Bicycle Mechanics - Odds and ends

So I had a rather odd piece go missing from my bike yesterday, it's the little cap that holds the excess bar tape into the open end of the drops. I've looked on nashbar and performance bike and can't seem to find just that piece. Is this something i'm going to have to go to a bike shop to find, will I even be able to find it there?

Nashbar has handlebar plugs. Click here. (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=&subcategory=&brand=&sku=8920&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=)

I suspect that most any other mail order concern will have them, too. I didn't look anywhere else but Nashbar.

Any LBS should be able to set you up. I would guess that you might be able to get a freebie from a bike shop's odd parts bin. Heck, I've got a few laying around the house that I'd part with freely.

If your handlebar tape is getting shabby, re-wrap the bars. You will get a couple of plugs with a new roll of tape.

In the meantime, jam an old wine bottle cork or something into the hole so that your handlebar tape doesn't unwind.

Awesome, thanks a ton :)

Colorado Cyclist carries Stella Azura Carbon Bar Plugs (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/displayproductlist_v2.cfm?CI=1,225,485,597&StartRow=13&CGRFNBR=597&CRPCGNBR=597) for $12.99 and Excel Sports sells Macalu Bar Plugs (http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?page=8&description=Bar+End+Plugs&vendorCode=MACALU&major=1&minor=32) for $1.29.

However, for about $10 - $15 you can purchase new bar tape that includes new plastic plugs.

:eek:

Ed

Lost a Handlebar plug, Huh? Nashbar has them under handlebar accessories http://www.nashbar.com/nashbar_photos/medium/NS-RBP.gif.

Somewhere they have HandleBar Plug Lights. New bar tap will usually come with a pair of plastic ones. The shop you frequent may even toss you a pair



So I had a rather odd piece go missing from my bike yesterday, it's the little cap that holds the excess bar tape into the open end of the drops. I've looked on nashbar and performance bike and can't seem to find just that piece. Is this something i'm going to have to go to a bike shop to find, will I even be able to find it there?

cork from a wine bottle works great

I understand a spent 12 ga. shotgun shell will work. Do I need to point out the obvious, re: spent?

So will a US nickel.

Why would you mail order a part that costs more to ship than the part does? I know we sell plugs for $1.99 at the shop...

Why would you mail order a part that costs more to ship than the part does? I know we sell plugs for $1.99 at the shop...

ouch. that's a lot.

sd

Those ones from Nashbar look a lot like Velox handlebar plugs. That design doesn't fall out as much as the plastic ones. It might be more money at first but could be cheaper over time. After losing mine about 3-4 times I went with the Velox plugs.

The shop where I worked had a box of about ummmmm a couple hundred. We used to give them away. We also worked support at a local race and that was one thing that the race officials were adamate about during inspections. We'd just give them away!!!!

L8R