Bicycle Mechanics - Handlebar Tape Ripped

Hey, I just got a new bike and had it in the shop after a month or so and alot of k's just to get things tuned up and right again. Anyways, I noticed after I picked it up that there is a small rip in the handlebar tape. It's small enough, but also annoying now, and I can see it getting bigger. Should I just tape it down? Go back to the shop and say wtf? I've never re-taped a bar I should add, so redoing it from scratch isn't high on my list right now.

Electrician's tape.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QZTB49FZL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

If you're sure it was unripped when you dropped it off and ripped when you picked it up, you wouldn't be out-of-line going back to the shop, but skip the "wtf" part.

Handlebar tape is a wear item. I hate when it rips, but it happens.

If it was my bike I'd probably wrap some electrician's tape over it to hold it until I got sick of looking at it. Then I'd learn to retape my own bars because this issue is going to come up again.

The upside is that nothing freshens the look of your bike like new handlebar tape.

Don't let the little stuff bother u. U'll live longer.

Ignore it. Not worth worrying about. Tape is supposed to look worn and dirty anyway. Just ride, and when it needs replacing, get new tape. I would not tape over it with electrical tape unless you want to end up with sticky stuff on your hands.

Hey, I just got a new bike and had it in the shop after a month or so and alot of k's just to get things tuned up and right again. Anyways, I noticed after I picked it up that there is a small rip in the handlebar tape. It's small enough, but also annoying now, and I can see it getting bigger. Should I just tape it down? Go back to the shop and say wtf? I've never re-taped a bar I should add, so redoing it from scratch isn't high on my list right now.

Buy some new bar tape and learn to put it on. It is very simple and something any avid cyclist should be embarassed about if they don't know how to do it. There are various guides on the web, including you tube, but the Park Tool guide is very adequate. Buy cheap-ish tape for your first try. Actually, I've found most cheapish tape to be perfectly OK, but it's easier to mess around learning if you're risking $5 instead of $20 worth of tape.

Ignore it. Not worth worrying about. Tape is supposed to look worn and dirty anyway. Just ride, and when it needs replacing, get new tape. I would not tape over it with electrical tape unless you want to end up with sticky stuff on your hands.

Seconded. If the electrical tape is under where you grip it the tape WILL creep and expose the glue.

Sheldon and a few others have a nice link about bar taping. And if you put it on and find it's uneven just peel it back and do it again and again until it looks right for you. It's not a hard job and niether does it take a lot of time. The stickiness of the bar tape is a light tack so it can be peeled off and reused as long as you don't contaminate the glue with too much dirt or oils. I always go and wash my hands before doing bar taping for that reason. But that's all you really need for precautions.

The first time I retaped my bars it was really easy. I did a pretty decent job too, although the section near the bar ends is kind of rough. It takes literally 30 minutes to learn how to do it the right way, and most any tape will go on easy if you are patient with it. Bar tape's cheap and replaceable, and every cyclist should know how to put it on, now's a good time to learn.

HOw to re-wrap bars? Park Tools (http://parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=71) has a nice description with good photos.

Concerning the rip, there are a few possibilities apart from new tape:

1. If it's a tear in a place where you don't put your hands too much, one or two turns of electrical tape will do the job. Not as good for aesthetics, but functionally ok.

2. If it's a small tear, use a drop of Shoe Goo or contact cement under the tear, then apply electrical tape for 1-2 days. This will allow the handlebar wrap to stick in place. Then remove the tape and you have a tear that doesn't show.