Why so many nekid bars?
11-22-13 | 09:17 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,552
Likes: 135
Ok, I'll bite.
I am running naked bars on one of my bikes.
I'm trying a new setup, and before spending the money to buy tape and wrap them up, I want to make sure I like them. This is my first setup with an anatomic grip and its... weird, for me. If I don't end up keeping the bars on there, I don't want to have wasted a perfectly good roll of tape on bars I don't plan on using. It also doesn't have plugs. Sue me, its a beater.
Also, if I am running drop bars without hoods, I never tape tape the tops. When I grip there, I grip and pull backwards (think motorcycle throttle motion). If you wrapped them properly and so they tighten when you grip and turn your wrists outwards in the drops, it will do the opposite up top. It looks like **** and will start to loosen.
I am running naked bars on one of my bikes.
I'm trying a new setup, and before spending the money to buy tape and wrap them up, I want to make sure I like them. This is my first setup with an anatomic grip and its... weird, for me. If I don't end up keeping the bars on there, I don't want to have wasted a perfectly good roll of tape on bars I don't plan on using. It also doesn't have plugs. Sue me, its a beater.
Also, if I am running drop bars without hoods, I never tape tape the tops. When I grip there, I grip and pull backwards (think motorcycle throttle motion). If you wrapped them properly and so they tighten when you grip and turn your wrists outwards in the drops, it will do the opposite up top. It looks like **** and will start to loosen.
There's a way to wrap tape around the brake levers so that the wrapping direction reverses itself and you have the bars wrapped correctly for how your hands are twisting the tape whether you're in the drops or hanging off the flats. It's a half figure 8 technique. Also allows you to ditch the cheater strip.
11-22-13 | 11:03 AM
#29
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,414
Likes: 2
From: Arlington, TX
Bikes: 2008 Surly Cross Check, 2010 Fuji Track Comp
11-22-13 | 11:34 AM
#30
Senior Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
From: Medford, MA
I'm all about practical when it comes to my commuter bike, but I can't stand "comfort" bikes - they are NOT comfortable! I like my steeper seat tube and skinny saddle and drop bars, thanks very much. And I've worked in bike shops enough to know what happens to those cheesy suspension forks if the bike actually gets *used*.
And year-round commuting is where a fixed gear really is more practical than a geared drivetrain, IMHO. But I'll take it with fenders and a rack. And bartape.
And year-round commuting is where a fixed gear really is more practical than a geared drivetrain, IMHO. But I'll take it with fenders and a rack. And bartape.
11-22-13 | 11:58 AM
#31
Bike Nerd
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 238
Likes: 2
From: Brooklyn
Bikes: '04 Cannondale Track, Custom Steel Disc Road Di2, Rock Lobster CX
Whenever I see bare bars I assume the owner is "cheap and clueless". There's no legitimate reason not to wrap. Tape costs as little as $10 and if you're bad at wrapping then turn in your cyclist card now.
The flip side is every time I see a beater locked up that's been treated to new tape it makes me
The flip side is every time I see a beater locked up that's been treated to new tape it makes me
11-22-13 | 12:24 PM
#32
pro in someone's theory
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 3
From: Las Cruces, NM
Bikes: FTP
Those Mash bullhorns are what convinced me that all things Mash are jackass. Really? Your going to make bars that encourage people not to wrap them so they can see your goofy graphics?
11-22-13 | 12:45 PM
#33
Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Spokane
Bikes: Cinelli bolt, miyata liberty conversion
Do a quick google search half the mash bars you see online are wrapped just like the ones on your Fuji. You must have a bone to pick with mash
11-22-13 | 01:08 PM
#34
pro in someone's theory
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 3
From: Las Cruces, NM
Bikes: FTP
11-22-13 | 05:56 PM
#35
Full Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 330
Likes: 10
From: Pepperell MA
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Allez, Trek Farley, Trek Crockett, Deluxe Team dirt jump BMX, SE Draft, S&M ATF, S&M L.A.M.F., S&M PBR, BSD TrailOrPark, SE Vans PK Ripper
11-22-13 | 06:29 PM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 503
Likes: 0
From: Durham NC
Bikes: Kilo TT, Felt z85, Kona Unit 2-9, 90s Schwinn 9.3 with Noleen fork
if you are like me (an idiot) and have got a funky color bar you like to look at (gold anodized), get clear Champ grips. Can still see the bar color/images through the grips (works only for 25.4/26 bars, not mondo 31.8 ergobars, but who wants to see what compact drops look like under tape).
