Utility Cycling - Innertube handlebar tape

I hope I chose the right forum for this thread. I've seen a lot of do-it-yourself stuff on this forum. I changed a tube on an old Peugeot that was given to me. I'd bought a bunch of new tubes real cheap so I figured I'd just switch it out, rather than patch it.

Then, I got the brilliant idea to replace the torn and tattered plastic tape on the handlebars with the old innertube rubber. I carefully plit the tube and then cut that right in half the long way, forming two rolls of bar tape about an inch wide. I think it'll work okay. I'll use electricians tape at each end to keep it secure. I feel so frugal.

Anybody else have good ideas for reuse of stuff that's bike related?

I hope I chose the right forum for this thread. I've seen a lot of do-it-yourself stuff on this forum. I changed a tube on an old Peugeot that was given to me. I'd bought a bunch of new tubes real cheap so I figured I'd just switch it out, rather than patch it.

Then, I got the brilliant idea to replace the torn and tattered plastic tape on the handlebars with the old innertube rubber. I carefully plit the tube and then cut that right in half the long way, forming two rolls of bar tape about an inch wide. I think it'll work okay. I'll use electricians tape at each end to keep it secure. I feel so frugal.

Anybody else have good ideas for reuse of stuff that's bike related?

Foam water pipe insulation for hand grips - $1/10 feet; works great.

Old chain makes a mighty fine chain whip. I made a pair by buying 3ft of bar stock from the Big Box hardware store. Cut it in half, drilled the holes so they looked like the chain whips in the pictures and then proceeded to dismantle the old cassette that needed two chain whips.

The bar stock I bought is too flimsy for an actual tool but for someone who might need a chain whip once a year it's fine.

Dunno how well the inner tube will work as bar tape. All the ones I have leave grime and carbon black on your hands. Exposure to sunlight will probably make it worse. But there is no harm in trying, so let us know how it works out.

Aaron:)

Well, I washed the tube strips and dried them before applying them. I put the inside of the tubes as the outside of the tape. I used the old black plastic caps at the bar ends. It's sticky. It's smooshy. It's just the right length and width. It's great so far. If it degrades and makes my hands all black, I'll find out soon enough.

I noticed that I needed to replace the yellow cork tape on my Schwinn Traveler. When it got jacked up at the end of last season, I just used household Goop to fix the tears. Just so happens that there was another old tube laying around. I'm gonna see how it works out on the Peugeot on my commute tomorrow. If all is okay, I'll replace this tape with my snazzy innertube tape too.

When I use inner tubes as bar tape I cover it in a single layer of sport wrap (that stuff you use on hockey sticks and stuff). It is very sticky the first few times you ride, but we all wear gloves so it's not a big deal. After that it helps keep your hands clean and prevents that weird sweaty feeling that rubber gives me.

So, my brother-in-law happened by tonight on his bike. We went for a nice little ride just to stretch the legs out. The innertube handlebar tape worked really well. I didn't notice any rubbing off of the rubber onto my gloves yet. I'm taking the Peugeot out tomorrow morning for the commute. I'll keep a close eye on the situation before I commit to claiming any great success.

Maybe the hockey tape might later be in order. I don't have any of that laying around right now.

Foam water pipe insulation for hand grips - $1/10 feet; works great.

I like your bikes. That foam can be found around here also, and some of it is nice, I`d like to use it since when I buy hand grips I buy foam. Problem with the pipe insulation I find here is that it is open along one side all the way down. I gues gluing them down is a bit too permanent. What do you do?

About the innertube thing I`we been thinking about it, but did not try. What I do use innertubes for is I cut a slice of them for each side of the handlebar, like a 2cm broad rubber band for each side. I use it to hold down the bar tape close to the end, where it ends and bar tape goes innside with the plug. You need a tube for approx 32mm wide tyres. The 23 ones is a bit narrow.

I like your bikes. That foam can be found around here also, and some of it is nice, I`d like to use it since when I buy hand grips I buy foam. Problem with the pipe insulation I find here is that it is open along one side all the way down. I gues gluing them down is a bit too permanent. What do you do?

