Originally Posted by
Velo Vol
Like I said above, if you ask a bunch of people who do this for a living, including the people do this for a living for people who ride bikes for a living, you will be told that their way is THE ONLY RIGHT WAY, and they always have a good reason. The thing is, another equally experienced person will tell you the exact opposite, and they, too, will give you a good reason. I've wrapped my bars the way you see in the picture I posted for at least 20 years now, and no, it doesn't come unraveled, or gap or slide, or whatever the hell else well meaning people tell you will happen.
Oh, and the guy who taught me how to do it that way? He said, 'You have to wrap the tops going away from the rider, or the tape will unravel from the pressure of your hands on the tops."