precad

Dear all,

when finishing the bar tape wrap, I use electrical tape. The ever-long problem is that it creeps, eventually in hot sun it may also melt, or dust gets under the end and it begins to slowly unravel. It also gets old (that tape you bought 5 years ago is probably either too fragile, or dry). It is unpleasant also because my hands, when riding on tops of bars, may grip the place where electrical tape finishes, and pull it off.

What are the best alternatives, maybe there is a different tape type I can try? Is there some sort of plastic piece that can sort of clamp and hold the bar tape from unwinding and feel good on the hands?

Surely someone has encountered similar problems, if you got a link to an old discussion, please post here. I couldn't really find anything.

thank you

Shimagnolo

Self-Fusing Silicone Tape.

ShaneHanchey

The Fizik bar tape I have now came with tape just for taping the ends. I would imagine they aren't the only ones that do this either.

Doctor Morbius

Gorilla tape.

milkbaby

You can wrap from the center of the bars down to the end and then secure the tape with the bar end plugs.

Alternatively, if you must take from the bar ends up to the center, you could use heat shrink material to hold the ends.

Tman1965

That! Or the cheap version 3M Temflex 2155 Rubber Splicing Tape $2.50 at the big orange store.

fthomas

Hemp Twine that can be wrapped and pulled under itself to finish off. Classic look.

Dave Cutter

That's how we did it in the old days.... isn't it!

I searched around (mostly YouTube videos) to learn why we now go plug-to-center... wrapping from the inside-to-the-outside (Clockwise on the right, counter clockwise on the left). Apparently the consensus is the new way slips less both on the bar as well as in the hands.

I never get more than two years out of a set of handlebar tape. So I don't have to worry about age affecting the electrical tape. But even if the electrical tape was damaged.... just wrap on a new piece of electrical tape.

Back in the old days when we wrapped our cloth or plastic handlebar tape center-to-plug.... my handlebars were steel. Steel handlebars held up well. Now-a-days handlebars are lightweight aluminum or carbon fiber. I know it's currently somewhat trendy to have ratty, worn, and dirty handlebar tape. But it's best to inspect the new handlebars! So ride hard and lots so that handlebar tape can look cool early in the season. But replace the tape regularly and inspect those bars.

Doctor Morbius

Ahhh, thanks! Didn't think of that. I should have some heat shrink laying around that's just the right diameter to do that. Much appreciated.

EDIT: I just checked some 1" heat shrink I had on hand and although it's enough to go around the bar and tape near the plugs, I'll probably need 1.5" shrink to go around the bar, shifter cable and tape on the tops.

79pmooney

But, wrapping from the top means that you fray the tape edge every time you slide you hand down the bar. And to use heat shrink tape, you have to take tha brake levers off to get it on unless I am missing something.

I use quality electrical tape, wrap my bars so the tape is coming back as it goes over the top of the bar, wrap the electrical tape in the same direction and end the tape just before the brake/gear housing. That way, my fingers rarely touch the ends and when they do they are tending to smooth them out. I find the electrical tape usually lasts unto I replace the tape or make changes.

Ben