I picked up some black leather sew on bar wrap for my current Rossin Record build (see here for ref)... the bars I have for this build are Cinelli 66 - 44CM, so they are for sure wide for the era. With that being said the leather bar wrap is just not long enough... comes up about .5" to short. I have considered cutting the bars back a bit. The Cinelli 66 campione del mondo extend pretty far and I think the bar wrap looks really nice. Thoughts on cutting the bars back? I have a pipe cutter which I have used to cut bars in the past... good idea? bad idea?

Other option is get a shorter bar, which is not a big deal, I kinda liked the idea of the 44's for cafe runs and short road rides...

Here is me attempting to sew this wraps on.

I picked up some black leather sew on bar wrap for my current Rossin Record build (see here for ref)... the bars I have for this build are Cinelli 66 - 44CM, so they are for sure wide for the era. With that being said the leather bar wrap is just not long enough... comes up about .5" to short. I have considered cutting the bars back a bit. The Cinelli 66 campione del mondo extend pretty far and I think the bar wrap looks really nice. Thoughts on cutting the bars back? I have a pipe cutter which I have used to cut bars in the past... good idea? bad idea?

Other option is get a shorter bar, which is not a big deal, I kinda liked the idea of the 44's for cafe runs and short road rides...

Here is me attempting to sew this wraps on.
https://instagram.com/p/yiqFf6KKAj/


Bike as it sits now.

Thanks. It is a sew on bar wrap, not overlapping. not sure how it would change the geometry...the ends of the bar barely get used, at least when I am in the drops.

I'd actually want a 0.5" gap between the center section of the bar and the end of the leather wrap. Use that bit of naked bar for computer mount, light, bell, what have you.

Not me, not on that bike, it's too clean and racy looking.

I've seen (and own) some bars with shorter lowers than that, so I think you *could* lop off a half inch and still have very usable bars. I personally wouldn't do it but I like a really long flat down low whenever I can get it; to the point where randonneuse style bars are my favorites.

Lovely bicycle, BTW. And it would look really cool with the stitch-ons. I'd skip the white (or any contrasting) stitching, though. It'll probably discolor unevenly over time and won't look so nice as it does when new.

IDK Try DIY? .. buy some leather and a roller marking tool . to get the stitching Holes equally Spaced. punch the many little holes with a Leather Punch .

And stitch it up just like all those Baseball seams ..

https://www.tandyleatherfactory.com/...home/home.aspx

I wouldn't cut the bars, I'd do like jyl suggested, and bring the tape to the bar ends and leave a gap near the stem. I generally leave about an inch gap on either side of my stems. Seems like cutting some Cinelli bars is somehow, well, wrong.

Thats a shame. I'm sure if you knew you were going to end up short you could have stretched Millimeters with every stitch and maybe pulled it off. What I mean a shame is the wrap manufacturer couldn't spare an extra inch on each piece so?? the buyer would have a nice purchase. Usually the cork and other gel wraps have about minimum 6 inches extra. Good luck, thanks for sharing. If you cut could the bars and do it cleanly w/o messing up the end of the wrap, I would go for it. Bars are cut everyday. Just, you really need to be sure how the end of the wrap will survive the cut. Are you using a pipe cutter? Hacksaw,( I hope not ) or some other type of saw. a dremel with a metal blade may do a very nice job. But make sure you protect the wrap if its already sewn on. JUST GO SLOW, good luck

Thanks for the ideas. I have cut bars in the past and used a pipe cutter, works well. I sort of feel a little wrong cutting Cinelli bars as well... they are not that uncommon or rare so it wouldn't be to much of a sacrifice. I am little bummed at the leather wrap maker Velobitz for not giving a little bit more material. I ordered them and just assumed there would be enough material. They were quite pricey too... which makes it all the more annoying. I do have some Benetto Celo wrap too which is a nice period correct wrap... might just go with that for now and maybe pick up a 40CM bar and see if that works. I really sort of want the tape to cover the whole bar, not leaving any gaps. I will not have a computer on the is bike. It will be ridden but need for it. I have spent about 3 hours with one side of the bar, tried 3 times, each time pulling on the leather and I have gotten close but still not enough... grrrrr.

Unfortunately, the Cinelli mod. CDM bars are just longer than pretty much all of its contemporaries, otherwise it would not have the very round and deep bend most of us C&Vers have loved. But you'd think the bar wrap maker would have at least patterned their wrap legnth towards the longest bars to and give the owners an option to cut the cover to suit all bar legnths as needed......

I contacted the maker of the bar wrap velobitz and just asked them if they had any ideas on how to make this work... soak in water longer, stretch, etc... and they got back to me and are going to send out some longer leather wrap. Pretty cool. Without hesitation. Seems like a good company.

That's a good outcome for sure. I would have hated to see you cut those nice bars.
By the way, how long are the too-short pieces of leather?

[MENTION=29368]rootboy[/MENTION] - I will take a look when I get home and measure them for you. I can up about .5" from the end of the bar and about .5 from the top of the bars end.