Electrical tape = BAD Loom tape = GOOD
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Cheap electrical tape = BAD Loom tape = GOOD
Every once in a while I see a post where electrical tape is mentioned. As many have found out the hard/messy way, electrical tape adhesive can make a sticky mess. Especially when used on bar tape.
Try "Loom Tape". It does not have any adhesive.
Wire looms in cars are NOT wrapped in electrical tape. Instead they are wrapped in loom tape. Loom tape is like electrical tape without the adhesive. I use it on my handlebar tape and it works very well. I have it wrapped on the nose of one of the saddles and it is holding well. And with NO sticky mess.
Maybe loom tape has been posted before, but I didn't see any in the search I did.
BTW ... I use the vinyl type tape, not the cloth loom tape
Cheap electrical tape = BAD Loom tape = GOOD
Try "Loom Tape". It does not have any adhesive.
Wire looms in cars are NOT wrapped in electrical tape. Instead they are wrapped in loom tape. Loom tape is like electrical tape without the adhesive. I use it on my handlebar tape and it works very well. I have it wrapped on the nose of one of the saddles and it is holding well. And with NO sticky mess.
Maybe loom tape has been posted before, but I didn't see any in the search I did.
BTW ... I use the vinyl type tape, not the cloth loom tape
Cheap electrical tape = BAD Loom tape = GOOD
Last edited by nkemp; 06-28-14 at 06:58 PM. Reason: Added cheap in front of electrical just to clarify.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,083
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3376 Post(s)
Liked 5,526 Times
in
2,864 Posts
#3
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 14
Bikes: 1985 Trek 620, Bianchi Volpe, Pake Rum Runner, Raleigh Twenty, Fuji Saratoga
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not all electrical tapes are made equal. If you use 3M electrical tape and you do a good neat job with it you shouldn't have any mess, both shops I work in use it and we never have any trouble with it. Cheaper electrical tapes have bad adhesive and will wear and get gross.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Roswell, GA
Posts: 8,319
Bikes: '93 Trek 750, '92 Schwinn Crisscross, '93 Mongoose Alta
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,092 Times
in
723 Posts
+100 on the self-fusing silicone tape; it comes in colors to match or contrast your bike, bar tape or whatever, and like loom tape it only sticks to itself so no gooey adhesive and easy removal.
#6
Thrifty Bill
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,526
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 964 Times
in
628 Posts
+4,876,432 All I have been using for years is the self fusing silicone tape. I keep it in several colors.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Bikes: 2 many
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times
in
169 Posts
Not all electrical tapes are made equal. If you use 3M electrical tape and you do a good neat job with it you shouldn't have any mess, both shops I work in use it and we never have any trouble with it. Cheaper electrical tapes have bad adhesive and will wear and get gross.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
As mentioned: 3M 33+ or 88. This stuff is stretchy and works well for finishing bar tape. For taping housings to the bar prior to taping I prefer something that's not stretchy and use Kapton tape which is very thin and tough. It also leaves no adhesive residue when removed.
#13
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,506
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7352 Post(s)
Liked 2,479 Times
in
1,439 Posts
Would this self-adhesive silicone tape work as handlebar tape? Before you say it will be too slippery, note that I've used Benotto tape and like it. I guess I grip it hard enough to create adequate friction.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
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.
#14
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The tape is: Elliott Tape EG ET301. Homepage: Michigan Tape | Dry Vinyl Tape | Pressure Sensitive | Automotive | Solar | Detroit Michigan I don't recall where I purchased it but you can get 2x100' rolls on eBay for about $8 shipped.
Here is a link to a PDF of all their tapes. https://www.egitape.com/portals/0/Ind...Automotive.pdf Search for "301" It is in the automotive section. They have other alternatives as well.
NOTE: I'm not saying this is the best alternative but I cringe when I hear people using electrical tape since it is likely the cheap stuff. One of the plug ends of the handlebar tape came loose (after letting someone borrow the bike). I wrapped it with ET301 tape and it looks good and stays well. I also use it at the stem end.
Here is a link to a PDF of all their tapes. https://www.egitape.com/portals/0/Ind...Automotive.pdf Search for "301" It is in the automotive section. They have other alternatives as well.
NOTE: I'm not saying this is the best alternative but I cringe when I hear people using electrical tape since it is likely the cheap stuff. One of the plug ends of the handlebar tape came loose (after letting someone borrow the bike). I wrapped it with ET301 tape and it looks good and stays well. I also use it at the stem end.
#15
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Can't say for sure and a test would provide the best answer. It is easy to put on and take off. This stuff is vinyl tape, like electrical tape, without the adhesive. Thin, shiny and fairly strong. Since I get numbness in my hands, I would not enjoy riding with this as handlebar tape but YMMV.
#17
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Silicone & vinyl are two different materials.
And just to be complete, silicon and silicone are two different things.
- Silicon= 14th element on the periodic table
- Silicone is a man made material composed of silicon, oxygen plus other elements (such as carbon and hydrogen). Silicone can be a liquid or a flexible, rubberlike plastic.
And just to be complete, silicon and silicone are two different things.
- Silicon= 14th element on the periodic table
- Silicone is a man made material composed of silicon, oxygen plus other elements (such as carbon and hydrogen). Silicone can be a liquid or a flexible, rubberlike plastic.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 2,678
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
3M as others have mentioned works great, but I have not been using any tape on my bars I wrap anymore since I have started wrapping my bars from center down and have never had one come loose.
__________________
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
It may not be fancy but it gets me were I need to go.
https://www.jtgraphics.net/cyclist_bicycles.htm
#20
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 30
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Zang's Spur, CO
Posts: 9,083
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3376 Post(s)
Liked 5,526 Times
in
2,864 Posts
It would feel pretty similar to electrical tape.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,677
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 839 Post(s)
Liked 1,064 Times
in
747 Posts
I tried this once^^ and the silicone tape wasn't very durable as a handlebar tape and tended to come unstuck from itself in just a couple of rides. Your results may vary.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 18,138
Bikes: 2 many
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1266 Post(s)
Liked 323 Times
in
169 Posts
I find that the unbranded electrical tape does not stay in place. I have a few bikes with 3M electrical tape and they vary around 6-10 years on the tape. No problems.
Do not pull it tight by stretching it hard. Especially the last wrap, just enough to fit in place. Then it is not trying to shrink back to size. My bikes with the 3M have thousands of miles on them.
Tried to count them without looking, at least 10 bikes with the 3m tape for years.
Do not pull it tight by stretching it hard. Especially the last wrap, just enough to fit in place. Then it is not trying to shrink back to size. My bikes with the 3M have thousands of miles on them.
Tried to count them without looking, at least 10 bikes with the 3m tape for years.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: western Massachusetts (greater Springfield area)
Posts: 699
Bikes: Velosolex St. Tropez, LeMond Zurich (spine bike), Rotator swb recumbent
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 67 Times
in
32 Posts
In my experience, this only works with thin tape. If the tape has any thickness, the raised edge is toward the middle and tends to get curled up as you hold on to the bars.