Terminate bar wrap
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Terminate bar wrap
What tape are you pros using to terminate handlebar wraps? The tape that comes with a the bar tape is awful. Usually unwraps before the first ride. I've been using electrical tape but that's not much better. I just did bar tape last night on a recently purchased used bike that looks to have been bike shop maintained the tape was unbelievable. I had to cut it off.
#2
LR÷P=HR
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 2,225
Bikes: 1981 Holdsworth Special, 1993 C-dale MT3000 & 1996 F700CAD3, 2018 & 2019 Cervelo R3’s & 2022 R5, JustGo Runt, Ridley Oval, Kickr Bike 8-)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 886 Post(s)
Liked 1,235 Times
in
714 Posts
Self Fusing Silicon Tape Great stuff.
Barry
EDIT: Just noticed that the Black in my link is only in a large quantity. There are many others available if you search on Self Fusing Tape.
Barry
EDIT: Just noticed that the Black in my link is only in a large quantity. There are many others available if you search on Self Fusing Tape.
Likes For Barry2:
#3
Tinker-er
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 489
Bikes: 1956 Rudge Sports; 1983 Univega Alpina Uno; 1981 Miyata 610; 1973 Raleigh Twenty; 1994 Breezer Lightning XTR; V4 Yuba Mundo aka "The Schlepper"; 1987 Raleigh "The Edge" Mountain Trials; 1952 R.O. Harrison "Madison"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 180 Post(s)
Liked 300 Times
in
201 Posts
I use waxed cotton or waxed leather lace for either book binding or sewing leather.
#5
Thread derailleur
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 668
Bikes: Croll '94 & Cannondale Supersix '15
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 378 Post(s)
Liked 478 Times
in
275 Posts
3M electrical tape. Comes in many colors. Handy for all sorts of projects. Avoid the cheap stuff.
Likes For roadcrankr:
#6
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 15,226
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6332 Post(s)
Liked 4,927 Times
in
3,390 Posts
Self fusing silicone tape is available at the big box building supply stores and other hardware stores in many colors. When used correctly it's wonderful. But like learning how to wrap your bars, it takes a few attempts and some understanding to get it right.
I still mostly go for 3m electrical tape which also comes in many colors. 3m tape seems to stay put and the adhesive doesn't seem to get gummy like some of the cheap brands do.
If you plan ahead and remember to put it on before you put the STI's, bar tape and everything else on your handlebars, heat shrinkable tubing works very well. And it also comes in many colors, but you'll have to look online to find them for anything but black and maybe red which I have seen in big enough diameter at my local big box building supply. Amazon might be great for this in small quantity and free shipping for the few times you might wrap bars and need it. Or McMasterCarr, Grainger and etc.
I still mostly go for 3m electrical tape which also comes in many colors. 3m tape seems to stay put and the adhesive doesn't seem to get gummy like some of the cheap brands do.
If you plan ahead and remember to put it on before you put the STI's, bar tape and everything else on your handlebars, heat shrinkable tubing works very well. And it also comes in many colors, but you'll have to look online to find them for anything but black and maybe red which I have seen in big enough diameter at my local big box building supply. Amazon might be great for this in small quantity and free shipping for the few times you might wrap bars and need it. Or McMasterCarr, Grainger and etc.
Likes For Iride01:
Likes For wheelreason:
#8
Cantilever believer
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,655
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 564 Post(s)
Liked 1,949 Times
in
878 Posts
The Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Super 33 black and colored 35 tape is good stuff. Ah, for the days when I thought paying $2.79 per roll was highway robbery. After an unfortunate incident 14 years ago involving a rear bike carrier failure at 65 mph and a strong chain, I ended up wrapping an entire frame in 3M 35 tape.
__________________
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Likes For RCMoeur:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 5,957
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3619 Post(s)
Liked 3,045 Times
in
1,841 Posts
Electrical tape is perfectly fine, but next time I wrap the bars I’m gonna try the self fusing silicone.
#10
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,846
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 56 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4470 Post(s)
Liked 4,134 Times
in
2,763 Posts
I use electrical tape and haven't had an issue. Silcone tape would also work well.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 2,577
Bikes: Airborne "Carpe Diem", Motobecane "Mirage", Trek 6000, Strida 2, Dahon "Helios XL", Dahon "Mu XL", Tern "Verge S11i"
Mentioned: 23 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 996 Post(s)
Liked 591 Times
in
406 Posts
Self-fusing silicone tape is very nice. I used regular electrical tape to hold the bar wrap in place, giving me time to properly deploy the silicone tape.
Self-fusing silicone tape to finish the ends of the wrap.
