Fly2High

I recently did my handlebars with LizardSkin DSP 3.2 and as luck would have it, I have an issue with my brake cables such that I will need to unwrap them. Has anyone put it back on without issue? It has no wear and would hate to toss it so quick.

thanks

sdmc530

don't know why not.....and at the cost of lizard I would certainly try to reuse it first. Worst case you try it, doesn't work out and you have to replace anyways.

bikepro

I've done it numerous times. The adhesive on the tape is more a convenience than anything. I always use black electrical tape to secure the ends closest to the stem, then cover it with the LizardSkin finishing tape -- which is also reusable as well.

Keep in mind -- in the old days all handlebar tape was cloth and was secured with black tape.

drlogik 

Give it a try. You have nothing to lose...except $30 bucks.

I like the synthetic tapes but re-use is an issue with some. At the prices they are getting for some of these it makes Brooks leather tape look like a much better deal in the long-run. I run Brooks on two of my bikes and love it! I can tell even with daily use this tape, if cared for, will last a long time and it can be wrapped, re-wrapped and re-wrapped. I've re-wrapped my Wabi four times now because of upgrades, broken brake lever, etc.

CliffordK

I periodically re-wrap tape.

Some of the cheap tape doesn't have adhesive, and is relatively easy to re-wrap.

The more expensive tape with adhesive sometimes comes off cleanly, and sometimes doesn't. It just depends. I've had one side come off cleanly, and the other side not.

cyccommute 

As others have said, perhaps. With tape that has adhesive on it, the tape usually sticks too well and ends up tearing the tape. If you are careful in removal, you might be able to avoid this problem. It's more difficult with foam tapes as well.

dsbrantjr

Rather than use electrical tape to finish off the wrap I use self-fusing silicone tape. It stretches nicely, only sticks to itself so comes off clean and has no adhesive to bleed. Comes in colors to match or contrast with your nice tape.

Adhesive-backed tape comes off easier if you leave the bike in the sun to warm up which softens the adhesive.

JohnDThompson 

Sure, as long as you're careful when you remove it. I have a couple bikes with 20+ year old tape that I've reversed and re-wrapped as the edges get frayed.

bulldog1935

I would not re-use Lizard Skin - it's going to shed it's skin in about a year anyway - my daughter's did.
Or re-use it for the practice and stash your back-up for when you're going to need it.
My daughter's bike has old stock Ambrosio tape now

fietsbob

I do, since I Double wrap my Trekking bars , only the top layer is replaced, the old top layer is the new under-layer.

I now have a Lizard Skins under layer , recycled from a Bar tape replacement, recycle shop job.



Gel backed tape is great.

a tacky strip that keeps the tape from creeping, but is not an adhesive that requires a Release paper covering it .





./.

GeneO 

^ this. I have had different results for different tape with adhesive. Some will rip up the tape, some won't

cyccommute 

Hey! That's my idea! Here's some nice red silicone tape on my touring bike.

revcp 

It shouldn't be a problem. As you take the tape off, however, use a finger to kind of roll the tape off the bar as you go (so that you are removing it along the whole length of where the adhesive is sticking the tape to the bar) rather than pulling on the tape itself. You'll usually end up with a bit of adhesive gummed onto the bars, but that's easily removed in order to apply the tape again.

Camilo

I reuse bar tape all the time. The only tape I've had problems with is foam, which can tear more easily, but even that can be used with care.

I finish the ends like this:



No need to make a mess overlapping the bar, or using silicone tape or anything other than whatever color of normal electrical tape you want - just tape even with the end of the bar tape and it holds perfectly. Better, in my experience, than trying to stretch the tape over the tape and the handlebar neatly.

here's a vid: Ask a Mechanic: Handlebar Finishing Tape

Fly2High

Well, I decided to go ahead and unwrap. Fixed the brake issue and thought all was good but they did not match. Instead, it looked like I wrapped from one side to the other instead of them being mirror images.

Since, I thought, I was following the bike mechanics book for the left bar, I figured I would remove the right. Came off nice and easily. Rewrapped it per the Bicycling Mag book and .. it was the left side I needed to do also. In redoing the wrapping, I must have done a different wrap around the brifters and it looked poor.

Decided to rewrap again.

Then, I found in the packaging the clamp material and realized I used the finishing tape instead so I undid both sides again, added the clamp pad and completed the effort.

OK, so with one tape, I think I wrapped the same set of handlebar 4 times. Well, if at first you don't succeed...

NO, they do not look as nice as Camilo's but I think they came out OK.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

andr0id

Cool, I had not heard of this.

Do you use the Stretch and Seal brand?

I might pick some up and give it a try. Electrical tape does get soft in the TX sun.

andr0id

People laugh at me when I tell the hardest part of building up a bike is wrapping the handlebars.

Yes, it really is.