I suck at wrapping handlebars.
#51
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#53
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I love bar wrapping, I'm a natural at it and find it therapeutic. However I haven't done it in decades. Currently I have straight bars with grips, but I'd like bullhorn bars and when I fit those, I'll be using what they used to call Grab-ons, black dense foam covers, slip on with soapy water or shave cream. I need the extra hand cushion. I was always stylish so for aero brake levers, I'd put the cables under the Grab-ons, that part was tricky, as well as making a small rectangular cutout near the end and slipping the brake handle bracket inside to clamp the brake handle on, bracket overlapping the foam, with the rubber brake hoods providing more overlap for a really pretty installation.
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Second attempt wasn't much better (maybe 1/2-inch further). Maybe this is why Giro d'Italia bars with their short reach and drop are popular? This is a Campione del Mondo bar.
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Just cut the last 1.5" from the bar ends and you're sorted!
I love CdM bars, but yeah, that deep drop is enough to realllllly stretch the limits of some tapes (Velox/Cateye is notoriously short for anything other than GdI bars, I swear).
On the plus side, your wrap job is consistent and clean
DD
I love CdM bars, but yeah, that deep drop is enough to realllllly stretch the limits of some tapes (Velox/Cateye is notoriously short for anything other than GdI bars, I swear).
On the plus side, your wrap job is consistent and clean
DD
#59
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I ride from March thru July with a youth mentorship program that does 3 training rides a week as practice for RAGBRAI which took place a couple weeks ago. Some of the return riding youth who are dedicated to riding and able to do so, save up to buy road bikes and their tape gets trashed thru the season(since kids arent exactly the most careful). So come RAGBRAI, I am inevitably asked to wrap a few bikes since I help maintain the fleet of youth bikes. I always have the kids do it with me so they have to put effort in and also learn how to wrap the bars, but usually end up adjusting the tape here or there to get it to look good and last.
This year though- I was able to eliminate 2 brands of tape from ever considering for my own bikes.
One was Bontrager Gel and the other was Supacaz. The Bontrager Gel snapped from regular wrapping force. It was crazy to see, really. I was shocked to see such low quality tape that costs $40 retail.
The other, Supacaz, is really nice looking and good material, but doesnt stretch. At all. It was awful to apply as it wasnt long enough, even after re-wrapped 3 times! I couldnt go any further at the risk of the tape not overlapping in spots. Also $40 retail.
I wrap bars in my sleep and absolutely love the process- something zen like in the repetition, maybe. But both brands made me feel like it was my first time wrapping bars- It was crazy.
This year though- I was able to eliminate 2 brands of tape from ever considering for my own bikes.
One was Bontrager Gel and the other was Supacaz. The Bontrager Gel snapped from regular wrapping force. It was crazy to see, really. I was shocked to see such low quality tape that costs $40 retail.
The other, Supacaz, is really nice looking and good material, but doesnt stretch. At all. It was awful to apply as it wasnt long enough, even after re-wrapped 3 times! I couldnt go any further at the risk of the tape not overlapping in spots. Also $40 retail.
I wrap bars in my sleep and absolutely love the process- something zen like in the repetition, maybe. But both brands made me feel like it was my first time wrapping bars- It was crazy.
#60
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Oh so you thought you were done...sigh
Doh!
The above was from June, I normally do ok but sometimes I forget to take it slow and steady and most importantly check frequently that things are even and there are no $%&^(! gaps. Just wrapped some tonight, Cinelli cork wrap, bottom up inside out method with tape, have a project with cloth tape coming up where I will be trying the top down, look ma no tape method. Tonight's job on the Allez my electrical tape roll expired as I finished this job, time for a new roll.
Doh!
The above was from June, I normally do ok but sometimes I forget to take it slow and steady and most importantly check frequently that things are even and there are no $%&^(! gaps. Just wrapped some tonight, Cinelli cork wrap, bottom up inside out method with tape, have a project with cloth tape coming up where I will be trying the top down, look ma no tape method. Tonight's job on the Allez my electrical tape roll expired as I finished this job, time for a new roll.
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I love this leather tape, got it from a BF member a while back. Works nice with my Brooks flyer.
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Not wishing to be rude, but majority of 'bars on this thread are incorrectly wrapped.
John.
John.
#64
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I often run out of tape before I run out of bar. No big deal. I just wrap again, reducing the overlap. When I use "permanent" tape (such as leather), I don't want to cut off the excess, so sometimes I end up with too much tape at the end, so I have to rewrap, increasing the overlap. It can take a few trials and errors. It's part of the process.
