fujirider

I don't know what, but something is owed.

I attempted to wrap my bars last night. I used the Park Tools website as a guide. I did what it said and after several re-wraps they looked kinda nice.

Then came the tricky parts.

1. How can you get a clean tape job on the wrap end closest to the stem? I couldn't figure out how to cut the tape so that I didn't have 1.5 inches of electrical tape holding the wrap on the end.

2. Inserting the bar ends...I know that you are supposed to leave a little tape off of the end to tuck into the open part of the bar. Well I did that but when I tried to put the bar end on, the tape wasn't cooperating. The bar end finally started to go on but then the tape started to pull off of the end of the bar.

Does anyone have ANY tips or tricks to do this job??

55/Rad

1. You need to cut the wrap at an angle to get the straight edge. Second, when you put the finish tape on, keep it flush with the end of the wrap - don't overlap it onto the bars. The point of the finish tape is to keep the tape from unwinding, not attach it to the bars. This makes for a much cleaner finish.

2. At the bar ends, you need to leave more than a little wrap off to stuff inside - like an extra complete loop. The proper "stuffing" process assures a clean and solid finish.

Good luck.

DocRay

It takes a bit of experience, but you cut the end near the stem on a taper, then you only need the width of the finishing tape to hold it in place. The taper should end under the bar, as should the finishing tape ends. Tip: use electrical tape, then cover it with the finishing tape. Finishing tapes rarely work that well.

As for the bar ends, some bars are a larger diameter and the end doesn't fit snug, even with the tape stuffed in. Wrap electrical tape around the insert of the bar end to make it a tight fit.

My first couple of times looked like poo, but you get to the point you can do it in your sleep.

cuski

My first wrap job was finished in 1 hr and it came out perfect. Also, based on the parktool website instructions. Be patient, do a trial run first. If you have another bike for reference - or pics of your previous wrap - it also helps.

bianchiboy71

I usually get the bar end plugs in as soon as I start.
I put my finger in the bar end and do one revolution of tape around my finger first then a couple on the bar then put the plug in.

At the other end keep winding until you're too close to the stem then fix the end of the bar tape down with insulation tape.
Run a sharp blade around the circumference of the bar where you want your bar tape to finish. Remove the excess and seal with a couple of winds of insulation tape.

Brian Ratliff

He's complaining about the ends. I always thought the tricky part was around the brake levers.

To wrap near the stem, like people said, cut it off at an angle. What you are trying for is to continue the spiral, but cut the edge closest to the stem at an angle so the wrap ends with no spiral. And use electrical tape; everyone does. I just bought a new bike and even the bike shop does this.

At the end of the bar, start the wrap with a complete wrap around the bar with a bit overhanging the end. Pull it tight as you are wrapping it around so the edge of the tape off the end of the bar curls inward under the tension. After you have made the full wrap around (this is to hold the end of the tape in place to avoid exactly what you've experienced), then start the spiral up the bar. If it is a tight squeeze to get the endcap on, use a mallot and gently tap the plug in. If it is loose, like the Doc said, use a wrap of electrical tape around the insert of the plug.

patentcad

At last, a bike weenie more mechanically challenged than Pcad.

Hallelujah. Thank you Sisters.

acape

I don't stuff the tape into the ends of the bar. Instead, I employ a trick I learned somewhere here on BF:

Before touching the bar tape, I do a few wraps of electrical tape sticky side out at the ends of the bars. Then I just start my bar tape wrap flush with the end of the bars. The electrical tape holds it in place. Then, depending on your bars and the plugs you use, you may need to wrap the plugs with a little tape to get them to stay in the ends.

fujirider

What's funny is that I have rebuilt rear hubs before but I can't grasp this bar wrapping task.

DocRay

oh, and these make excellent bar ends:

Brian Ratliff

^^^
Where did you get those? Do they automatically turn on or is there a button somewhere?

njm

I looked at these -- pushing the plastic LED "lens" turns it on/off, if that makes sense.

They're available at Performance Bike here for $13.

Hambone

They work really well. They give a little profile light too which is nice.

Here is how I finish my wraps:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=229900&page=2 (Posts 44 and 45 have insturctions and pictures.)

I think it is infinitely more attractive and more comfortable than tape.

Lucky07

Just re-wrapped my bars last night. Using tape without adhedsive backing is a big plus. You can wrap and re-wrap as many times as you like.

Just take your time. It does seem to be a puzzle at first, but once you've done one side successfully, it gets much easier. The parktool site is a decent guide.

patentcad

i did not know that Cypress did whippets in the shower, but that doesn't sound like such a bad idea.

666

Don't wrap your bars while drunk.

Scorer75

I love these.

It's a decent enough light, cheap, and you ALWAYS have a backup to your other lights or in case you get caught out after dark without lights.

For the price, it's a no-brainer for me and on all my bikes.

SlowSpinner

My quads are so big I don't think the people behind me could see the bar end lights.

DScott

Some things I've learned:
- keep a little tension on the tape as you wrap, it helps keep it in place.
- as you wrap, pick a point on the tape to overlap, and stay with it (like over-lap half-way, or bring the adhesive strip just over the underlying layer, etc.)
- when usng electrical tape to finish the end near the stem, keep it taut/under tension for the first wrap or two, then let it loose on the last wrap. It won't pull off and leave gooey adhesive to hold onto.

All these things are not my ideas, just gathered via research.

It's really not too hard if you take your time and be consistent. Have fun!

rm -rf

I didn't have much luck with the reversed electrical tape. I'll have to try the finger in the bar end trick next time.

I've used Specialized tape, it's stretchy and has a silicone gripper strip down the middle instead of adhesive. It's easy to unwrap and rewrap.

mollusk

Wrapping bars is way easier than wrapping Christmas presents. It is so easy that a Killer Penguin can do it.

SpongeDad

I have them - they rattle a bit on rough road, but they work nicely. Good to have at dusk, or if you end up going through a tunnel or under a dark underpass and need something to punch up the visibility.

fujirider

Thanks for the advice and help everyone. I re-wrapped them last night using your advice and they came out really nice.

chevy42083

Bar wrapping really just takes practice... each time there are things that I plan to do differently the next time.

For one, I heard about removing the brake levers, and leaving just the clamp with the protruding bolt (vintage non brifter levers... not sure what others look like)... this allows the tape to be wrapped without it curving up onto the brake lever... saves tape, and bulkiness). After you are done wrapping, you will not see the clamp of the brakes, just a bolt protruding through a seam in the tape. Then reattach the brake lever bodies.

SDRider

1. If you have black bar tape it doesn't really matter if you have a little extra electrical tape. With colored tape it gets tricky to make it look clean. I always cut my tape off so that the end is underneath the bar and then use about 2 wraps with electrical tape. I like the idea of wrapping beyond where you want the tape to end and using a blade to cut it back but I'd be afraid that I'd score my carbon bars.

2. Leave about 1/2" or slightly less of tape all around the bar off the end of the bar when you start and make sure that you wrap it pretty tight so that it doesn't start to pull off when you tuck the plug in.