I cut down and flipped a pair of road bars for the DIY bullhorn effect. I was originally thinking of going with those Tektro bar end brake levers but then was quite smitten with The Fixer's CX lever setup shown below. Could I get away with using a old canti MTB brake lever instead? I'd rather use parts I have laying around the basement then spend on 2 levers when I only need one.

And in regards to wrapping my DIY bullhorns... in what direction do I wrap the left and right sides? I'm thinking that if I were standing in front of my bike I should wrap the bar's left side clockwise and the right side counterclockwise if I were facing my bike. I've read sites suggesting the exact opposite of what I've tried to describe but that was for wrapping uncut drop bars. I'm confused!

Thanks!

James

As far as wrapping, straddle on your bike and grab the ends of the bullhorns. You should wrap your tapes in the same direction your fingers are wrapped around the bars. This direction assures unravelling of the tapes every time you grab onto your bars. Start wrapping from the bullends.
Old canti Mtb levers won't work without some modification as the clamp diameter is much smaller than road type lever. Try BMX levers instead.

[QUOTE=The Fixer]As far as wrapping, straddle on your bike and grab the ends of the bullhorns. You should wrap your tapes in the same direction your fingers are wrapped around the bars. This direction assures unravelling of the tapes every time you grab onto your bars. [QUOTE]

am i reading that wrong, or does that not make sense?

on a slightly related note, anyone have a good method of doing a diamond wrap (two colors wrapped together forming a kinda diamond shape? Rivendell has an article up about it here But does anyone else have any tips? Specifically for bullhorns?

I've done this to both of my bikes now. I do it alittle differently than the Rivendell site suggests. I start at the center of the bar and work toward the ends. I use cotton tape. Like the article states, the start is the hardest. I don't cut the cotton tape at an angle as it would fray. I fold the tape to form the same angle. I also fold both colors in an interlocking way. So I start with the two colors joined at their ends (but at an angle).....I know that probably doesn't make alot of sense. It's really hard to explain.

Once started, I proceed like the Rivendell article suggests. The things to remember are:

1 Use alot of tension while wrapping. The cotton tape doesn't seem to stretch but it does if you hold the tension. This is crucial for making it around the bends in the bars.

2. Patience, patience. Don't be afraid to redo several wraps to get it right. Also, doing the first half of the bar is NOT half the battle.....getting the second half to match the first is the toughest part. Don't start this job until you have some hours to work it through.....at least the first time you do it.

I hope this helps alittle.

Jim

If you can find a BMX or canti lever (not a V lever though, they won't work) with the right diameter clamp (and preferably a hinge so you can get it on), you'll be fine. But if you do go with the cross levers, you can put one in the normal place and one on the end of the bar, so you get a barend lever too, like this



Or do what i did and put the other one one your geared bike.

wrap whatever way you want. If it doesnt work out; wrap the other way. Only seconds of your lifetime will be lost.

Regarding the MTB lever laying around the house....did you try it? Its the only true way to know for sure.

BMX levers use the smaller diameter too. I know cause I bought some BMX levers with a hinge that they were too small. CX levers with hinged clamps are your best bet. Maybe you and someone here can buy a pair and split the cost.

So I went home last night with the idea of making the canti lever(s) I have at home fit my DIY bullhorns. I had wrapped the right side of the bar while at work as The Fixer suggested but I was a bit confused by this:

[QUOTE=The Fixer]...you should wrap your tapes in the same direction your fingers are wrapped around the bars. This direction assures unravelling of the tapes every time you grab onto your bars.[QUOTE]

Didnt really make sense but I assume Fixer meant "no unravelling". Seems like it will hold up so I will wrap the left side just the same, but in the other direction.

Got home and didn't even touch my bike. This morning after my kids caught their school bus and after I had cleaned the bathrooms' toilets as promised to my wife, I was able to spread apart the canti lever clamp and fit it to the bullhorns. I got a message on my phone from the LBS near my place of employment (Cosmic Wheel in Ridgefield Park, NJ) that they have a set of used bar end brake levers on hold for me. Apparently the guy whose bike they came from recently got sponsored by Profile and they gave him a bunch of Profile products. Gonna pick those up after work and then decide if I'm gonna put em on or not. Another question now though as I've read this before... Will these bar end levers fit in my DIY bullhorns? I guess I'll just have to go there and try 'em on for fit. If not I'll just save them for later use.

i want one too...

if you get some cx levers ill take the second one from you.

While we're on the subject of wrapping, is it easier to wrap bars when they're off the bike? I've always done it with them mounted, and it can get tricky when the roll falls to the ground and gets in the way. But if they're on the bike you can pull the tape much tighter I'd imagine. Stupid question, just a bit curious

It's much easier to wrap bars with bars on the bike and bike secured on a repair stand with front wheel held steady with a bungie cord. You can really pull on the tape and make tight wraps.

Thought so. BTW, Beatrix's Henso sword has that same diamond wrap on the handle in Kill Bill I so want a samurai sword now.