How to wrap bar tape?
 

Anyone have a good site that shows/explains how to wrap a handlebar?

Or is it some mystical art only passed down from Italian craftsmen to their grandsons, 'cuz my attempts have been downright embarrassing.

try www.parktool.com
they have answers for most general cycling maintenance needs...

-Jason-

Yep, Park's how-to is about the best out there.

It helps to pay attetion of how you unwrap it and replicate that.

here ya go:

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=71

Bottom to top. Clockwise on right, counter on the left. Finish with electrical tape (or supplied bits) and a hairdryer.

It just takes practice to get it tight and neat. I've known some pretty adapt bike mechanics who flatly refused to tape handlebars so you've got company.

Park tool has it right, but I wrap mine starting at the top of the bars and finish at the drop ends. I have a serious aversion to looking at tape ANYWHERE on my bikes. Been doing it this way since the early 80's. Anyone else wrap backwards/reverse?

I just rewrapped my bars after installing aero brake levers, I finish the end off by wrapping string around it, I used yellow string that is used in chalklines smoother and neater than twine. Looks a lot better than tape.

Profile makes decent tape WITHOUT the sticky adhesive back. Makes it alot easier to wrap & rewrap if/when you make a mistake. It's not that hard. Just takes some patience. And yeah, the parktool page lays it all out rather well.

i did my first set via the parktool page... Adhesiveless tape really helped, and hasn't slipped yet. Just be careful around the brifters, and do at least 2 or 3 visual checks before sealing the deal w/ the finishing tape.

I don't know when taping from the bottom started, but it's stupid and relies on the sticky tape to hold the wrap form unraveling. Old school was always no adhesive, wrap from top and end with bar plugs-worked for decades.

"I don't know when taping from the bottom started, but it's stupid and relies on the sticky tape to hold the wrap form unraveling. Old school was always no adhesive, wrap from top and end with bar plugs-worked for decades."

I think it is because starting from the bottom the edge of the tape flows from the center down. Keeps your hands/gloves from catching it and making it roll up or get rough.

You are totally right. The tape will roll up as your hand slides forward on the bar and if you start from the bottom all the exposed edges face in the direction your hand normally slides.

They stopped wrapping from the center when Schwinn stopped using that metallic plastic red or green handlebar tape in 1972 I think. December or thereabouts.

Absolutely . . . message 7 shows a double-wrap: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=104436
:)

I think you wrap clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter in the Southern Hemisphere. Or did I get that backward?

You need to watch which way the water spirals when you flush your toilet and wrap in the opposite direction :D

Hi,
You can also customise your bar. I use 2 pair of Grip Shapes
http://www.offthefront.com/sports.htm
I slide one pair just under the hoods, and the other provides a larger resting area on the outside bend. Tape them a little above flat because they will settle a bit the first time you put weight on them. I also double wrap with gel tape .

Really. I've never had this happen.

roadcyclingUK has posted a pictorial bar tape wrapping guide that rivals the Park Tool how-to in detail:

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/ar...64873682665302

if you find yourself wrapping and re-wrapping to the point where the tape doesn't hold, you can try what I did and put a shhhmear of glue stick on the underside of the cork. not sure if that will work out so great when you try to unwrap it though. :rolleyes:

Two bits:

1. Although Park puts down the idea of using the figure-8 rather than the little extra piece, I recommend that you leave the piece out. The figure-8 method, when done w/ the proper tension, looks more professional and is simpler than trying to mess with the additional pieces. Differences between brake levers require angling the pieces, and you’ll likely have to cut the pieces down anyway. As far as a bulky spot, the extra pieces put a bulge in the tape and your hoods anyway.

2. If you pull old tape off and want to reuse it, swapping ends before wrapping again can make it work better. I recently purchased a bike that the mechanic had wrapped extremely lightly and caused the bar tape to be too plush for my taste. When I tried to rectify the matter, the tape wouldn’t mold onto the bar the way I wanted. My fix was to start wrapping with the part of the tape that was originally at the top of my bar. The results were extremely good, and definitely better than the “fat wrap” I had originally.

sb

it can also be fun to experiment with bar tape

http://www.bikecult.com/works/parts/HBfancybarwrap.html

http://www.bikecult.com/works/parts/HBworldbands2.JPG

no this is not my bike but I tried various ways of wrapping my handle bars, I do not like the look of black finishing tape or the stickyness that can happen with tape. So the last time I wrapped my bars I tried something new.

I started at the bar ends ( I wrap flush with the ends, not tucking any in and use bar end blinky lights) and wrapped up to the hoods. Then I cut the tape, fixed it in place and started over at the stem and wrapped to the hoods from that direction. all the balck finish tape is under the hoods.

I may try using SELF AMALGAMIZING TAPE next time instead of black tape. it is a non sticky rubber tape that is stretched and overlapped onto the object - once it has been stretched though, the overlapping rubber fuses together to give one chunk of solid rubber!... get it at your automotive parts store

I just read about it in another post and it sounds like it might work well.

Looks good and so far has worked well. Even survived a crash. I can post pictures later.

how do you do that tiger striping/diamond pattern bar wrap? I've been trying that over the weekend without much luck. Didn't spend too much time on it with all the thanksgiving stuff I had going on though.

Pics = helpfull

:D

Try Harlequin

- Wil