Drop bar bungs

[User]

 

[KneesUp]

It's definitely to do with leaving the right amount of tape, but I have never got both ends to work - it's luck rather than judgement I reckon.

 

[MacB]

I need about 2cm of overlap and I fold them in and tape them in place before adding the plugs. I have also had to snip them a little to get them to fold in neatly.

 

[John the Canuck]

And how much tape do you leave hanging over the end to push in?

new at this but just done 4 [ 2 sets of bars]
2 wound down from the stem
2 wound upwards from bar ends

in both cases I left at least 3/4 of the tape width - using gel tape this seems excessive but pushed in with a finger for several minutes to allow gel tape to 'settle' into the hole
then used 'push-fit' plastic plugs ...so far ok

 

[John the Canuck]

PS
i use Scotchtape double sided sticky tape [very thin] on the first 4'' of the bar - this seems to help the tape from twisting off

also - I have Dupuytren's contracture
anyone who wants cushioning for their hands but with a traditional look - consider cotton tape on TOP of gel tape
stretch the gel tape really tight and with a min overlap so it's not too thick
.
RHS done

.
another PS
winding down from the stem does look better IMO - none of that electricians tape to be seen...

 

[mrvandango]

Never thought of winding from the top down.. that does look much neater!

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Top down is neater, some will tell you it results in the tape rucking up more, but that's not my experience based on 30 plus years of doing it that way. When you get to the bung end a 2-3 cm tail is enough so long as you ensure that the whole circumference of the tube is overlapped by about 4cm of tape to fold in under the end cap.
If you are having problems, caps with expander screws are easier as they stay in place.

 

[GrasB]

It does end up with rucked bar tape if you get the wrong tape. Fizik soft touch & sticky touch rucks badly when you do this but clarks cork tape is fine (well apart from being one of the most fragile and awful feeling tapes I've ever used).

 

[PaddyMcc]

I used these Raleigh plugs when I lost a normal push in plug. They are locked in place by the screw and hold the tape nicely http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004CWX5WC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Poacher]

Choice of plugs is very important - Bollinger for best bike, but cheap Cava is good enough for my tatty old Falcon Olympic.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Nice head badge!

 

[Bodhbh]

I didn't realise you were supposed to fold it in - I just cut round with a stanley knife to remove the excess.

I used a cork and a wine corker from my homebrewing kit for bungs.

 

[John the Canuck]

I didn't realise you were supposed to fold it in - I just cut round with a stanley knife to remove the excess. ...............

so you therefore wound 'bar-end UPwards''
try wrapping from the top DOWN
with less overlap you may have enough to tuck into the bar ends.

 

[uclown2002]

It does end up with rucked bar tape if you get the wrong tape. Fizik soft touch & sticky touch rucks badly when you do this but clarks cork tape is fine (well apart from being one of the most fragile and awful feeling tapes I've ever used).

This has been bothering me for ages so thank you! My lbs fitted fizik soft touch on one of my bikes a few months ago and it is all peeling off. I did my other bike with the same tape and so far has shown no signs of wear. I did wonder if he had wrapped it differently but the electrical type tape is present near the stem suggesting he also started from the bottom. I must ask him next time I'm in the shop!

 

[youngoldbloke]

Annoys me that even on quite pricey bikes you get useless push in bar ends. I replace them with these which stay put. I prefer the black ones.