No glue or tape, the foam stays in place held tight enough by the shape of the foam even with the opening on one side. It also allows turning of the twist shifters with no difficulty on both my SRAM and Shimano 7 speed equipped bikes.

So, I try the black water pipe foam on a dumpster find mountain bike. Turns out it holds on pretty well without tape. I slid it on with sudsy water, and the insulation didn't split open. It kind of sticks there once the soap dries. Works great.

One thing I noticed: The foam has the effect of keeping the hands warm. It is insulation, after all.

Another thing I noticed: The foam really fills the hand, creating a more relaxed grip. It's a nice, satisfying way to go. Good tip. Thanks.

Oh, the innertube rubber is holding up okay so far. Talked to a buddy o mine in Detroit who explained why it will degrade from exposure to UV. Fortunately, I don't anticipate keeping the thing out in the sun all that long unless I'm just out rding. Still, about half of my commute is in low light conditions. Looks like it'll hold up okay for about as long as any other tape I've used.

If all is okay, I'll replace this tape with my snazzy innertube tape too.

:beer:

Here's to living life on the edge.

For my commute bike handlebars I use dense open cell foam tubes sold for pipe insulation. The black soft rubber material rips easy, and is quickly permanently squashed. I have found some short foam tubes which are not cut along the length, and with the help of soap and water can be slipped on straight bars, but this material is difficult to push onto drop bars and requires some work to fit around the brake levers.

Most of this foam insulation tubing is cut along the length and has a weak pull paper glue strip. I put Wellbond contact cement on both of the pre-cut edges, and insert Saran Wrap between these two semi-dry edges before installing. When you have the foam tube in place, pull off the Saran wrap as you permanently stick the two edges together. This foam gradually gets permanently squashed, but still provides adequate vibration protection and is very cheap to replace.

For my road bike I purchased a wing flat-top carbon fiber handlebar and use no bar tape or padding, but instead always wear Spenco padded gloves.

I know hairspray is also used as a lubrican / glue for installing grips. Slippery when applyed. Turns into "glue" when dry. Easy to remove with water.

I normally use a glue gun for gluing foam, not sure if it works wit this type. Must try.

I reuse inner tubes, mostly cut them up into wide rubber bands. The only problem I've run into with reusing these things is they don't hold up to UV exposure, but m5nardi's over wrap with hockey tape is a good idea and would resolve that.

I'll try the handle bar tape thing. Aside from that old tubes serve as Bunjee cords to hold my bike upright and centered in my truck.

OK, not for the bike, but a recycled bike part ... over the weekend I built a critter box -- like a birdhouse, but bigger, for squirrels or whatever wants to move in.

Needed to mount in in a tree out back. Couldn't nail it to the tree, so I wrapped an old bike chain around the trunk and nailed the chain to two sides of the critter box.

Used old auto license plates for the roof of the box, which I made out of scrap wood. Even used recycled nails!

OK, not for the bike, but a recycled bike part ... over the weekend I built a critter box -- like a birdhouse, but bigger, for squirrels or whatever wants to move in

Great project! You should put a webcam in that thing to find out what is mowing in :D

I've been doing the inner tube bar tape thing for a couple years. But I normally use the tube without splitting it, just snip out the valve and wind it on! Overlap it just right and it's not lumpy. I do cover it with whatever's handy, I've used cork bar tape or cotton tape, but not hockey tape. (don't have any) Mostly to keep it from making my hands smell like inner tube. I like the squishiness and the larger diameter that this all winds up to, it's nice on long rides.

I'll have to give the inner tube as handle bar tape a try!

On my bikes without water cage bungs, I place a piece of inner tube on the frame where I want the cage mounted. Wrap the tube with electricians tape, position the cage, and use quality black zip ties to affix the cage. The inner tube allows a certain amount of "squishability", so you can really tighten the zip tie. If done with care, don't look so awful bad either. Haven't had one get away from me yet! :)