They do get a bit slippy if you sweat all over them but I wear gloves for that.
They are inordinately expensive, but see also (fashion idiot). They do seem to last a long time, for what that's worth.
They do get a bit slippy if you sweat all over them but I wear gloves for that.
They are inordinately expensive, but see also (fashion idiot). They do seem to last a long time, for what that's worth.
11-23-13 | 03:00 PM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Davis, CA
Bikes: Leader 722ts
I know multiple people that ride without grips, they wear gloves and it gives them better grip if they don't have wrapping on them. If anyone in this thread rode in the winter then they can easily tell you why they don't wrap. The wrapping will freeze or fall apart especially synthetic materials, gloves will keep you warm when you ride and if your wrapping is wet it can also get slippery when worn with gloves or mittens. That's why some people do it.
11-23-13 | 03:12 PM
#38
pro in someone's theory
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 3
From: Las Cruces, NM
Bikes: FTP
I know multiple people that ride without grips, they wear gloves and it gives them better grip if they don't have wrapping on them. If anyone in this thread rode in the winter then they can easily tell you why they don't wrap. The wrapping will freeze or fall apart especially synthetic materials, gloves will keep you warm when you ride and if your wrapping is wet it can also get slippery when worn with gloves or mittens. That's why some people do it.
11-23-13 | 04:02 PM
#39
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,938
Likes: 15
From: las vegas
Bikes: purty blue undefeated II 57cm
I know multiple people that ride without grips, they wear gloves and it gives them better grip if they don't have wrapping on them. If anyone in this thread rode in the winter then they can easily tell you why they don't wrap. The wrapping will freeze or fall apart especially synthetic materials, gloves will keep you warm when you ride and if your wrapping is wet it can also get slippery when worn with gloves or mittens. That's why some people do it.
Last edited by GENESTARWIND; 11-23-13 at 04:19 PM.
11-23-13 | 07:44 PM
#41
Grumpy Old Bugga
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,229
Likes: 9
From: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
I know multiple people that ride without grips, they wear gloves and it gives them better grip if they don't have wrapping on them. If anyone in this thread rode in the winter then they can easily tell you why they don't wrap. The wrapping will freeze or fall apart especially synthetic materials, gloves will keep you warm when you ride and if your wrapping is wet it can also get slippery when worn with gloves or mittens. That's why some people do it.
11-23-13 | 11:48 PM
#42
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Davis, CA
Bikes: Leader 722ts
those are the reasons I gave, I answered the question, you can call me out genestarwind but don't be mean about it were all adults here...Or at least that's what I used to think. No one even rides in my town anymore, I get called out by roadies for riding my bike and now it's the same here, I hope you feel good about yourself you jerk. This is why I don't post here anymore or give out pm's for parts, its just a big joke here and has been going downhill since the jackass thread closed.
Last edited by rafiki530; 11-24-13 at 12:15 AM.
11-24-13 | 09:21 AM
#44
Would you just look at it
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,554
Likes: 5
From: Denver
Bikes: good ones.
Its not like I like in a frozen tundra, but I've never heard of this happening and it can get pretty cold here.
11-24-13 | 09:56 AM
#45
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Davis, CA
Bikes: Leader 722ts
It doesn't get that cold in Davis, but I moved out here from Wisconsin where it did happen. It would snow and you would grasp the bars and the wrapping would stick to your gloves and rip off, I don't know how to really describe it, Find a flag pole or a handrail on a cold winter day where the metal is frozen and get some mittens or gloves and grab the pole the feeling would be similar to that I guess.
11-24-13 | 10:47 AM
#46
pro in someone's theory
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3,236
Likes: 3
From: Las Cruces, NM
Bikes: FTP
That is an argument against bare bars, not for them. It may very well be the case that your friends were riding with bare bars in the cold but their reasons for doing so were not practical.
11-24-13 | 10:57 AM
#47
~>~
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 188
From: TX Hill Country
11-24-13 | 11:05 AM
#48
Thread Starter
Warehouse Monkey
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 7
From: Lebanon Co., Pennsylvania
My Windsor Tourist is all of 4 years old. It gets ridden 11 months out of the year in all conditions. Its my daily commuter. It still is wearing the original black tape. Worn a bit, yes. But it won't get replaced unless I want to change colors or something.
__________________
'10 Specialized Hardrock
'10 Specialized Hardrock
