Hybrid Bicycles - Anyone used bar tape on their flat bars?

Use the tape to integrate their bars and bar ends? I've been checking out the Hybrid Picture thread (why it is not a sticky is beyond me), on page 7 out of I think 31, and I haven't seen anybody do it, other than butterfly/trekking bars.

I'm still going to look at every one of those pics, though:thumb: it may take me a while.

I sort of use it. Sort of because it covers the bars between the stem to the brake levers. The grips and shifters take up the remaining space. I did this mostly for cosmetic reasons (the bars came from the local dump and were a bit nicked up). But I also like the way it works for mounting bits and pieces to the bars. I never need to shim.

This pictures shows the full wrap out to the levers. The second (out of focus) picture shows a close-up of my shifter side.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Cannondale/C-DaleRearview.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Cannondale/Nov252009Comf600TripleShifters.jpg

If you don't use a twist shifter, I believe this would make for a nice alternative to grips. The other option might be to use elkhide wrap from Velo Orange.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p71/pastorbobnlnh/Super%20Sports/Sporty%20Aug%202008/FlowersnBars.jpg

Yesh.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09SportXRS/100_4394.jpg

Previous version (same bike with Origin8 Space Bar):

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/09SportXRS/100_3487.jpg

Doohickie,

Great job with the tape instead of grips--- even with the grip shifter! I would not have thought about doing it the way you did. Thanks for the inspiration. :thumb:

Doohickie- now that's what I'm talking about! Question: did you use any gel strips (or other product) under the tape?

Doohickie- now that's what I'm talking about! Question: did you use any gel strips (or other product) under the tape?
Have you ever ridden on bar tape?

I would suggest getting some bar tape and first just try wrapping your bars and try it. If you need more cushion, an old inner tube wrapped inside the tape works well. For the lengths you're using on flat bars, a box of any bar tape should last at minimum two wrappings.

In the first picture (my current setup), I wrapped as follows: One thickness of old tape all the way from the shifter to the tip of the extension. On top of that, I started with the yellow tape at the outer end of the flat bar, worked my way into the middle, then worked back out to the end and out to the end of the extension. So on the bar ends: 2 thicknesses of bar tape; on the flat bar portion: 3 thicknesses.

I had no idea I was innovating, but many people have complimented me on the idea. The inspiration for multiple thicknesses of bar tape came from a set of handlebars I got at a swap meet for aero levers on them.