Self-fusing silicone tape to finish the ends of the wrap.
Likes For sweeks:
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,336
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4575 Post(s)
Liked 1,721 Times
in
1,129 Posts
With modern bar tape, you can also skip end tape altogether.
Likes For Kontact:
#13
Sr Member on Sr bikes
Personally, I almost always wrap top-down. No adhesive tape needed. Ends get trimmed with excess stuffed into the bar ends, and held by the bar end plugs.
Dan
Dan
Likes For _ForceD_:
#14
Cantilever believer
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,655
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 564 Post(s)
Liked 1,949 Times
in
878 Posts
Back in the days of Benotto or Hunt-Wilde transparent tape, or Velox cloth tape, that was the way we all did it, as the overlap pattern didn't matter. And my first few padded-tape wraps were like this, until someone pointed out that starting at the stem results in the open side being "against the grain" for someone using the "top of the hoods" hand position. Depending on the tape, this can result in the tape flipping up or disintegrating prematurely. So I switched to starting at bar ends, which resolved the pattern, but then had to deal with the "how to you finish it?" issue noted above.
__________________
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Richard C. Moeur, PE - Phoenix AZ, USA
https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
#15
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 8,157
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5057 Post(s)
Liked 8,333 Times
in
3,934 Posts
Electrical tape. Stretch it good on the first wrap, slightly looser on the second, and just enough tension to conform to the tape-bar transition on the third. Terminate under the bar.
However, I’m open to something better. I’m going to check out the silicone stuff.
However, I’m open to something better. I’m going to check out the silicone stuff.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Likes For Eric F:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 7,336
Mentioned: 43 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4575 Post(s)
Liked 1,721 Times
in
1,129 Posts
Even cheap tape will last awhile if you do it that way.
#17
Senior Member
I use heat shrink tubing (comes in different colors). You just have to remember to put the pieces on the bars before installing the brake levers.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,840
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1955 Post(s)
Liked 2,200 Times
in
1,338 Posts
I bought some 1/2” wide multi-color electrical tape at Home Depot. I like the narrower look. So far it has worked well. Might use a different color next wrap.
John
John
#19
don't try this at home.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: N. KY
Posts: 5,977
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 987 Post(s)
Liked 530 Times
in
365 Posts
I cut a half inch wide strip of Gorilla Tape to secure the cut end, extending halfway around the bars. Then a full wrap 3M electrical tape, with a very slight stretch so the sides of the 3M tape look good. That's easy and effective for me. Gorilla tape doesn't creep like regular electrical tape. And I use a small piece of Gorilla tape to secure the starting end at the handlebar plug area, then I can start pulling on the bar tape tension right away -- easy.
(looking at the bar tops with a flashlight now, I can make out the texture of the gorilla tape through the 3M wrap. But I never notice that in "real life".)
It's the thicker, better 3M "Super 33+" tape. And the mini sized "Gorilla Tape To Go", 1 inch by 10 yards. I cut a strip in half lengthwise for this.
(looking at the bar tops with a flashlight now, I can make out the texture of the gorilla tape through the 3M wrap. But I never notice that in "real life".)
It's the thicker, better 3M "Super 33+" tape. And the mini sized "Gorilla Tape To Go", 1 inch by 10 yards. I cut a strip in half lengthwise for this.
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: High Desert above L.A.
Posts: 172
Bikes: Primary bike - late 70's gold ALAN Competition; mostly Campy with Huret Jubilee deraiileurs;When I joined that was my primary. Now back to my 1979/80 Shogun 600 since I can change everything and not feel like I'm committing sacrilege...
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 267 Times
in
106 Posts
I second the self fusing. Although you might have to run a couple times to get your "stretching" down so you see a nice wrap and ending.
#22
Senior Member
I hate wrapping bars. So, 90% of the time I'm rewrapping bars is because I need to rebuild the ergo levers. Yes, I have the filthiest bar wrap on the planet.
#24
Full Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 499
Bikes: Pinarello Gavia TSX; Bianchi Intenso
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 169 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 93 Times
in
63 Posts
I’m guessing those sticking (no pun ending) with electrical tape have yet to try the silicone self fusing tape. Best to secure the wrap with one turn of any type of tape then use the silicone tape as a finishing tape.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 22,998
Bikes: old ones
Mentioned: 305 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 26479 Post(s)
Liked 10,444 Times
in
7,246 Posts
What tape are you pros using to terminate handlebar wraps? The tape that comes with a the bar tape is awful. Usually unwraps before the first ride. I've been using electrical tape but that's not much better. I just did bar tape last night on a recently purchased used bike that looks to have been bike shop maintained the tape was unbelievable. I had to cut it off.