Bar tape

[KneesUp]

It is an indication of how quiet it is at work today that I have discovered that the ideal ingredients for making your own deluxe comfort bars are:

pipe lagging
spray mount
bandages they use for horses in Polo
Fabsil or similar

make of this what you will.

 

[vickster]

Lizard skin 3.2 is extremely thick and spongy, and comes in fab grey. According to my friend who built my bike, you need to be careful fitting so as not to overstretch or tear

 

[Old Plodder]

I used to use Grab Ons, then cork tape, but now I'm back to using straights.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I always thought the art was to start near the stem and work toward the ends, doing away with the need for tape to finish off as you tuck the remainder in using the end plugs, easier to remove brake levers as well.

@Nigelnaturist

I agree with you Nigel: years back that was exactly how it was done. Same on fishing rods when I was a boy!

I find the finishing tape/electrical tape 'thing' a bit odd.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

@Nigelnaturist

I agree with you Nigel: years back that was exactly how it was done. Same on fishing rods when I was a boy!

I find the finishing tape/electrical tape 'thing' a bit odd.

Always did my tape this way too. My Grandfather taught me to do it like that back in the 1970's - neater and I don't recall it ever rolling up.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

I'm also looking at replacing bar tape so this is useful information. I get numbness in some fingers even though I've had a bike fit, so my techy said when my tape gets grubby we will put some better stuff on to help alleviate my problem

 

[smokeysmoo]

FYI - these are my goto vids for fitting bar tape. Even though I've done the job loads of times I still refer to them and find them an excellent reference point.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Nigelnaturist

I agree with you Nigel: years back that was exactly how it was done. Same on fishing rods when I was a boy!

I find the finishing tape/electrical tape 'thing' a bit odd.

Lack of skill or cant be bothered attitude maybe, takes time to get it right, I am getting better each time I do it

FYI - these are my goto vids for fitting bar tape. Even though I've done the job loads of times I still refer to them and find them an excellent reference point.

Still needs tape to finish it off

 

[smokeysmoo]

Still needs tape to finish it off

It does yes, but it's the only way I've ever taped bars TBH, and the finishing tape doesn't at all offend me in the way it seems to do with others

 

[mrandmrspoves]

[QUOTE="smokeysmoo, post: 3038928, member: 14998" ]
It does yes, but it's the only way I've ever taped bars TBH, and the finishing tape doesn't at all offend me in the way it seems to do with others [/QUOTE]

It's not so much the appearance - as the added weight!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

It does yes, but it's the only way I've ever taped bars TBH, and the finishing tape doesn't at all offend me in the way it seems to do with others

Doesn't offend me, just not what I grew up with, as for apperance, I have tape on the top tube keeping my light cable in place, it doesn't come off as I ride in some pretty shitty weather even in summer, and that looks far worse than any tape finishing off bar tape.

@mrandmrspoves Wouldn't make any difference on my bike, it weighs 12Kg's stripped

 

[Dogtrousers]

I always thought the art was to start near the stem and work toward the ends, doing away with the need for tape to finish off as you tuck the remainder in using the end plugs, easier to remove brake levers as well.

I always used to tape from the stem outwards, this was decades ago. I also used fabric tape. When I emerged from my cycling hibernation a couple of years back and did the same with some modern tape the problem of "rubbing it the wrong way" was really evident. So I did a bit of research and discovered that times had changed. I reluctantly accepted that modern, fat in the middle and thin at the edges, tape really does need to be wound from the bar ends in. It does rankle a bit though. Using adhesive tape feels like cheating.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@Dogtrousers I try and change my tape quite often, so it doesn't really get chance to wear much, the bike has gone through a few brifter changes in the last 6 months, 7 to 8sp and then 8 to 9sp the latter obviously needing both done, it is actually how my bike came when new, was this a cost cutting thing, being a Viking.

 

[ColinJ]

I always used to tape from the stem outwards, this was decades ago. I also used fabric tape. When I emerged from my cycling hibernation a couple of years back and did the same with some modern tape the problem of "rubbing it the wrong way" was really evident. So I did a bit of research and discovered that times had changed. I reluctantly accepted that modern, fat in the middle and thin at the edges, tape really does need to be wound from the bar ends in. It does rankle a bit though. Using adhesive tape feels like cheating.

A friend of mine bought some tape on eBay. It was designed for things like tennis racket handles and does not have any adhesive on it. He just wrapped it tight enough to hold itself in place and finished it off with some black electrical tape by the stem. It looks pretty good. I might have a look for some and have a go myself since the tape on my Basso's bars is looking distinctly tatty.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

[QUOTE="Nigelnaturist, post: 3040445, member: 22708"

@mrandmrspoves Wouldn't make any difference on my bike, it weighs 12Kg's stripped [/QUOTE]

12KG = I can only wish to ride such a light weight again. My new, lighter trike weighs 17kg stripped.