Cloth bar tape wrapping tips

[RedRider]

I used velox tape to wrap top to bottom recently. I really like the look and feel.
I used this video as my guide but found the tape only just long enough ie I had to wrap and 're-wrap a number times and even then there was not enough to tuck into the bar end.

I had to discard one roll because it became too twisted. I suspect there's a more economical way to go around the hoods.but what do you think? @raleighnut ?

 

[raleighnut]

Nice, I never wrap the clamp that much though.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

With plastic tapes we tend to start stretching it a bit towards the end when we see it won't make it. Your tape wont stretch, so you have to eyeball it a bit better. I would firstly start further away from the stem. You want to give yourself as much length as possible around the brake levers. Even a tiny little triangle of visible bar will get you expelled from the ellininati or whatever that secret style mafia is called. I never err there, not 'cause I'm scared of them, but because I can never sleep if I know I missed a spot.

It doesn't seem to me that you first glued a short bit of tape to the lever clamp before starting to wrap. You can cut that from your discarded roll.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

With plastic tapes we tend to start stretching it a bit towards the end when we see it won't make it. Your tape wont stretch, so you have to eyeball it a bit better. I would firstly start further away from the stem. You want to give yourself as much length as possible around the brake levers. Even a tiny little triangle of visible bar will get you expelled from the ellininati or whatever that secret style mafia is called. I never err there, not 'cause I'm scared of them, but because I can never sleep if I know I missed a spot.

It doesn't seem to me that you first glued a short bit of tape to the lever clamp before starting to wrap. You can cut that from your discarded roll.

But hey, you ride with SPDs, why not proper modern tape too?

 

[raleighnut]

But hey, you ride with SPDs, why not proper modern tape too?

Cloth tape is so much better, especially when it's raining (a lot less slippery)

BTW if you need padding then it is much better in yer gloves/mitts than on the handlebars.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Nice job

In ye olde days I used to do a vertical turn around the base of the brake levers (IYSWIM) so the base of the levers was covered. I typed several sentences trying to describe this but they were all rubbish, so I give up. However I didn't have rubber hoods and only had skinny "red dot" levers not big gallumphing brifters.

Back then re-taping my handlebars was something I used to do rather more often than necessary, just because I enjoyed it. Which is a bit of a tragic indictment of my youth. "You coming down the pub?" "No, I've got something important to do" "What?" "I've just bought some handlebar tape from Halfords!!"

 

[RedRider]

So start a bit further out? I'm going to try again with some fresh stuff maybe tonight.
What I love is there feels like a lot more space in the hooks

 

[RedRider]

Nice job

In ye olde days I used to do a vertical turn around the base of the brake levers (IYSWIM) so the base of the levers was covered. I typed several sentences trying to describe this but they were all rubbish, so I give up. However I didn't have rubber hoods and only had skinny "red dot" levers not big gallumphing brifters.

Back then re-taping my handlebars was something I used to do rather more often than necessary, just because I enjoyed it. Which is a bit of a tragic indictment of my youth. "You coming down the pub?" "No, I've got something important to do" "What?" "I've just bought some handlebar tape from Halfords!!"

Yeah, it seems cheap enough to do before any big ride really! When I've the funds I'll prob get some old fashioned brake levers/hoods.

 

[User32269]

Last time I used cloth tape, I still had hair! I've always gone from bottom of the drops upwards. Only because that's how I was taught as a kid, but it always ensures you've got a bit to tuck in.
That looks smart on your bike.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I always wrap bottom to top, if it's a bit short at the top, it's not an issue, being short at the bottom means you don't have the overlap to tuck behind the stoppers.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Top to bottom for cloth (cos it all tucks in nicely without the need for adhesive) bottom to top for fat gel tape (cos it gets rubbed up the wrong way). IMHO anyway

 

[BalkanExpress]

Nice Champion Mondial

I would n't worry too much: you will no doubt be going too fast for anyone to spot any imperfections

 

[RedRider]

But hey, you ride with SPDs, why not proper modern tape too?

Well, I like a very thin tape, I decided to try cloth and it feels and looks good.

Nice Champion Mondial

I would n't worry too much: you will no doubt be going too fast for anyone to spot any imperfections

Dazzling onlookers like golden sunshafts glancing from a jet's wing