Bicycle Mechanics - Finishing bar tape with bar end shifters

Just received a pair of bar end shifters. I can follow the instructions or installation just fine. Since the size of the plug does not appear to accomodate the thickness of tucked in bar tape, I assume that the end of the bar tape should be finished with electrical tape similar to the stem end. Is that correct?
Thanks,
Raymond

Hmmm...well, I start my tape at the ends of the bars without tucking any in. One full wrap right at the end to secure the tape, and then start working my way up the bar to finish near the center with electrical tape. I would think this would work fine with your bar end shifters.

Sounds reasonable, nebill. With regular end plugs, I do as you describe but with about 1/4" lapping over the end of the bar. I tuck this and secure it with the plug. But you are right; it should stay put without the tuck. Doh! :o

Rainman.
Start at shifter end, tape to stem but stop about 1.5 " short ,most rolls of bar tape come with end tape. If not use good quality electrical tape to secure the ends.
You can even buy diffrent colors of that stuff now.

Have a good one.

Thanks, Steve! As a matter of fact I just did the dirty deed!

I had finally assembled all the goods to do a bar upgrade on my Bianchi. The original bar was too narrow and the drops too shallow so I got a new bar. At the same time I decided to install a quill to threadless adapter and threadless stem (shorter because the old one felt too long) as well as some bar end shifters I had picked up. Just spent a couple of quality hours with Dolce puttin' on a whole new face. Everything went really smoothly except that I got the shifters all installed and then realized that I needed to slip the brakes on first. Ah, but it was just the work of a minute or two to rectify the situation. To top of the whole thing I wrapped the bar in celeste/blue splash tape with Bianchi embossed on it. Because this older version of celeste is more blue, kind an aqua color, the regular solid celeste tape is too green, but the celeste and blue combo mingle visually to work nicely with the bike's color. I wish I could have found blue brake hoods. I think they would look better than the original white or the only other option of which I am aware - black. If anyone knows of blue brake hoods (brake only levers, not STI), I would like to find a source.

I did wind up wrapping the tape as you and nebill described, securing the beginning with a hidden bit of electrical tape just to be safe and finishing with blue 3M tape.

Besides the brake hoods, the only other thing that concerns me a little is the way the shifter cable housings just kind of erupt from under the bar tape about 1 1/2 to 2 inches below the brakes. I would like to have had it come out closer to the brakes but the provided housing was not long enough without a pretty sharp bend and disturbing tautness then the wheel was turned. I think the way I have it is the way it was intended. I anchored them well with electical tape, and they look fine. I think I followed the instructions, but they were not very specific. It just seems like the housings could get in the way of thumbs though they didn't on a test ride. If they present a problem, I will cut my own housings next time I rewrap.
Thanks for the help!
Regards,
Raymond

Blue hoods take me back to the old days. Have you ever seen Renaissance Cycles? They are in Holland, and have all sorts of 80's Euro cycle gear. They do business in English, and are pretty oriented to American bikedorks. Although the parts you order come from Holland, delivery takes about a week. Try them out at www.renaissance-cycles.com. I recommend them.

It sounds like you have the bars wrapped right. I have two bikes with bar ends, and the cables don't get in the way. In fact, I left the cables really long on one bike, and I don't mind grasping the cable along with the bar when I'm in the hooks. They don't get in the way of the brake levers either.

I just checked that site out. It seems to be defunct. I don't speak Dutch too well, but that seems to be the jist of it.

Hey. Rainman, I have been using bar-end shifters on my Peugeot PX10LE for years.

I am sorry to say, they are a pain in the @ss. The right side (for rear derailure) just kept moving around and getting bungled up so often, I replaced it with a frame mounted shifter. I keep the end shifter on the handlebar just for looks now.

Anyway, you definately need something to hold the end shifter in place. It might not seem so, but it it will eventually come loose and squirm around on you.

You can try matching tape. It still isn't ideal, but maybe if you put it on right away instead of as a repair it will work.

Good luck, man!

Try this link for Renaisssance Cycles.

http://www.renaissance-cycles.com/

Oscar,
Hey, good to see you back! I was beginning to wonder where you were off to. Thanks for the site. The second one worked and seems to be in business. I will have to browse around some.

Mike,
Thanks to the tip. I will keep an eye on the shifters. I wonder if a little sleeve of extra lite inner tube will fit in there and keep them snug? I will check it out.

Regards,
Raymond