Originally Posted by
RubeRad
I'm not here to debate either; it just seems obvious to me that a solution without tape is preferable to a solution with tape, Ockham's Razor and all. I don't have any problems with my bartape edges peeling up from outward hand pressure, maybe I don't ride hard enough? I've had my current red tape on for almost 2 years/5000mi now, and sure it's blackened and grubby, but it lays down just fine. And it was the cheapest tape I could buy off eBay, probably under $5.
But if the edge-direction thing is sufficient reason to others to justify bottom-up plus tape, go for it! U be U!
It's definitely a thing. Though, possibly, a nod towards tradition as well.
I had an old Raleigh Super Grand Prix wrapped from the top down. The edges of the tape absolutely started curling and getting generally nasty on the corners of the tops, where the bars start to curve forward. My hands spent a lot of time there. However...I've noticed with more modern bars, and modern hoods...my hands never really end up on the corners. Hoods, drops, or occasionally the tops. But never the corners.
So...take your riding habits and bar configuration into consideration.