To steal a line from [165]...... I came.

you had me at [img]

Holy crap that bike is niiiiiiiiiiice!! I like every one of those wheelsets too. Nice setup man!

before -- poser keirin grips, kalloy post, ugly stem
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005/feb/thuan1.jpg

after -- cinelli cockpit, functional cane creek levers, duraace post, swank ass salsa wrap
http://www.thuan.org/images/bike.jpg
http://www.thuan.org/images/salsa.jpg

can you explain the dremel chop that you did to your brooks? the how, the why and the effects

Do a search for "trimming Brooks". I just cut the sides down so it looks a little more like a Swift than a B17. The seat came on a used bike I bought, so I wasn't out anything if I messed it up. I think the seat is broken in for someone elses but, because it is not comfortable for long rides.

- hmm.. i liked the 'before' picture... also, why is tape used on bar wraps? (seems unnecessary, IMO)

- otherwise, a very, very nice ride... (looking for a similar frame, but did find an ancient Specialized Crossroads in CroMo yesterday [designed in California! built in Taiwan!] - a US$100 Pr0n Shop Spezial that re-launches tomorrow a.m. on a 6km track following a cleanup, tightenup, tuneup, partial re-clearcoat, and manicure w/new tires)

- tks for sharing!

unlike cloth, these wrap only have adhesive down in the middle... and even that doesn't stick very well

I like it. The after looks like a bike that belongs to a person that's figured out what's comfortable with them and is ok with that.

That Salsa tape is rad looking.

The trick is to start the wrap at the end where you did the tape. Wrap around the bar once, so it fully covers where you started. That way, it'll hold in place really well with no tape. Obviously, there is a bar plug holding the other end :eek:

ah, good call!! i've never thought of that--when i wrapped my first bars i followed the diagram and went from the plugs... and have done it that way ever since :x

Dokushoka,

This is not a good idea. Properly wrapped bars should be wrapped from the bottom up. The reason should be self evident with use.

Carl.

I've wrapped a lot of bars that way and its worked for a lot of miles without failure.

dokushoka,

The reason behind my suggestion is that when you wrap from the top down, and you push out or forward on the bars, you are pushing on the exposed edge of the tape. When you wrap from the bottom up, you are pushing the exposed edges of the tape down on itself.

The issue of wrapping in the proper direction is just as important since if you wrap in the wrong direction, pulling on the tops (as in climbing) can either result in you tightening the wrap, or effectively loosening it. This also applies to riding on the hoods (or bullhorns) and drops.

But in the end its just tape, and by the time you wear it out, it's probably filthy and needs replacing anyways. :D

Cheers,
Carl.

While we're at it... How do I wrap bullhorns? Starting from the end, not the stem, I imagine, but should the right hand side be "right hand threaded", or "left hand threaded"? I can't really notice myself twisting it in any direction gripping it by the stem or up front...

You just wrap in the proper direction. I can't explain it, but trust me, it works. I've used this set up for a long time and I live in a city where you constantly have to climb. You can wrap in either direction even if you start at the top of the bars....

Cognitive dissonance much?

I never meant to suggest that your bike would suddenly burst into flames if the handlebars are wrapped incorrectly, of course your wrap method will work.

I simply offered some advice I picked up along the way that i've found helps to extend the life of tape. I even offered my understanding of why this is so.

Take it as you will, it's just the same to me.

Carl.

While we're on the topic of handlebar tape, and I know this is gonna sound a little ahhh, well, you know but: Does anyone know where I can find pink cork tape? I looked in a ton of different distributor catalogs, Quality Bike Products, Downeast, Raleigh, Action etc. and it appears no one makes pink cork tape. I find this odd.

Soma makes pink
http://store.somafab.com/thzebarta.html

Bontrager seems to make pink gel/cork
http://www.bontrager.com/Road/Parts_..._Tape/5706.php

Nice! That looks pretty good...now I guess it's just a matter of waiting for my current tape to get old and grimy.

random FGG blast-from-the-past of the day:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2004/b/gallagher.jpg

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2004/b/gallagher.htm

the angle on that headtube inspires pure lust in me.

here's my first fixed gear. thanks to you guys for the (mostly) good advice.

stats:
frame: 80's panasonic roadie
wheels: all black iro/velocity fusion
bars: sakae diy bullhorns
brakes: nashbar inline, shimano exage
chainring: 47t black rocket ring
cog: 18t soma
pedals: wellgo clips

Criminee that's hott.

in the write-up for the Merckx, he says that he plans to ride it on a double century. I wonder how that went.