The grips on the 1988 EH Corson have paper-thin brass ferrules on the ends of the cork grips and I remembered seeing someone's beautiful copper accents on their handlebars (perhaps a light holder?) and came up with an idea for holding the handlebar tape in place.

I took a piece of small copper tubing and stretched it over a series of dies until the inside had stretched from 3/4" to two different diameters, the smaller to fit the minor diameter of the handlebar (+ some wiggle room 1.090"/27.7mm) and the larger to fit over two layers of cloth or one of cork. I think it was thritysomething mm's

I then trimmed and polished and snapped a photo! I don't know if the colors work with copper goodies on a red bike but they make my sketchy tape jobs look much better. It looks like I need to go back to polishing school however.



IMG_4023 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

IMG_4026 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

Frank!

Those are just way too cool! Very clever idea!

You better set up a production line. I can see the orders pouring in over the next few days.

I do agree, the idea has merit. For me, the problem is why would one cover up the metal handle bars with metal? But, as I said, the idea has merit, sparking this thought - heat shrink tubing.

It occurs to me that you could use heat shrink tubing to finish off handlebar wrap. I am not sure, but it would be my guess that it can be purchased in colors, other than black. Yup, it comes in different colors.

Anyway, I do like the metal band, I just wondered about the choice of material. Nice job and it is ideas like yours that sponsor better ways to do things.

Here's another thought and a slight modification on your idea, if you don't mind:

Search for some of the wrap jobs cudak888 does on his bikes. He is very good at reverse wrapping, i.e. starting at the top next to the stem and working your way to the bar end.

When I've tried this, I'm challenged to find a clean way to finish the end. A sleeve similar to what you've done would be perfect! I'm not certain how to fit it to various thicknesses of bar tape, but a clever genius like you, should have no problem with this challenge.

I like this! But i agree with the others, I wonder if you'd get sliding/slipping/rattling with a metal sleeve? Plus, wouldn't each set have to be made for a particular diameter bar?

Bob, This is how I do it with cotton wrap (with cork I work my way up to the stem). If I have bar-end shifters, I simply apply a dab of glue at the end of the tape, and make sure the tape terminates on the underside of the bar where you can't see it. If there are no bar-cons, then the end gets tucked in inside the plugs.


Yes, it does come in other colors but it might be hard to find it. Radio Shack sells the standard black shrink tubing (and it's a rip-off), but most electronics supply stores carry it in all different colors and diameters. I love the stuff, and use it all the time for wiring jobs. It never occurred to me to use it in this application!

Those ferrules are very tidy.

But not as tidy as a nice top-down job...

I only use cork tape. I get a neat start by cutting an angle on the start of the tape to minimise the bulge where it has to overlap itself.

In order to avoid the major problem with reverse-wrapping, I painstakingly apply a second strip of double-sided tape along the edge that will be exposed... this makes it at least as durable as tape wrapped the normal way.

More pains are then taken ensuring an even application of the tape, and even more pains taken to match the second side to the first.

To finish, the end of the tape is wrapped past the end of the bars, folded inside and held in place with the plug.

It's totally slick, but it'd wanna be...takes me about three hours.