Bar tape over Bar Tape Conundrum ??

[Grayduff]

I am thinking (which may well change after your comments i hasten to add) of putting extra bar tape over the top of the tape that is already on there, this is to give a little more cushioning, my question is CAN i ,IS it a good idea and can anybody recommend some good tape if so..

 

[PpPete]

Often done to increase cushioning.
Personally I prefer gel pads under the relevant bits of a single layer of tape.
My favourite tape for ease of application is the Bontrager non-sticky one.

 

[Grayduff]

Often done to increase cushioning.
Personally I prefer gel pads under the relevant bits of a single layer of tape.
My favourite tape for ease of application is the Bontrager non-sticky one.

Is Non sticky easier to apply...

 

[citybabe]

You can buy gel pads to go under bar tape

 

[sidevalve]

Just two questions 1 - do you use padded gloves 2 - have you already got foam or padded bar tape ? If not they might be worth a try. Nothing wrong with your idea but I must admit I've never seen a real need for it.
I think the non sticky tape is easier to fit but I do use a couple of turns of double sided sticky tape in places just to help keep it in place while fitting.

 

[Grayduff]

Just two questions 1 - do you use padded gloves 2 - have you already got foam or padded bar tape ? If not they might be worth a try. Nothing wrong with your idea but I must admit I've never seen a real need for it.
I think the non sticky tape is easier to fit but I do use a couple of turns of double sided sticky tape in places just to help keep it in place while fitting.

Yes to the padded gloves and the bar tape on the bars is un padded, my hands always ache after and during a ride, someone did suggest i may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome but as yet not explord this, maybe it i am getting a little old.

 

[PpPete]

Is Non sticky easier to apply...

I think so. Not everyone agrees. You have to maintain quite a high tension on the tape as you wind it around, too little and it will move around after a few rides, but not too much or you'll break it. OTH if you decide its not quite right its much easier to take off and start over.

 

[Grayduff]

I think so. Not everyone agrees. You have to maintain quite a high tension on the tape as you wind it around, too little and it will move around after a few rides, but not too much or you'll break it. OTH if you decide its not quite right its much easier to take off and start over.

Ok cheers..will have a Google

 

[PpPete]

Yes to the padded gloves and the bar tape on the bars is un padded, my hands always ache after and during a ride, someone did suggest i may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome but as yet not explord this, maybe it i am getting a little old.

If the existing tape is unpadded there is no point putting anything over the top of it.
but aching hands may be sympton of an incorrect position on the bike rather than anything like carpal tunnel. Get a bike fitting session with a good LBS before you do anything else. Paul Smith @ Corridori who sometimes is seen on these pages is a good 'un in Surrey.

 

[Rob3rt]

It will look terrible. However I do not post without alternative suggestion:

When you take off your old bar tape, find a section that is not a mess and keep it. Place a strip along the tops, along the drops and if needed along the transition between the top and the hoods. Tape in place with electricians tape. Then wrap your new tape over as per normal. This affords greater cushioning without having super fat, ugly looking handlebars.

On one of my bikes I have some bars with a flat section on the tops to rest your palms (Cinelli Palm XL bars), I use this method on the flat section. It worked really well and you can not tell I have done it.

 

[Grayduff]

It will look terrible. However I do not post without alternative suggestion:

When you take off your old bar tape, find a section that is not a mess and keep it. Place a strip along the tops, along the drops and if needed along the transition between the top and the hoods. Tape in place with electricians tape. Then wrap your new tape over as per normal. This affords greater cushioning without having super fat, ugly looking handlebars.

Words of wisdom..cheers

 

[4F]

I split and use an old inner tube first and then put bar tape over that DIY bargain basement gel pad

 

[ajb]

I have double tape on my bars, love it, much more comfortable & just feels more substantial to hold on to, I do have fairly large hands though,
As for "look terrible" as said above, no it doesn't, mine looks & feels great.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

The current bar tape on my commuter is thickly wrapped, because I wanted the extra padding. The only drawback was that I ran out of bar tape at about the point where the handlebar straightens in the middle, so I finished each bit of bar tape off with some electrical tape. But it certainly makes the drops on my handlebars feel nice and padded, and the diameter of them wrapped thus seems to fit my hands better. Someone really should make extra-long handlebar tape just for weirdos like me .

 

[Davidc]

Nothing new, but I'll endorse the posts advocating pads under the bits where you want more cushioning.

I'll be doing mine when I can (free time, warmer than 10 deg and dry) and will pad the top all the way along the horizontal bits on top and on the drops, much as rob3rt says, not for the aesthetics but because it doesn't make the bars as big as extra tape or padding all round.

I like the idea of using old inner tubes for the padding, may try it.