Touring - To tape or not to tape?

I’ve just removed the old Sora brifters and added Tektro road levers and Shimano bar end shifters to my handlebars. I have checked out pictures of other bikes with bar end shifters to see how they taped the handlebars. I have seen the bar end cables taped about the first two inches from the end and then the cable comes out of the tape to the down tube. I have also seen the handlebars taped then the cable not taped coming straight out from the shifters to the down tube. Esthetically they both look fine. Is there a matter of function that favors one method over another??

Shoot, as long as there are no kinks or binding in the cable, I would say to do whatever you want.

I think it comes down to personal preference and hand comfort. I have my bar end cables untaped and there are times when it bugs me. When I'm shifting at speed I like to grab the end of the bar and shift with the rest of my hand--with the cable untaped I either have to grab it in my hand too or slide my hand under it. OTOH, I've wondered if leaving them untaped is wise from an ease of maintenance point of view--don't have to undo the tape to replace the cables.

I'd recommend taking it for a short ride without your bars taped and seeing if anything about having the cable untaped bothers you.

There are a couple of other alternatives, one being taping them ergo style....but this requires slightly longer than supplied SIS cable housings and the rear cable also requires additional length, which means using a tandem cable. I like this setup. It's clean, uncluttered, and shifting performance is perfect.

I left mine untaped and got a little slapping noise between cable and bar....it is a really trivial thing but it bugged me enough that I now tape a hands width....kind of weenie thing to worry about, but I like the silent aspect of cycling.

There are a couple of other alternatives, one being taping them ergo style....but this requires slightly longer than supplied SIS cable housings and the rear cable also requires additional length, which means using a tandem cable. I like this setup. It's clean, uncluttered, and shifting performance is perfect.


Fixer, do you run the cables under the lower end of the bar and then twist them to be under the upper end until they come out? Did that make sense??

Fixer, do you run the cables under the lower end of the bar and then twist them to be under the upper end until they come out? Did that make sense??

No, they begin by running under the drops like they're supposed to, then turns inward, running up along the inner sides of the levers, then mates together with the brake cables and out. I do not use the ergo cable indents on the rear of the bar tops. Hope this makes sense...

You know what happened to Tricky Dick when he decided to tape - - -