Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - I want to see some Harlequin Wrap

http://www.wastedlife.org/bike/harlequin/index.html

Anyone attempted this type masterpiece? Can it be done with gel wrap?

never seen it personally, but the instructions of fgg make it seem pretty easy. those are real good instructions too.

might try it on my iro.

wow thats nice! it would seem to me gel wrap may be to thick

I started with the right (near side) side and it ended up looking better than the left side. the left side wanted to roll a bit around the bar, so I let it, because I'd already spent enough time on it. I put a few coats of shellac on, but I'm thinking of putting on another layer. It feels a little thin.

http://a442.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/59/m_505c12a7ec0d85bc5f5b3150b0dcdcc9.jpg

props noriel. I tried to do this recent;y and gave up after about 5 tries. Went candy stripe instead.

it works great once you get the weaving down the rest is cake cotton really works best velox to be exact the cateye is a little flimsy for my taste good luck I used the dyi from fgg

yeah, done it a couple times with velox cloth tape. I'm curious to try it with gel or cork, but I'm afraid i'll just end up ruining some perfectly good handlebar tape.

I'd be tempted to use this when the black and white zebra stuff on my chrome SS wears out. I can't see where cork would fold sufficiently, so I'd probably do a wrap of black cork first, and then the harlequin black and white cotton on top. Cushty!

^ i did exactly what sammyboy is thinking. i just wrapped my bars in plain ol' cushy black tape first, then wrapped the harlequin pattern over that in cloth. looked sweet, still had cushion... i'll try and get a picture up tonight after work.

oh and i did it with those instructions, if you are curious.

I kinda stumbled on that when wrapping my bars in two different tapes. As I wrapped around the brake hood I reversed one and left the other the original direction. Looked really cool, but didn't stay even, and I was just messing around.... still had to pull it off to do other work. I was just practicing. Maybe I'll give it a try again. I have plenty of cork to play with... ebay specials :D

http://a442.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/59/m_505c12a7ec0d85bc5f5b3150b0dcdcc9.jpg

Awesome. I'd thought I might try a red/black wrap whenever i redo my bars. Then again, if I end up painting my frame flat black, i might keep black bars just to be sleek.

I have a neighbor who has a yellow/maroonish one. looks nice.

My 1st attempt. Kinda sucky but i had fun
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http://farm1.static.flickr.com/66/219473405_da27004596.jpg

cloth tape = woosome.

fsnl
sparky

I'm curious to try it with gel or cork, but I'm afraid i'll just end up ruining some perfectly good handlebar tape.
Yeah, I tried it, and ruined two pieces of cork tape. It's just not resilient enough.

I also tried with cork gel tape, it won't work. It's hard to get enough tension on the tape before it tears and you need plenty of tension to keep the shape.

My go with cloth tape:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/491982776_47d15d6907_o.jpg

I also tried with cork gel tape, it won't work. It's hard to get enough tension on the tape before it tears and you need plenty of tension to keep the shape.

My go with cloth tape:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/491982776_47d15d6907_o.jpg

This is pretty much the sex.

oh, momma. put that in the arts in progress thread, both of you.

This is pretty much the sex.

I must concur. That, sir, is a thing of beauty.

Wow, I'm not a cloth tape fan, but I must say: it makes the harlequin. Daaaayum.

hot. full bike pics now!

hot. full bike pics now!
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saw that one on velospace.. i meant pics of the motta!

saw that one on velospace.. i meant pics of the motta!

oops sorry

Ok, now that I posted some more photos (page 765 of the photo thread) here's my advice for anyone who wants to try this:

1. Be patient. If you're like me you may need to just walk away from it for a while. It took me one long evening for the first side then I didn't get back to it for a few weeks as every time I started I got frustrated.
2. Have another handlebar/stem combo to throw on if you ride the bike daily.
3. Pay attention to the shape of the diamonds as you round the front curve of the drops, that sets up where they will point as you round the tops of the bar. With a little adjustment of the angle of the tape you can manipulate where they cross over and maintain the pattern.
4. Maintain good tension at all times. If the tape gets a loose loop it'll look bad and probably feel bad in the final product.

Again, this was probably one of the most frustrating things I've tried but it paid off. You might have a much easier time, this was just my experience.

I purchased the tape from VeloOrange. They carry a good selection of colors and they're not some crusty NOS roll that's been hanging on the wall fading and drying out leaving you with crappy adhesion (which is super important for this).

I also tried with cork gel tape, it won't work. It's hard to get enough tension on the tape before it tears and you need plenty of tension to keep the shape.

My go with cloth tape:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/491982776_47d15d6907_o.jpg


WOW. no srsly. great pic, good job with the wrap!

That's a really impressive job zerobug.
Also, you'll cry like a baby when it gets dirty and you need to redo it :p

Also, you'll cry like a baby when it gets dirty and you need to redo it :p

Probably, for now I make sure to grab my clean pair of gloves.