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[ColinJ]

Just double wrap bar tape

I will be doing that on my singlespeed bike later this afternoon, assuming that Amazon deliver my new brake cables on time.

I kept the tatty bar tape from my old handlebar. I will put that on the new bar first and then wrap my new tape over that.

 

[fossyant]

Nice - got to love a bit of low-budget inginuity

Get a Castrelli logo on them and bang them on ebay for £69.99 a pair

Might have an issue with Castrelli at £69, but Castelli yes.

 

[wafter]

Might have an issue with Castrelli at £69, but Castelli yes.

Don't want to be infringing anyone's copyright

 

[cyberknight]

i used to do all sorts of tricks with bar tape till i found out my bike fit was to far forward so i was overweighting the arms /hands

 

[ColinJ]

Yes, double wrap is ok, but, nowhere near as good as this pipe insulation, I've even been known to treble wrap bar tape, I mention it here in a post from 2016.

"I've wrapped another layer of bar tape on the Winter bike, I already had double, so now that's treble bar tape. My logic was that if double feels good, treble might feel better. It does look bulky, but it's very comfy over the rough country lanes."
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/what-have-you-fettled-today.87079/page-337#post-4563370

Alternatively, stop pumping your tyres to 120 psi!

I don't like rough roads, but I can cope with most of them with doubled bar tape, and 25C tyres pressures of 85 psi (f) and 95 psi (r)

 

[Oldhippy]

I just blow my tyres up until they are hard. No idea what the pressures are.

 

[ColinJ]

Currently I use:
35mm at 80psi rear, 70psi front, Winter bike.
25mm at 100psi rear, 90 front, Summer bike.
23mm at 120psi or higher for the Training Rollers.

Might as well use high pressure for the bike on the rollers.

Not much difference on our summer bikes. I sometimes add another 5 psi if I am going to be on better roads.

I don't use that much pressure in the 35s on my CAADX - more like 55-60 psi front, and 60-65 psi rear.

 

[Twilkes]

I think I used to use 100psi on some 28mm GP 4 Seasons about ten year ago, then 90psi on some 25mm Michelins about three years ago, and <70psi on the current Pirelli 28mm now after consulting a few pressure calculators; what I used to think was too soft is actually fine and it has taken some stress off my hands. Still double wrap bar tape though but mainly because the bars feel too thin otherwise.

If you need pipe insulation on your tops then there's probably something wrong with your fit/technique but hey ho everyone rides differently, I went out with my mudguards off last week and it felt like I was streaking.

 

[fossyant]

Obviously I agree, but tyre pressures will also depend on a rider's weight. Some Cheshire country lanes have a terrible surface.

Currently I use:
35mm at 80psi rear, 70psi front, Winter bike.
25mm at 100psi rear, 90 front, Summer bike.
23mm at 120psi or higher for the Training Rollers.

I posted this here:
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/tyre-width-advice.279642/page-2#post-6540202

Edit: Also the vintage small dia bars on my summer bike are not as comfy as my modern winter bike with larger dia bars.

You need a good steel bike !

 

[ColinJ]

You need a good steel bike !

Guy's bike looks steel to me!

 

[PaulSB]

Obviously I agree, but tyre pressures will also depend on a rider's weight. Some Cheshire country lanes have a terrible surface.

Currently I use:
35mm at 80psi rear, 70psi front, Winter bike.
25mm at 100psi rear, 90 front, Summer bike.
23mm at 120psi or higher for the Training Rollers.

The 35mm seems high to me. For gravel I would chose a 55/50 combination, even 50/45 but I'm not convinced on that. For the same bike on road it would 65/60 or 70/65 depending on conditions.

 

[Oldhippy]

Looking forward to Boden's handlebar bottle holder made from a wire coat hanger. I tried it ages ago and failed.

 

[Tribansman]

Pretty good idea that @GuyBoden , I may well try that on my next really long ride.

Currently, my attempt at dampening the road buzz and dealing with nerve damage in my hands is to first wrap a used inner tube pretty loosely then cover with 5mm gel bartape.

And to have low pressures too. I'm just over 70kg and can get away with 45 rear and 40 front on 28s or 32s. Not yet had a pinch flat with those pressures in 000s of miles.

Have just bought a bontrager carbon bar with their special insert things (got it for less than £100 from a mate who works with Trek so decent deal and I needed new bars anyway), but yours is a much cheaper solution and probably more effective!

 

[DCBassman]

Another answer: don't use drops...
*runs away*

 

[ColinJ]

I will be doing that on my singlespeed bike later this afternoon, assuming that Amazon deliver my new brake cables on time.

I kept the tatty bar tape from my old handlebar. I will put that on the new bar first and then wrap my new tape over that.

I have done it. This is what it looks like...

The doubled bar tape feels very comfy, but I am not totally satisfied with how it looks. I'll tidy it up later.