Bar Tape Wrapping Question
09-01-13, 05:13 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Bar Tape Wrapping Question
Hey guys, I'm brand new to the fixie world and I have a question. I'm just getting a pretty cheap bike and adding drop bars, if I bring the bars and tape to my local bike shop will they wrap them for me? I'm nervous I'll mess up, I might give it a go but just in case.
09-01-13, 05:27 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times
in
194 Posts
I don't see why they wouldn't. You should give it a go yourself, though.
09-01-13, 05:32 PM
#3
Veteran Racer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Ciudad de Vacas, Tejas
Posts: 11,757
Bikes: 32 frames + 80 wheels
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1331 Post(s)
Liked 764 Times
in
431 Posts
Give it a go first, that's the only way you'll learn to do stuff yourself. Most bike shops will do stuff like this, but it will cost a lot and you won't learn anything in the process. If you search the internet, you can probably find a lot of how to tape handlebars advice. I've taped dozens of handlebars myself, and it's not rocket science. If I can do it, then you can too.
09-01-13, 06:12 PM
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Give it a go first, that's the only way you'll learn to do stuff yourself. Most bike shops will do stuff like this, but it will cost a lot and you won't learn anything in the process. If you search the internet, you can probably find a lot of how to tape handlebars advice. I've taped dozens of handlebars myself, and it's not rocket science. If I can do it, then you can too.
09-01-13, 06:31 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 9,948
Bikes: Litespeed Catalyst, IRO Rob Roy, All City Big Block
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1332 Post(s)
Liked 398 Times
in
194 Posts
There's plenty of tutorials around. I used the one on the Park Tools website my first time.
09-02-13, 06:46 AM
#9
Grumpy Old Bugga
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Adelaide, AUSTRALIA
Posts: 4,229
Bikes: Hillbrick, Malvern Star Oppy S2, Europa (R.I.P.)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
6 Posts
You can do and redo and redo and flamin' redo your tape until you get it right. Like a lot of skills, you won't be good at it until you've done a lot of it, but it's surprisingly easy to get a half decent job on your first try.
Go forth and wrap my boy ... I do
Go forth and wrap my boy ... I do
09-02-13, 06:51 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 78
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Its pretty simple. I like to start from the bottom with most padded tapes. It holds the bar better at the bends from hand pressure due to the overlap. Just leave about 3/4 of an inch to tuck under the bar plug and use electrical tape to secure at the top.
With thin vinyl tape(Benotto) I start from the top and work down.
With thin vinyl tape(Benotto) I start from the top and work down.
09-05-13, 08:47 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Durham NC
Posts: 503
Bikes: Kilo TT, Felt z85, Kona Unit 2-9, 90s Schwinn 9.3 with Noleen fork
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
just don't tape your bars in a filthy basement like me, and peel off all the backing on the strip like me, because the part lying on the ground will get severely less tacky since it's picking up dirt. Agree on the "do it as many times as you like til you're happy" (provided you have tacky tape). If your tape has perforations or embossed logos or something, it makes getting the overlap consistent a lot easier (e.g. expose 3 of the 6 holes, overlap 3 of the 6 holes etc)
09-06-13, 07:13 AM
#13
Pirate/Smuggler
For starters get some cloth tape, it's easy to handle and a tenth the price of fancy leather and such. Even if you completely wreck it you're only out $5.
09-07-13, 10:18 AM
#16
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is the figure 8 easy to get the hang of? And does that cause it to get bulky along the drop or no? Thanks, I might use this one.
Thanks everyone else also, will definitely try it myself.
09-07-13, 06:24 PM
#17
Senior Member
Did you mommy teach you how to lace the Velcro on your shoes??
DO SOMETHING...........
Then....after you have tried and have a problem, ask a question.
Let me get you off to a good start in your cycling world......
the feet go on the pedals.
Wrapping handlebars is easier than that. If you can't manage that, perhaps you need to renew your rapid transit pass, or go to the Nike website.
09-07-13, 06:31 PM
#18
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Did you mommy teach you how to lace the Velcro on your shoes??
DO SOMETHING...........
Then....after you have tried and have a problem, ask a question.
Let me get you off to a good start in your cycling world......
the feet go on the pedals.
Wrapping handlebars is easier than that. If you can't manage that, perhaps you need to renew your rapid transit pass, or go to the Nike website.
09-07-13, 08:19 PM
#20
Senior Member
No, I had to watch the video a couple of times to do it in reverse on the opposite side though. In the past I always used the method where you first stick the two shorter bits of tape onto the lever first and then wrap, but I think prefer this method. Looks nice and neat at the drops, doesn't get to bulky or anything, and maybe a bit quicker, but not much. Make sure you put some slight pressure on the tape while making wraps, this will help keep the wraps look nice and neat, and also help prevent the tape slipping down the road. Good luck!
09-07-13, 08:58 PM
#21
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, I had to watch the video a couple of times to do it in reverse on the opposite side though. In the past I always used the method where you first stick the two shorter bits of tape onto the lever first and then wrap, but I think prefer this method. Looks nice and neat at the drops, doesn't get to bulky or anything, and maybe a bit quicker, but not much. Make sure you put some slight pressure on the tape while making wraps, this will help keep the wraps look nice and neat, and also help prevent the tape slipping down the road. Good luck!
