Bar tape tape
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,830
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 128 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4745 Post(s)
Liked 3,861 Times
in
2,510 Posts
Another electrical tape guy here. It works. But like redlude97 says, there's good electrical tape and bad. The range is just as wide as good and bad duct tape. I wrap my bars bottom to top so the bar tape ends coming rearward over the top. I cut it right behind the bulge of the brake cable. Wrap and cut the electrical tape the same way. That means I can place my hands anywhere on the tops while climbing hard and never pull the tape ends.
Easy, clean looking and durable. What''s not to like. (I like the shrink wrap idea except - easy? Pulling off the levers? And what if I want to move the levers a little fort better hand fit? I now have to cut that shrink wrap. Unwrap all the tape and pull the levers just to get the next piece started? With adhesive bar tape and good electrical tape I can almost always tweak the levers far from my shop and reuse everything.
Ben.
Easy, clean looking and durable. What''s not to like. (I like the shrink wrap idea except - easy? Pulling off the levers? And what if I want to move the levers a little fort better hand fit? I now have to cut that shrink wrap. Unwrap all the tape and pull the levers just to get the next piece started? With adhesive bar tape and good electrical tape I can almost always tweak the levers far from my shop and reuse everything.
Ben.
#52
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 144
Bikes: 2008 Specialized Roubaix Elite, 2002 Specialized Sirius Pro, 1985 Vitus 979 (DuraAce 7400), 1985 Bianchi Trofeo
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 53 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times
in
14 Posts
I re-wrapped my handlebar this weekend, and didn't finish it with electrical tape -- a first!
After previous wrappings, I'd use the tape included in most bar tape boxes, and then to make sure it held, give it a wrap or two of electrical tape. This time, I forgot where I'd put the electrical tape. What was in the box was long enough to make almost two wraps, more than I remember from previous wrappings. It's held for two whole days now.
What's other people's experience with the tape-that-comes-in-the-box? How well does it hold, is it really long enough, and does it hold on its own?
After previous wrappings, I'd use the tape included in most bar tape boxes, and then to make sure it held, give it a wrap or two of electrical tape. This time, I forgot where I'd put the electrical tape. What was in the box was long enough to make almost two wraps, more than I remember from previous wrappings. It's held for two whole days now.
What's other people's experience with the tape-that-comes-in-the-box? How well does it hold, is it really long enough, and does it hold on its own?
https://www.arundelbike.com/store/#!...tegory=5832198
Likes For GregU:
#53
Banned.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 297
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 97 Post(s)
Liked 106 Times
in
66 Posts
pdlamb... congratulations! I like Benotto bar tape with the soft vinyl end caps the best but I'm an old school bicycle guy... just not old school enough to have used cloth and shellac! I start wrapping at the top and 'on top' pulling snugly the first few turns then easing tension a bit as I go until getting to the curved part of the bars where I start pulling harder again. I use some bits cut from the roll either side of the levers and wrap over those bits. A 'gap' in coverage will show otherwise and that just won't do! Then continue down until the bar ends increasing tension a bit. Tuck the excess inside the bar ends. Fit a bit of wood dowel into the bar end and heat the bar end with a 'blue wrench', wafting it all around the bar end. A cigarette lighter will work, so will matches! Unscrew the wood plug as it is removed then put on the vinyl end caps. Done!
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,652
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 560 Post(s)
Liked 546 Times
in
396 Posts
Is the result of using hockey tape as un-padded as say Newbaum's cotton cloth handlebar tape? I have two bikes with Newbaum's and love the look but generally much prefer some padding for comfort and increased grip. Arthritis is impacting comfort and my grip strength seems to slip a bit every year.
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Austin & Telluride
Posts: 53
Bikes: Parlee Chebacco for now
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 15 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is the result of using hockey tape as un-padded as say Newbaum's cotton cloth handlebar tape? I have two bikes with Newbaum's and love the look but generally much prefer some padding for comfort and increased grip. Arthritis is impacting comfort and my grip strength seems to slip a bit every year.
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,652
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 560 Post(s)
Liked 546 Times
in
396 Posts
I use the tried and true approach and shellac the tape, it stays cleaner than cork which I also use, it cleans up very nicely with denatured alcohol and lasts for years, then when it needs a touch up the shellac can be reapplied. Don't use rubbing alcohol as it contains water.
Likes For easyupbug:
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 2,257
Bikes: 1964 Legnano Roma Olympiade, 1973 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Raleigh Super Course, 1978 Peugeot PR10, 2002 Specialized Allez, 2007 Specialized Roubaix, 2013 Culprit Croz Blade
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 741 Post(s)
Liked 817 Times
in
420 Posts
I've had good luck with Fizik finishing tape, the adhesive backed cloth Brooks stuff not so much. I always use good quality 3M electrical, and finish it with the supplied logo tape.
I like the feel of the faux leather Chinese bar tape. The finishing tape is a little stiff, but sticks well, even after re-wrapping to move the levers.
I like the feel of the faux leather Chinese bar tape. The finishing tape is a little stiff, but sticks well, even after re-wrapping to move the levers.
#58
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,361
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 72 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 979 Times
in
514 Posts
The best thing i have found is self amalgamating silicone/rubber tape. It seals to itself and becomes on piece. I used to wrap my girls field hockey sticks with it and they never had trouble with it slipping.