auchencrow

How do you wrap bar tape? Are you a “top-down” or a “bottom-up” kinda guy?

I was told that the proper way to install bar tape is the Park Tool way (from the bottom up) https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=71 . Most of the re-wraps on the old bikes I buy are in fact done that way.

However –I’ve noticed most of the original wraps done on these old bikes were done top-down. I have since adopted this method exclusively.

So I'm curious to know how fellow C&V'er wrap bars:
Top-down, or Bottom-up - and why?

DRietz

I wrap from the bottom up. I ride in the drops a lot, and really like the feel of the edges pointing down.

toytech

I prefer to wrap from the top down when practical, it just looks better.

mickey85

Top down with cloth or shellacked cork. Top up with raw cork - otherwise, the edges fold over at the hoods.

ColonelJLloyd 

Bottom up.

RobbieTunes

Exactly. Nothing irritates like tape wrap peeling down as I ride. I'd rather ride foam than tape peeling down....

bigbossman 

Depends on the tape and/or the bars. Old vinyl/cloth (thin) tape, top-down. Modern, thicker tape, bottom-up. The thicker tape leaves a small hump up top if wrapped top-down, and I personally think it looks a lot cleaner to finish it on top with electrical tape. Especially if there is under-tape routed cable housing

Also, if the bars are intented for it, always bottom-up. Old steel bars with no indentation? Top-down.

scozim 

Bottom up from the inside to the outside of the bar.

due ruote 

For years I did nothing but bottom up. I generally use Cinelli bar caps that fit over the bar end, so they get taped over to begin the wrap. If I'm using cloth tape and don't want an electrical tape or whipped finish, I just fix the end down with a bit of tire glue.

Lately, though, I've sometimes wrapped cloth tape top-down. I do like the clean look of it, especially with barcons. I haven't had a problem with edge roll, even with un-shellaced tape.

Like BBM said, though, always bottom up with cork tape.

redneckwes

This exactly!

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

+2 me too!

vincev

bottom up

repechage

I have also met at the middle, and finish everything at the brake hoods. With the cost of hoods now being stupid, even expensive for reproductions, I have also taped the bars prior to the brake lever body going on, worked for Cinelli when they made the hand stitched leather bar/stem/ leather set ups.... so I figured worth a try. It had the side benefit of stopping the creak on one bike, I thought it was at the bar stem interface, but no, it was at a brake lever... never before for me. This will not work for all lever types, but it does save those fragile brake hoods.

prettyshady

I wrap bottom up since I heard it lasts longer than top down, and i do a turn at the brake lever.

I heard racers used to like topdown because it gave more grip, but doesn't last as long.

rhm

+1

Since I almost always use cotton tape or similarly thin stuff, I almost always start at the top.

bbattle

what? no pics? no link to YouTube video showing how to wrap bartape?

Am I in the C & V?

Somebody used the F word in their post. the one that rhymes with loam. We don't need that kind of language here.

wrk101

Bottom up, 100% of the time, always.

Kobe 

I like cork tape, so I am a bottoms up guy. Before cork I was always top down.

big_heineken

I used to wrap bottom up, but now I only wrap top down. I think it looks much cleaner because, you don't have to use electrical tape to hold the ends. I haven't noticed any difference in how long the cork wrap lasts.


vs

mparker326

Top down.

RFC

I can't tell you how happy I am we are addressing this issue of international magnitude.

I wrap both ways. It usually depends on the type of wrap. Imitation cork -- bottom up. Fizik -- top down.

divineAndbright

Ive always started at the drops up to the top. Ive never put much or any thought into it actually though, maybe next time im wrapping a set of bars I'll try the other way to see if I like it, I like the idea of a clean look without needing finishing tape.

Bianchigirll 

I was taught to wrap bottom up. although I must agree alot of lowend bikes that had prewraped bars were top down. I guess they don't have eletrical tape in Tiawan

that_guy_zach

Bottom up.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

Why is that? I use cotton tape occasionally and I find that if I wrap from the top the drops come unraveled.


Also I'm really happy to hear that everyone who wraps bottom up seems to use electrical tape at the tops of their bars that stuff they give you (presumably to wrap the ends) in a package of cork wrap is worthless.