I'm planning on double wrapping my handlebars this weekend. I have Deda bar tape (with adhesive backing) on my bars now and plan to cover it with cork tape, which also has an adhesive backing. (I like the feel of cork better than the Deda tape, and want a thick handlebar.)

Anything special I need to know about double wrapping?

It seems to me I need to be more careful not to overlap too much as it would be easier to run out of tape since the bar will be thicker with one layer of tape already on it.

Anyone with experience that has any pointers I would appreciate it.

I did a double wrap on some bars one time just to see if I liked it but don't remember there being any issues when putting the second layer of bar tape on. Since the Deda bar tape is a little thicker then the average bar tape I think your plan of not over lapping a lot will work fine.

Does this mean you don't have your bars double wrapped anymore? I read a couple posts of people who doubled wrapped and liked it, but would like to hear your perspective, especially if it is different.

I just put on the Deda wrap 2 weeks ago, so I think I am actually going to see if I can unwrap it and make it a little less overlapped. Up near the stem I had so much extra tape that when I taped my bars I was able to overlap almost half of it on itself, so I would like to unwrap that and spread it out a little, since I will be adding a second layer.

I found the Deda tape to be thinner than the previous cork that came with my bike, and I don't like the Deda tape nearly as well compared to the cork, plus I don't care for the silver color I chose and will be putting on Red/White cork tape over the Deda.

Rather than double wrap, why not get some of those handlebar gel pads and wrap them into key hand positions?

I have big hands and like a thicker wrap. I've always use an old inner tube under the wrap from the hoods up. It works well.

Shayne

I took off the double wrap on road bars. I didn't care for the spongy feel. If I remember right I had a problem with one hand falling a sleep and double wrapped the bars to see if it helped. It didn't and then I changed bikes and no longer had the problem with my hand.

I just did mine last night with Fi'zi:k Microtex tape and LOVE it. I havent ridden on it yet, but Im about to hear in an hour or so and Ill be sure to report back. But Im a big guy at 6'4 230, so I like the feel of bigger bars too. But yea, its nice and I ran into no problems, just be sure not to run out of tape.

-matt

I haven't used any of the gel inserts so I have no comparison.

I doubled from the brifters up. I used the same tape on bottom and top. It looked and worked great. (I didn't want the bulk on the bottom and only really needed the cushion up top.) It feels a little mushy on really wet rides if I forget my gloves is my only real complaint.

If I were doing it again right now I might skip because of the bulk of my winter riding gloves. But down in Texas, that is not going to be an issue.

Because I'm too cheap. Cork handlebar tape cost me $5, while those gel systems would have run me $30-40.

The inner tube method is a great idea. I think it's quite old. I remember seeing a photo of a 7-11 team rider doing this at a race in Colorado. It helped on long descents on bumpy roads.

+1 I use the Fizik gel on two bikes and really like it. On my Bianchi I just double wrapped right over the existing tape. No problems and about the same effect (although the bar is thicker with a double wrap then gel). My Trek has a carbon bar and so far I've been happy with just a single layer of the Bontrager tape.

Yeah I double wrapped my bars once with cork tape and it was great, but just a smidge too thick for me.
Now I have the Fi'z:k Microtex tape over the basic 'Bike Ribbon' cork tape. This seems about perfect for me now. Not too thick, and not too thin.

I double wrap all my handlebars... well, both of them

I prefer the slightly softer feel, but more so the extra thickness of the bar itself that it adds (the link in my sig shows double wrapped bars). I ride my cross bike the same way. I did absolutely nothing different than normal wrapping when doing the 2nd layer. The first layer doesn't add all that much more that you'd run out of tape.

I went double wrap, but next time I may get that specialized super phat bar gel wrap stuff... I think fizik has something similar.

I've had LBS do this on my bikes for many years. I've watched them do it. No issues. My hands are a) large and b) easily bothered by vibration, so I also use pieces of 1/4" thick neoprene isdie the palm area of the gloves.

Yea, I got to go out on a ride with it today and it actually made a very noticeable difference for the better. Not to mention, it looks amazing on my Fuji. Woot woot!

-Matt

I double wrapped mine to get a "thicker" bar. One thing I did was to go in about an inch or so from the stem and bar-ends on the existing tape and put a single wrap of electrical tape then trim off the inch or so of existing bar tape. That way, the second layer of wrap tapered down to the bar. Probably just more aesthetically pleasing than functional, but it worked for me.

Also, I has no problem running out of tape and a overlapped fairly well. Even trimmed off a few inches.

Thanks for that tip. Sounds like a good idea -- I'll probably do the same. I will also be adding one of those "Italian Road Bike Mirrors" from ebay, so that is in part why I needed to re-wrap my bars anyway. But I wanted to try double wrapping. I plan to remove the old wrap, wrap it again just a little more spaced out, and will leave an inch or so at the ends, like you suggest, for the new wrap.