Bicycle Mechanics - Where does the tape end?

I got a set of Nitto Noodle bars today, and these are the first bars I've had with a pronounced/edged clamping ferrule.

http://renaissancebicycles.com/images/nitto/nitto-noodle.jpg

Do I wrap the bar tape all the way to the ferrule, and then have the electrical tape overlap the ferrule, or wrap the bar tape just short of the ferrule, and tape to the edge. I'm leaning towards the second way.

Thoughts?

The latter.

The latter.

No.

I would wrap the bar tape so it ends flush with the end of the ferrule then tape over the seem to make it look nice and clean looking.

No.

You want him to cover up those pretty Nitto etchings?

I cut my handlebar wrap at an angle so that it butts up against the ferrule, then wrap electrical tape over that.

You could always wrap starting from the top down vintage style. It works well with cloth, not sure it would do as well with cork.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3471441304_e7a9dc533d_o.jpg

Leaves nothing but a neat clean edge:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3470626683_d631cb6885_o.jpg

I'll second the top-down wrap. Though cork-tape may not like this (from a few reports - but nothing substantive), cloth, leather, plastic, so forth works fine.

Save The Electrical-Tape!

You want him to cover up those pretty Nitto etchings?

It's for that very reason, why I asked the question. I don't want tape on the ferrule because of the etchings.


You could always wrap starting from the top down vintage style. It works well with cloth, not sure it would do as well with cork.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3619/3471441304_e7a9dc533d_o.jpg

Leaves nothing but a neat clean edge:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3639/3470626683_d631cb6885_o.jpg

That looks amazing! and that was my first choice (top down) but with my cork wrap I couldn't get it to stay in place (even with tape to start). With the brake cable underneath, I think it would be even more difficult.

Does cotton wrap absorb road vibrations as well as cork? I really like the cork for that.


I'll second the top-down wrap. Though cork-tape may not like this (from a few reports - but nothing substantive), cloth, leather, plastic, so forth works fine.

Save The Electrical-Tape!

I was thinking of electrical taping the ends (butted up to the ferrule) and then doing the twine wrap over the electrical tape. Might be an interesting experiment.

I'm going to play around with it when I have the bike on the stand today. The cork I use isn't tacky on the back, so I can change it if need be.

I always wondered why people have tape on their handlebars? When did that start, I seem to have missed the memo.

Over the years I've wrapped my handlebars with everything there is,cloth,plastic,cork,leather,never had any trouble getting a plug in the end.

I wrap top-down with Brook's leather. No tape. Works great! And the Celeste housing was a joke - since removed! LOL!

http://i424.photobucket.com/albums/pp323/nagognog/IMG_0341.jpg

Wrap from bottom to top, starting clockwise on the right half of the bar (when viewed from behind) and counter-clockwise on the left.

When you reach the top, the tape should be wrapping toward the back of the bike on the top of the bars.

Wrap should initially overlap the point where you wish to terminate at the top, then cut the tape at an angle so the edge ends flush at your termination point. Wrap a single width of electrical tape over this flush end so it overlaps the edge by a mm or two.

You can tell, almost to the day, when someone first wrapped a handlebar. I learned in 1971. Everyone wrapped top-down. Most of us up into the 1980's still do.

You can tell, almost to the day, when someone first wrapped a handlebar. I learned in 1971. Everyone wrapped top-down. Most of us up into the 1980's still do.

Maybe, maybe not. At some point I switched from top down to bottom up. I don't remember exactly when but I'm pretty sure it was sometime in the 80's.

You can tell, almost to the day, when someone first wrapped a handlebar. I learned in 1971. Everyone wrapped top-down. Most of us up into the 1980's still do.

i guess that window is more like a decade, not a day. :)

Alright, while you squares were arguing about the 1850's ;), I taped my bars (as in the second method above). I kept trying to do the top down, but the S-Wrap is relatively thick, and has no adhesive, and basically kept unraveling.

The results (this is preliminary, client called and had to cut my bike maintenance short) I will clean up the edges by the ferrule:

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1022&g2_serialNumber=2

And I get the crests, so I'm happy:

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1028&g2_serialNumber=2

I first encountered the practice, in my part of the country, in 1988. I thought it was some dumb kid's doing. I soon found this untrue.

Alright, while you squares were arguing about the 1850's ;), I taped my bars (as in the second method above). I kept trying to do the top down, but the S-Wrap is relatively thick, and has no adhesive, and basically kept unraveling.

The results (this is preliminary, client called and had to cut my bike maintenance short) I will clean up the edges by the ferrule:

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1022&g2_serialNumber=2

And I get the crests, so I'm happy:

http://gallery.a-symmetric.com/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=1028&g2_serialNumber=2


That looks good, the bike looks really nice too. Nice work!

My bike was built and fitted out by Dave Lloyd... this is how he did mine...

http://www.ecadfael.fu8.com/dl_bike/P3121522.JPG

... I am not saying it is the only way, nor the best way, but I have had no issues with it.

well, seeing the tape chosen I would watch Dave for signs of drug abuse. :p

You can tell, almost to the day, when someone first wrapped a handlebar. I learned in 1971. Everyone wrapped top-down. Most of us up into the 1980's still do.

I started wrapping bars in the mid 80's... usually Benotto plastic tape. I used the top-down method and I liked it. WHen I switched to padded tape I found it constantly unravelled and someone told me I should try wrapping buttom-up, which I did, and I have since considered the problem solved.

Some people may be able to wrap cork and padded tape top-down (from a few reports - but nothing substantive ;)) but I cannot.

That is a great looking bike, BTW. Do you have any more pictures?

I've never wrapped with padded tape or cork. I remain a purist and only go for cotton or cloth. I find padding feels like I'm holding onto a pillow - which makes me feel like my bike isn't as responsive as it is with cloth or leather. But that's me. Use what you like.

You want him to cover up those pretty Nitto etchings?

You know you can finish the roll off without more than 2mm of overlap right? You can do it the sloppy and ugly way and overlap half the width of the electrical tape if you want to do it wrong.

That is a great looking bike, BTW. Do you have any more pictures?

Which bike? I think all of them are quite nice. :thumb: