I just put on some new shifters and planned on reusing the Fizik bar tape that was already on there. The bar tape isn't that old but as I was removing it off I noticed the sticky stuff on the back was coming off and it was kinda losing its shape. Is bar tape meant to be a one shot deal?

Yes!!!!!!!

I have re-used cork style handlebar tape because I was experimenting with the setup and it can be done but it's never as good when reused. When you say your using Fizik bar tape is that the type with the gel pads? I'm sure you could reuse the gel pads and use fresh tape over them.

Regards, Anthony

Sorry i'm going to have to go with resounding No. It depends on the condition of the tape but to say in general bartape is a one shot use is a mistake.

I've reused bar tape when it wasn't too beaten up. Why not?

My favorite is Profile Design's tape because it doesn't have the "sticky stuff" on the back. It can be adjusted easily during installation and reused if I make some later changes to the bars. Despite the lack of glue, it doesn't slip or move with use.

My beater has bar tape that I got out of a dumpster.

I've reused the same bar tapes many times over, with or without the stickies....

If it is fairly new, why not? If it is old, it won't reshape well.

The real question is, How many of you guys reuse condoms? You can save a whole dollar.

If its sticky I would only reuse it if it has not left a lot of residue or will look a bit shoddy - other than that it should be good to go!

If you couldn't re-use Velox cloth tape I'd have bare bars. After 25 years I STILL can't get it right first try
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Don't do it. You'd be subject to condomnation.

I rode my brand new bike once and decided to flip and chop the bars. I reused the bar tape. The only draw back is that the sticky stuff is not sticky anymore and it 'rolls up' a little when you put friction from side to side on the handle bar. This is not a big deal since the tape goes right back to form. The only time I've done this is when i was specifically trying to make the tape roll up. Long story short, it doesn't matter.

On the contrary, since it's old it will have taken the shape of your bars, makes it a piece of cake to put back on if you keep track of which side you took it off of.

I wouldn't. It has already been stretched once and has no sticky stuff. No harm in trying, but I would expect it to start slipping and coming off after a short while.

Re-using quality tape is not an issue at all. When I was younger I did this quite often because I was always tinkering with my setup and couldn't afford new tape every time I changed something.

As a personal rule I replace tape once a year. If I need to pull the tape during the year and it is not overly cut or worn then I will re-use it (sticky or not). The sticky tape is not needed to hold bar tape in place.

I also keep at least 2 boxes of Cinelli cork tape in my shop at all times...just in case. I love the tape, it lasts forever, and I can usually find it aleast 2 or 3 times a year under $10.

I know that this advice is probably not in jive with my OCP membership, so I'll temper this by saying "reuse it if it is the only tape you have that matches, and be sure to carry extra new tape in both mathcing and complimentary colors - change when dirty"

Thank God they invented the 4 bolt stem!

+1 Something tells me you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about.

This bar tape has been of four different bikes.

even after a crash i keep the torn up tape. i'll put it on the seattube where my ulock sits, or on the top tube where the bars hit.

are you talking bar tape?

I think that corny was talking about bartape, but the sequence of those two posts was perfect.

Geez! I learn so many new cycling tools on BF. So where on your bike do you use condoms?

On downtube shifters when it's raining to keep them dry....

FYI this might not be the best, unless you've got an aluminium frame. i just took off all that bar tape i did the same with, and found large outbreaks of rust.

It's cheap, just use it once and replace it.