliffe, near Whitstable, and fled...
- Terry Hutt 8 hours 21 min ago
Those models aren't miserable etc. They're hungry.
- Bungle_52 15 hours 28 min ago
This was a failure to give way at a roundabout so although it was relatively straightforward to anticipate and avoid there is traffic law to...
- wtjs 16 hours 48 min ago
she questioned what Police Scotland is doing to "deter dangerous driving and protect cyclists"...
- wtjs 16 hours 57 min ago
I've got a few reports coming up to one year where I've been told that they will take action but I don't know what action yet. I'll let you know...
Add new comment
4 comments
Wrap them tightly with electrical tape
Thanks both. I hadn't thought about GT85 or similar making the bars slippy 🤦♂️
Cream cleaner then a light spray of lacquer sounds like the one...
I did get some ACF50 for putting on my nokon cable outers, they rot in our conditions, it's meant to be grreat on the corrosion and preventing more. But it is quite oily and I'm guessing the tape would slip.
A good rub down with a slight abrasive, a good polish with a cream, which would be very mildly abrasive too, and a spray with some top coat lacquer maybe...
You might have trouble getting new tape to stick if you wipe it down with GT85. I know I've seen some people start out with a full coverage overlapping wrap of electrical tape under the bar tape. I'd expect that should keep it dry. A good wipe down with solvent and a few coats of black spray paint might work also. Let it dry a few days at least before retaping.