Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Elkhide wrap from Velo Orange

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Elkhide wrap from Velo Orange

Old 03-15-13, 09:37 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ranger63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: western new york
Posts: 720

Bikes: mid 80s Ross Centaur converted to Alfine 11 09 motobecane imortal force, 83 Ross Paragon,81 Schwinn LeTour Tourist, 91 Paramount, 93 GT converted to city bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Elkhide wrap from Velo Orange

Only because I have the correspondence between Scott and I preceding the discovery am I posting this heads up.
Velo Orange does not get into specifics when listing what exact size bars the wraps will fit..and they should.
The wraps are made specifically for bars with a 26.0 center section and 23.8 remainder of the handlebar.
Anything larger, you can't draw the wraps up tight.
I asked originally and was told the wraps would fit a 26.0 bar
I assumed we were talking about the bar diameter where the wraps went on.
I was wrong
Figured I'd share the insight in case anyone else was planning on purchasing the bar wrap.
Ranger63 is offline  
Old 03-15-13, 09:52 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Junk083's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 180

Bikes: All City Space Horse

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
You can wrap a roll of cloth tape underneath and fit them to any bars you'd like..
Junk083 is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 01:17 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Grand Bois's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,414
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 25 Posts
Originally Posted by Junk083
You can wrap a roll of cloth tape underneath and fit them to any bars you'd like..
That makes no sense.
Grand Bois is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 02:11 AM
  #4  
Banned.
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: on the beach
Posts: 4,859

Bikes: '73 falcon sr, '76 grand record, '84 davidson

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 59 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 21 Times in 16 Posts
you're saying your bars are too thick in overall diameter for the wrap to stretch over and wrap tight? that's odd, as the website says they'll stretch over cable housing too. what bars do you have?

what if you had a different problem where the wrap is too long for your bars and you wanted more bar exposed and less of the hide wrapped. is it easy to cut the wrap to length like any other bar tape?
eschlwc is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 06:31 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Junk083's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 180

Bikes: All City Space Horse

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Grand Bois
That makes no sense.
I guess I mis-read what was originally posted, assuming the wrap was too loose and not too tight.
Junk083 is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 06:37 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Grand Bois's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,414
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 25 Posts
The stuff is so stretchy that I would think that it would fit any size bar.

It will always need to be trimmed. You start at the top and trim it when you reach the end of the bar and have tied it off. I found a way that I could tuck it in the end using some glue and then trim it. I've done it with both Velox plugs and Barcons.
Grand Bois is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 07:30 AM
  #7  
a77impala
 
a77impala's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Central South Dakota
Posts: 1,521

Bikes: 04=LeMond Arravee, 08 LeMond Versailles, 92 Trek 970

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Liked 13 Times in 8 Posts
Where are the photos?
a77impala is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 07:42 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
 
ColonelJLloyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Louisville
Posts: 8,382
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by Ranger63
Only because I have the correspondence between Scott and I preceding the discovery am I posting this heads up.
Velo Orange does not get into specifics when listing what exact size bars the wraps will fit..and they should.
The wraps are made specifically for bars with a 26.0 center section and 23.8 remainder of the handlebar.
Anything larger, you can't draw the wraps up tight.
I asked originally and was told the wraps would fit a 26.0 bar
I assumed we were talking about the bar diameter where the wraps went on.
I was wrong
Figured I'd share the insight in case anyone else was planning on purchasing the bar wrap.
I don't understand the problem. What bar do you want to use the wrap with and why do you think they're not compatible?
__________________
Bikes on Flickr
I prefer email to private messages. You can contact me at justinhughes@me.com
ColonelJLloyd is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 08:37 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Cross Creek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 346

Bikes: 2013 Rivendell Sam, 1996 Bianchi Milano, 1994 Trek 820

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 4 Posts
I think some responders are thinking of traditional bar tape in leather (which VO also offers), but the OP is talking about the VO bar wrap that is stitched on, baseball or cross-stitch style. It can be used on 22.2 bars with cotton bar tape underneath, and will stretch a little to fit over cables on 23.8 bars, but anything larger is probably too much.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
image.jpg (92.9 KB, 48 views)
Cross Creek is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 08:56 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
ColonelJLloyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Louisville
Posts: 8,382
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
That's part of what I'm not understanding. What handlebar has a diameter larger than 24mm?
__________________
Bikes on Flickr
I prefer email to private messages. You can contact me at justinhughes@me.com
ColonelJLloyd is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 08:56 AM
  #11  
MFA
 
jjvw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,186

Bikes: 1973 Italvega Nouvo Record; 1965 Hercules; 1982-83 Schwinn Mystery MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Pictures please. I'm confused too.

