Bar Taping Technique Question
 

I know I've seen a couple threads where it showed a handlebar taping technique where two separate colors are used in an interwoven, counter-directional fashion. If anyone can remember the name of the technique, or point me towards instructions, I'd very much appreciate it.

TIA,

Z

Harlequin I think is what your after.

http://www.wastedlife.org/bike/harlequin/index.html

That's exactly it. Now to plot the plan for a red-white taping with twine on the end, and shellac over the top. :thumb: A source for red twine would be sweet.

Thanks.

I actually had the word in my head, but was thinking it was synonymous with that "splash" bar tape that I'm not fond of. :o

look for red twine at an arts and crafts store (Michaels?).

Marty

One of the cool things about this weave is that no end treatment is necessary. Hard to explain, but once you do this wrap, you'll see why. You could still put it on, but it really is not needed.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_P7m8p3pz-zo/Sa...dia1%20012.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_P7m8p3pz-zo/SI...0/CIMG1903.JPG

I've decided that for most bikes, I like the partial wrap in the two pics above, a treatment of the full bar is pretty over the top, doesn't necessarily work for all bikes:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_P7m8p3pz-zo/SI...0/CIMG2067.JPG

I was gonna try a blue and white harlequin this weekend, but decided sanity and a sunny afternoon trumped cool bar tops for this year. I think the part that will drive you crazy is getting symmetry between the two sides. The sliiiightest bit off is just not acceptable :twitchy:

Beautiful stuff Robatsu, how hard is it to get even?

I think I'm going to have to try it... I agree, I like it best just on the top. How'd you get those bar plugs to match so well?

That is pretty much the nub of the issue. The first time you do it, you do one side, and think, "Oh, that's not too bad". Then you do the other side and it doesn't look at all like the other side.

The first few times, it is pretty hard to get even, you end up unwrapping/redoing, and then depending on the balance of your tolerance for frustration against your tolerance for imperfection, you'll probably finally accept some less than optimal result.

After you do it a couple of times and get comfortable with the low level mechanics of it, not getting rolls tangled up, etc, you start figuring out how fine adjustments to angle/overlap affect the outcome, and you can knock it out pretty quickly. Even then, you still have to be willing to undo things, but if you are paying attention, it never should be be more than one or two turns that do need to be redone. However, I have done it such that the second half looked a lot better than the first half and gone back and rewrapped it.

Just pay attention the first few times, sort of study the issue - one thing to help you be careful is to make sure that the points of the alternate color diamonds do end up 180 degrees from each other, if you strive for this, a lot of other minor problems sort of work themselves out, or are a lot easier to work out.

Well, I just threw myself on the mercy of the C&V forum, a plea for yellow bar plugs, and you very graciously and generously sent me some. It really is a very cool touch, much better than the black plugs I started with.

Nice! It reminded me of samurai sword. Way cool.

No offense, but last time I looked at the wastedlife link I got confused. Admittedly, it was 1AM. I'll check again soon, and hopefully be able to make more sense out of it.

So... Do I have to use those sort of bar plugs with cotton bar tape, or can I use the more modern plastic plugs?

I haven't done it, but I'd think you should be able to use the more modern ones.

OH NO! :eek: I have been watching my husband wrap and rewrap the same plain black tape for hours this week just trying to get it right. This stuff is just scary! He might retire trying something like this!

I got my instructions for this wrapping style from an article in Bicycling Magazine during the mid 80s. It didn't seem as confusing as the website above. They didn't mention the harlequin description. I thought it would look cool for my then new Vitus build. Several in our group were having a bike build off.
I liked the fact it resembles the handle of a samurai sword. And still like the look. My attempt was with Benotto vinyl tape.
Took 3 hrs to complete in order to maintain symmetry. I achieved what I wanted, the bike looked over the top back then.

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/53dff36b.jpg

I think the full wrap looks really good on that bike.

Wow!! Very cool. I've never seen this before, and now I'm going to have to try it. I've got just the bike for which this would be the ultimate finishing touch. Two questions: (1) Where do you source all those great colors of bar tape? - most places I see only a few standard colors. (2) Do you think that it could work alternating a thicker cork tape with a thinner cloth tape, or would you need to use two tapes of the same thickness? Thanks.

I dont think two different thicknesses would work out well. I get tape at a hockey supply place.

WNG- would you happen to have scans of said article you could post?

They make Hemp Twine in just about every color you can imagine.

Wine corks would look really nice with cloth bar tape...

Unfortunately, I don't have it anymore. The start at the stem was a bit different. But once started it's pretty self explanatory. Just maintain the width and crossover points. Like Robatsu mentioned, I had to redo one side a few times until I got it right. ;)

Sources? Either eBay or velo orange.

Rivendell and Jitensha carry the nice Viva tape.