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Anyway, I just finished wrapping bars, eh, five minutes ago. I had run into a problem that I never had with Tressostar years ago, that had edge-to-edge adhesive on the back. With modern squishy tape and no adhesive (I just used Cinelli but another brand I just removed), when wrapping top-down, the exposed edge at the overlaps faces up; specifically at the first curve in the bars out from the center (where I ride a lot), I was getting roll-back and separation between the wraps. Did I used to much or too little stretch? I don't think so). So, I just did bottom up and used the supplied "finishing tape" at the top despite the aesthetic compromise.
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#68
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#69
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Bar wrapping is an acquired taste. I used to hate it, now it is a labor of love, and adds either the finishing touch, or freshens up a older bike's feel and look. I like Brooks leather wrap, though it is pricey. I found a Chinese product, Kingou, on Ebay for 1/4 the cost of Brooks. Its synthetic, wraps easily, provides just the right amount of "cush", and doesn't seem to darken or stain like the Brooks does. I've always wrapped end to top, mostly because I use bar ends, and don't want to deal with cables and removing the shifters. I've tried Fisik on a couple of modern bikes, like the look, wraps easily, but could use a little more "cush". I like the overlap pointing out, so the edges lay down and don't lift with use,
Brooks leather on '73 Super Course. This is right afrer application. Now, shows patina of sweat stains, hand oils, and 3000 miles, but is holding up well.
'78 Super Course with Kingou synthetic. Nice feel, doesn't seem to stain, and 1/4 cost of real leather. I have it on two bikes, both with honey color Brooks saddles.
Fisik yellow on a modern bike. I spray painted the plastic plugs to match. Like the look, but the tape could use more cush. The top bar bag isn't really that big, just the camera angle.
My Peogeot on the left with the Kingou synthetic, a friend's on the right with tricolor cloth wrap.
Brooks leather on '73 Super Course. This is right afrer application. Now, shows patina of sweat stains, hand oils, and 3000 miles, but is holding up well.
'78 Super Course with Kingou synthetic. Nice feel, doesn't seem to stain, and 1/4 cost of real leather. I have it on two bikes, both with honey color Brooks saddles.
Fisik yellow on a modern bike. I spray painted the plastic plugs to match. Like the look, but the tape could use more cush. The top bar bag isn't really that big, just the camera angle.
My Peogeot on the left with the Kingou synthetic, a friend's on the right with tricolor cloth wrap.
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@Slightspeed, how durable and reusable is the Kingou tape? I see Amazon is selling it, and it comes with some nice looking plugs.
Brooks leather tape is nice, but it's not as nice as my Nashbar leather tape, now out of production. I have had it for years and even moved it from bike to bike. I'd love to find it again.
I bought some Brooks Cambium synthetic tape and am waiting to try it. It gets bad reviews for being inflexible thus hard to install.
Brooks leather tape is nice, but it's not as nice as my Nashbar leather tape, now out of production. I have had it for years and even moved it from bike to bike. I'd love to find it again.
I bought some Brooks Cambium synthetic tape and am waiting to try it. It gets bad reviews for being inflexible thus hard to install.
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Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#72
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There were two correct ways to wrap bars when cotton was king, depending on whether or not the bike had brake hoods. Later on, there was a third correct way to wrap that we learned for Bike Ribbon - bottom up. Normally I'm all for doing things correctly, but in this case what is correct is dependent on period, location, material and context. That said, I'm curious as to what @hobbs1951 considers to be the correct method.
At any rate I've given up on the modern correct way of wrapping, and have gone back to wrapping top down -- like in the old days. Works better for me, and doesn't require some ugly tape at the top, or twee twine that comes undone.
At any rate I've given up on the modern correct way of wrapping, and have gone back to wrapping top down -- like in the old days. Works better for me, and doesn't require some ugly tape at the top, or twee twine that comes undone.
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#73
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@Slightspeed, how durable and reusable is the Kingou tape? I see Amazon is selling it, and it comes with some nice looking plugs.
Brooks leather tape is nice, but it's not as nice as my Nashbar leather tape, now out of production. I have had it for years and even moved it from bike to bike. I'd love to find it again.
I bought some Brooks Cambium synthetic tape and am waiting to try it. It gets bad reviews for being inflexible thus hard to install.
Brooks leather tape is nice, but it's not as nice as my Nashbar leather tape, now out of production. I have had it for years and even moved it from bike to bike. I'd love to find it again.
I bought some Brooks Cambium synthetic tape and am waiting to try it. It gets bad reviews for being inflexible thus hard to install.
#75
Senior Member
I'm curious as to what @hobbs1951 considers to be the correct method.
But I did discover this photo of his bike
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachmen...1&d=1519808583
Or it could be that we are all stupid (ref Emperor's New Clothes) and that is the real reason we can't see the handlebar tape wrapped correctly
come on Jon [when he is Roadking], or John [when he is Hobbs 1951], show us how we should be wrapping our handlebars.
Last edited by Big Block; 08-07-19 at 03:40 PM.