Clamp diameter is irrelevant to the problem. Sheldon Brown lists the largest and smallest grip diameters as 23.8mm and 22.2mm. That's a 1.6mm difference in diameter. If these stretchy elk hides are able to accomodate brake housing, surely there is enough give for an extra 1/16".


https://store.velo-orange.com/index.p...ar-covers.html

Last edited by jjvw; 03-16-13 at 09:03 AM.
jjvw is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 09:01 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Grand Bois's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,414
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 25 Posts
I understand exactly what he's talking about and I believe that the elkhide will stretch enough to fit any size bar. I've done a couple of handlebars with the stuff and both of them have cables under the wrap. You want to stretch it very tight or it will move.

I know that the suggestion to wrap smaller diameter bars with cloth tape first is on the site, but I'm sure it will show through. I found out the hard way that even a piece of masking tape under the wrap shows through.
Grand Bois is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 09:16 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
ColonelJLloyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Louisville
Posts: 8,382
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by Grand Bois
I understand exactly what he's talking about . . . .
Do tell.

And, yeah, even thin tape underneath will be evident through the leather wrap.
__________________
Bikes on Flickr
I prefer email to private messages. You can contact me at justinhughes@me.com
ColonelJLloyd is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 10:03 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Cross Creek's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 346

Bikes: 2013 Rivendell Sam, 1996 Bianchi Milano, 1994 Trek 820

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 4 Posts
I would think that a layer of the cheap cotton tape, wrapped so the edges butt together but don't overlap, would be unnoticeable underneath the leather, especially after treating it with neatsfoot oil or Proofhide to plump it up a little. Thin strips of tape used to hold the brake lever clamp in place definitely do show, though it's more evident in photos than in person.
Cross Creek is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 10:49 AM
  #15  
MFA
 
jjvw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,186

Bikes: 1973 Italvega Nouvo Record; 1965 Hercules; 1982-83 Schwinn Mystery MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Cross Creek
I would think that a layer of the cheap cotton tape, wrapped so the edges butt together but don't overlap, would be unnoticeable underneath the leather,....
That might be a different issue than what the OP is trying to highlight. Still, it is a matter of expectations. I have a feeling that most people who buy the elkwrap are wanting their bars to look and feel like a smooth pair of sausages under grip. (Mmmm) Adding any type of under-wrap will create an additional surface texture to the leather. Therefore any cotton tape that is added must be applied with the same attention to detail for evenness and consistency as anything else.

Last edited by jjvw; 03-16-13 at 10:52 AM. Reason: wrong words
jjvw is offline  
Old 03-16-13, 12:28 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Grand Bois's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Pinole, CA, USA
Posts: 17,414
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 443 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 27 Times in 25 Posts
Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd
Do tell.
I did, and I was referring to Cross Creeks comment. It was obviously referring to my post.
Grand Bois is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 05:54 AM
  #17  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Ranger63's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: western new york
Posts: 720

Bikes: mid 80s Ross Centaur converted to Alfine 11 09 motobecane imortal force, 83 Ross Paragon,81 Schwinn LeTour Tourist, 91 Paramount, 93 GT converted to city bike

