cthenn

I'm trying to find some bar tape that I can actually wrap a proper figure 8 around the shifter. I know most tape rolls come with that chintzy short strip to hide the gaps in the wrapping, but I much prefer the figure 8. So, does anyone have any suggestions on tape that is actually long enough to do a figure 8, and not stop halfway up the bar top?

edit, bar is a 44cm with under-tape cable routing.

rpenmanparker 

Never had a problem making any brand fit with a figure 8 on a 40 cm bar. I can't say positively that it would work on a 44, but I always cut of several inches that are left over. I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be any shortage of tape for a 44. You have to really pull the tape tight and stretch it, but not so much that it breaks. That is an acquired skill, but it is really not all that difficult. The stretching of the tape is what makes it fit nicely and not bulge on the slack side of a curve also. And it also helps keep the tape in place and not move around. So it is pretty important to do right. Good luck.

By the way you really should use the short tape strip as well as the figure 8. They are not mutually exclusive.

SpinDr

I've never come across a roll of tape that wasn't long enough. I mostly use Fizik.

WhyFi

Can't say that I've had this problem, either. Maybe overlap a little less?

BoSoxYacht

I'm using Deda tape. It's plenty long enough, and durable

Deda Elementi Perforated Handlebar Tape

mox

I've wrapped two bikes with $2 tape and it was plenty long enough. As the previous poster mentioned, perhaps you aren't stretching it enough.

cthenn

OK, well I guess it's me then. I'm pretty confident I'm stretching it enough, so maybe it's the overlap. I try to overlap with just over half the previous wrap showing. Maybe I need to overlap just enough to cover the previous wrap.

And everyone here who says the tape is long enough IS wrapping the figure 8? Could it be a 44cm bar with under-tape cable routing (which definitely increases wrap diameter)? And to clarify, when I say I don't have enough, I probably only need another 2-3 turns, it's not like I'm coming up way short.

Bradleykd

I have 43cm ergo bars and I feel the OP's pain. I've used lizard skins and fizik and had a hard time with both. You aren't supposed to stretch lizard skins much and Fizik microtex doesn't really stretch. Trying not to overlap it much results in tiny wrinkles in the curves. Maybe I haven't perfected it yet, but I long for compact bars so I will have a better taping experience.

As a side note, I used Arundel cork on my old Merckx an had plenty of tape for an even wrap and a figure 8. Maybe it was because I could stretch the cork more?

WhyFi

Yup.

Nope. I use a 44, too.

Nope. My cables are routed under the tape, too.

bbattle

I recently wrapped these bars with the Fizik Lizard skin using a figure 8 around the shifters. Just overlap a bit less.

cthenn

On a side note, does anyone know if certain tapes are longer than others? I haven't used Cinelli in a while, but from what I remember it was on the short side. I seem to recall SRAM being a bit longer.

cthenn

WhyFi, what tape do you use?

cthenn

Looks pro! I swear that's what my wraps look like, but it comes up short

WhyFi

Fizik.

mrblue

Are you stretching the tape? I've never had too little tape. As a matter of fact, I always have waaaay too much, and I do figure 8's without using the cheater strips.

bbattle

I usually come up short the first time; I just unwrap and start over with less overlap.
@mrblue, you can't really stretch Fizik Lizardskin much.

mrblue

Good point. I haven't used Fizik tape in quite some time and now that you mention it I do recall it not being very stretchy. I guess that's why I haven't used it in a while.

bbattle

I usually come up short the first time; I just unwrap and start over with less overlap.
@mrblue, you can't really stretch Fizik Lizardskin much.


Sheldon Brown has some good tips on bartape installation: Installing Handlebar Tape

And there's always YouTube: Installing Handlebar Tape on a Road Bike - YouTube

How To Change Bar Tape - Wrap Your Bars Like A Pro - YouTube

For the bold, go harlequin!


Harlequin Tape How-To - YouTube

canam73

Soma tape is advertised as being longer than others. Not sure what the lengths are though.

rpenmanparker 

Fizik makes Lizardskin? Perhaps, but I didn't think so. They make a microtex tape that is hardly padded. You are right that it is hardly stretchable however.

MagicHour

Sram supercork on a 42 bar- plenty of extra tape left after doing figure 8 wrap.

Fiery

Why do figure-of-eight if you aready use the strips? As far as I can see, you just end up with a larger bulge over the hood clamp.

chaadster

Yeah, that's right. I actually prefer to use the strips and a single pass wrap, rather than a fig8 or fig8 + strips, for the aesthetic value. Right now I'm riding a fig8+strip wrap job on 44cm 3T Team LTD bars with Lizardskins 3.2 which my LBS did. Quite fine, of course, but a bit of a bulge over the clamp, less overlap/padding than I'd have done myself, and he had enough still to bring it closer in to the stem than I'd have preferred, too.

rpenmanparker 

Well, it is purely personal preference. I use nearly flat tape with no cushioning whatsoever. So I don't get much bulge with the figure 8 and the short tape strip. If you use a bulky tape, you might feel differently. It is certainly easier to cover everything if you do both and I like the look of the figure 8, but I know that as thicker tape has become more popular, either the figure 8 or the extra strip has often been discarded. You choose.

kv501

No such thing. Two different companies.