briank

I have a specialized 2010 cycle cross handle bar I am changing out. I have a 38 cm on there and I am going to try a 40mm on the bike this weekend. I have never done a tape job on a road bike or Cross bike. I did watch a few you tube videos and it sounded fairly easy. I could be wrong though.

Here one of the videos I watched. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6g3-55iVU0

Now my cycle cross has 2 brake/ shifters on the curve, and 2 other brakes up near the relaxed hand positions. 4 brakes, a little more than the average bike.
I am not sure if I should spend the cash and have a pro shop do it or go for it?

Also whats a good tape to use?

Thanks in advance.

woodcraft

- Get the brake levers in their best position before taping.
- Figure 8 as shown in video sometimes uses up too much of the stingy amount of tape supplied.
- White tape gets dirty.
- Use whatever tape. Most folks like something cushioned these days.
- Top quality electrical tape is worth it.
- Re-taping yourself- go for it. Re-tapping handlebars- bad idea.

fietsbob

yea white you will be re taping soon..

Ive retaped bars with the new Fizik tape .. in the shop & the gel pad tape pack for my own bike (only comes in black)

Lizardskins has a new Cyclocross bar tape .. Lizard Skins DSP Bar Tape: New Cyclocross Bikes and Gear From the Sea Otter Classic | Bicycling Magazine

its expensive , but since you live in the SF Cal Bay Area You are used to things being expensive.

FBinNY 

Can't advise on tapes because it's m ore of a personal preference thing. Likewise with taping method, though some people are very adamant that there's one and only one way to do the job.

However, if it's possible, edit your headline to drop one "P". Wrapping tape on a bar is taping. while tapping refers to making screw threads in a hole (or attaching a tap to a beer keg).

I wouldn't have said anything but there was a recent thread about how to re-tap a stripped stem, and this looked like a duplicate post.

Ray Dockrey

On thick gel tape I don't figure eight around the shifters. For my hands it makes it too bulky in that area. It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Counter clockwise on the left and clockwise on the right. Start at the bottom/end of the bar and work your way up overlapping about a third. That's the way I do it.

briank

Thanks everybody. I can't edit the title. I am a machinist and I should have caught that terminology, taping vs tapping. Thank you all for the posts and the advice. Bk

GeneO 

Performancebike's tape is pretty good - I was surprised how easy it is to tape and how durable it is.

cradom

You're going from 38cm to 40mm? Did you shrink?

Retro Grouch 

The worst thing that can happen if you do it yourself is you won't be satisfied with the job and you'll have to get it professionally done. That means you'll be out the cost of the bar wrap. Even that it won't have been a total loss because you will have learned some things through the process.

FBinNY 

Wouldn't tha mean he grew?

briank

Ahh I get it, screwed up my centimeters and millimeters...

dsbrantjr

I like to finish off my tape wraps with self-fusing silicone tape. It only sticks to itself so it's easy to remove and won't bleed adhesive like electrical tape. It comes in numerous colors to match or contrast your tape, bike, etc.