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I probably should have altered the 'lead in' to read:" For folks looking at installing Velo Oranges elkhide wrap on their rides"
Here's the word for word response I got from Scott at Velo Orange.
"Rich; On bars with the center grip being 26.0 the grip area (on ours)is 23.8.
The grips are cut to fit 23.8 diameter bars.
They were designed to cover the 23.8 bars only but there might be enough stretch to cover aero style cable setups, I can't be certain.
IF the bars are of the 31.8 (as with my Salsa shallow drop PRM3)center grip then the y go down to 26.7 (which is standard for 31.8 clamps but not for 26.0 clamps)that is too big for our grips to fit"
Simply put; I was just sharing the experience in case others were looking at Velo Oranges elkhide wrap for their vintage rides.
The wraps won't fit newer bars with the 31.8 center grip
The wraps won't fit if you plan on going with an aero wrap on the brake cables.
Sence the wraps are unreturnable (for obvious reasons)and unuseable in their oem form on anything I have, I'm thinking of cutting the wrap in half lengthwise and seeing if (with doublefaced tape on each strip) the two strips can be wrapped onto the bar.
Ranger63 is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 07:27 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
ColonelJLloyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Louisville
Posts: 8,382
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 111 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times in 10 Posts
I see now why I was confused. I assumed you and Velo Orange (Scott) knew what you were talking about.

Originally Posted by Ranger63
IF the bars are of the 31.8 (as with my Salsa shallow drop PRM3)center grip then the y go down to 26.7 (which is standard for 31.8 clamps but not for 26.0 clamps)that is too big for our grips to fit"
False.

Originally Posted by Ranger63
The wraps won't fit newer bars with the 31.8 center grip
False.

Originally Posted by Ranger63
The wraps won't fit if you plan on going with an aero wrap on the brake cables.
False.
__________________
Bikes on Flickr
I prefer email to private messages. You can contact me at justinhughes@me.com
ColonelJLloyd is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 07:35 AM
  #19  
MFA
 
jjvw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 1,186

Bikes: 1973 Italvega Nouvo Record; 1965 Hercules; 1982-83 Schwinn Mystery MTB

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Can we see pictures of your bars? I'm still a little confused.

Is the problem that you want to wrap your bars all the way up to the stem, but because you have the newer, fatter clamp size you can't?

Vintage bikes and vintage style bikes, the type VO caters to, tend to use the smaller diameter bars.
jjvw is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 11:08 AM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
carfart's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 80
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I put these on my 23.8mm porteur bars over both cotton bar tape and a brake cable without a fit problem. It's leather; it stretches. And that's why I wouldn't want to put it on bare 23.8 or 22.2mm bars despite the adhesive strip. I think it would get too loose on the bar over time. Besides, the cloth tape detail coming through looks rather nice.
carfart is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 12:53 PM
  #21  
Senior Member
 
1 Lugnut's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: S.F. Bay Area
Posts: 577

Bikes: Motobecane Grand Record, Colnago Super, Mondia Super, Mondia Special, Mondia Prestige (for sale 55cm),Titan Star, Titan Exklusiv, Windsor

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 55 Post(s)
Liked 110 Times in 53 Posts
Originally Posted by carfart
I think it would get too loose on the bar over time.
They say to squirt some adhesive on your bars prior to stitching the leather on...

The leather on my '74 Moto GR has been on close to 40 years & has held-on. Only recently has it begun to twist on one of the ends.



For another bike, when I inquired VO about their Stitched Elkhide fitting over cables for ergo, they said it most likely would not fit. Instead, I went w/ their Gran Cru Leather Wrap.

1 Lugnut is offline  
Old 03-18-13, 03:13 PM
  #22  
incazzare.
 
lostarchitect's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Catskills/Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 6,978

Bikes: See sig

Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times in 38 Posts
Did you actually try fitting them, or are you assuming based on the email you received that they won't fit?
__________________
1964 JRJ (Bob Jackson), 1973 Wes Mason, 1974 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1986 Schwinn High Sierra, 2000ish Colian (Colin Laing), 2011 Dick Chafe, 2013 Velo Orange Pass Hunter
lostarchitect is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chrisx
Touring
16
11-24-18 09:05 PM
steve-in-kville
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
50
11-28-13 10:19 AM
devin3294
Singlespeed & Fixed Gear
48
08-21-10 12:12 PM
himespau
Bicycle Mechanics
8
03-26-10 01:39 PM
no1mad
Hybrid Bicycles
6
01-24-10 07:50 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.