first drop bar tape attempt... how long to live with my ineptitude?!?
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 1,051
Bikes: Ibis Hakka MX / team machince alr2 / topstone 1 / Cervelo zht
Liked 278 Times
in
204 Posts
Looks better than my wrap job. I would keep myself then just redo it with new tape in few months like everyone else said. I start from the drops because everyone said so. seems to be about 50/50 on which direction to wrap though ha-ha.
For the people that wrap handle bars at least 4x a year what's your favorite practical bar tape? more concerned about how it last etc vs you a bar tape that just looks/feels better.
For the people that wrap handle bars at least 4x a year what's your favorite practical bar tape? more concerned about how it last etc vs you a bar tape that just looks/feels better.
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,373
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Liked 3,325 Times
in
2,001 Posts
I *sorta* get starting from the top down, if finishing tape is that much anathema for you. However, I will never be able to wrap my head around the absolute absurdity and waste of time to start from the brake levers and wrap in either direction. I had never even heard of such a technique before I came here.
#54
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,979
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
Liked 3,060 Times
in
1,392 Posts
Ha, yes, a little anul, but I guess it worked for them. It was a thin plastic piece that looked like a large comb.
#55
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,979
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
Liked 3,060 Times
in
1,392 Posts
#56
Senior Member
I’m not exactly sure why wrapping bars from the center (top down) would make the tape wear out quicker . Perhaps it was meant that the wrap job wouldn’t last as long. I have wrapped bars in both directions in the past and have found both methods resulting in issues. Depending on the type of bar tape used, to my eyes, starting at the center looks “cleaner” (I don’t like the look of the finishing tape required when taping from the bar ends) up top but again depending on the type of tape, can have an unsightly look at the bar ends. RE: the tendency for the tape to loosen and result in gaps, the direction of wrapping is key. Even if wrapping from the bar ends (bottom up), if wrapped in the wrong direction, the tendency described above will occur. IIRC, the accepted “best” method (bottom up) also includes changing wrap direction at the brake hoods. That concept might be the source of the mentioned method of starting at the brake hoods and working out.
This entire issue reminds me of the “moral conflict” in Gulliver’s Travels RE: which end of a soft boiled egg (small end vs large end) is opened when eating it .
This entire issue reminds me of the “moral conflict” in Gulliver’s Travels RE: which end of a soft boiled egg (small end vs large end) is opened when eating it .
#57
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,373
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Liked 3,325 Times
in
2,001 Posts
You can see in the second photo he posted, the edges of the tape on the drops are facing forward. This could allow those edges to be be curled back when in the drops.
Last edited by smd4; 07-05-22 at 10:13 AM.
Likes For smd4:
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 3,886
Bikes: Too many bikes, too little time to ride
Liked 555 Times
in
381 Posts
For years, I used to go top down for that clean look, but since I ride without gloves I found the edges to dig into my hands and also just wear out faster. Now I do it from the ends up and live with the electrical tape job on top.
#61
Senior Member
I’m not exactly sure why wrapping bars from the center (top down) would make the tape wear out quicker . Perhaps it was meant that the wrap job wouldn’t last as long. I have wrapped bars in both directions in the past and have found both methods resulting in issues. .......
I did one set top down early on and learned my lesson when the tape was loose and fraying in only a couple of months due to how I ride.
#62
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,168
Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...
Liked 1,518 Times
in
772 Posts
In my case I tend to be a "lazy" rider and put more weight on my hands. And due to the angle this means there's some forward push. So the direction that results in exposed edges facing forward is better for me. If the edges faced back my lazy habit would result in the tape stretching and curling over and pretty quickly fraying.
I did one set top down early on and learned my lesson when the tape was loose and fraying in only a couple of months due to how I ride.
I did one set top down early on and learned my lesson when the tape was loose and fraying in only a couple of months due to how I ride.
#63
Senior Member
In my case I tend to be a "lazy" rider and put more weight on my hands. And due to the angle this means there's some forward push. So the direction that results in exposed edges facing forward is better for me. If the edges faced back my lazy habit would result in the tape stretching and curling over and pretty quickly fraying.
I did one set top down early on and learned my lesson when the tape was loose and fraying in only a couple of months due to how I ride.
I did one set top down early on and learned my lesson when the tape was loose and fraying in only a couple of months due to how I ride.
#64
Senior Member
I pretty much just use Cinelli cork tape any more, which some people might classify as "the cheap stuff" since it's less than $20, but it holds up better than any of the more expensive stuff that I've tried. I wasted too much money on Lizard Skins one year, retaping multiple bikes, only to discover it only lasts one season before it starts peeling. Cinelli holds up great, it's a lot cheaper, and is much easier to wrap since it's very stretchy. Look at the reviews on Amazon - most people really like it.
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,373
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Liked 3,325 Times
in
2,001 Posts
Never liked the look or feel of the Cinelli tape. I have vinyl now which I like but will soon replace with leather when I can.
#66
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 4,144
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,702 Times
in
1,169 Posts
I pretty much just use Cinelli cork tape any more, which some people might classify as "the cheap stuff" since it's less than $20, but it holds up better than any of the more expensive stuff that I've tried. I wasted too much money on Lizard Skins one year, retaping multiple bikes, only to discover it only lasts one season before it starts peeling. Cinelli holds up great, it's a lot cheaper, and is much easier to wrap since it's very stretchy. Look at the reviews on Amazon - most people really like it.
Maybe the front of your handlebar is tilted too high so that the drops are at too steep an angle to the ground?
Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 07-09-22 at 10:02 AM.
#67
Senior Member
[QUOTE=SoSmellyAir;22569015]Which version? Gel cork or just cork?
/QUOTE]
This is what I buy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
/QUOTE]
This is what I buy.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1
Likes For Jeff Neese:
#68
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,855
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Liked 1,613 Times
in
1,061 Posts
Wish there were more easily specs available on tape length. Have tried some tapes that I liked the feel of, but just not enough material to wrap to where I like.
#69
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 4,144
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse x2, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata 3
Liked 1,702 Times
in
1,169 Posts
Yeah, length should be listed. I think you just have to prioritize where your hands go. I start at the drops and wrap with less overlap per loop to leave sufficient length to (1) do the figure 8 at the STI levers and (2) wrap the tops with more overlap, since I use the drops, ramps, and tops more than the drops. But I am switch bars soon so I probably have to learn everything again.
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 6,373
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Liked 3,325 Times
in
2,001 Posts
While I agree that would be an easy spec to provide, I’ve never run out of tape. I always need to cut away excess tape.
#71
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,979
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
Liked 3,060 Times
in
1,392 Posts
If you run short, back it off and then wrap it tighter. I can usually get about 5 extra inches on most tape.
#72
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2021
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 2,168
Bikes: addict, aethos, creo, vanmoof, sirrus, public ...
Liked 1,518 Times
in
772 Posts
about 1,300 miles later, it looks pretty much the same as it did on day one. no worse for the wear (but also no better 😂😂
i like the slight thickened bit at the inside edge, my hand sits up against it when on the bar tops (which is virtually never)
i like the slight thickened bit at the inside edge, my hand sits up against it when on the bar tops (which is virtually never)