Half decent bar tape!

[bikingdad90]

Has anyone got BLB or brick lane bikes bar tape? I quite like the look of some of there cloth bar tape but wonder what it is like?

 

[newts]

Wiggle own brand is nice, had this on my trek for almost 3 years.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-professional-bar-tape-with-perforation

 

[slowmotion]

I put Specialized S-Wrap cork bar tape on my most used bike a long time ago and it's still going strong. Comfortable too.

 

[Peugeotrider]

I'll try in colour
View attachment 597716

Definitely, exactly what I am after.
I'm no fan of the Matt finish and foamy tape is just not for me.
I'm too old school 🤣

 

[Gunk]

I tend to go for Cinelli cork or Bontrager cork, but I'm not sure they do a shiny one... Cork tends to be matte.

I always use Cinelli Cork Ribbon, usually black.

 

[raleighnut]

Velox, long lasting (this has been on 20+years) good grip in wet weather but I always wear gloves so padding isn't an issue.

Oh and BTW this isn't grubby, it's actually Black tape that has faded

 

[Punkawallah]

Following the ‘ripped jeans’ fashion trend, I see :-)

 

[fair weather cyclist]

As part of a bike fit I had done very recently, the bike fitter had to move the hoods on my handlebar and therefore he removed the original bar tape.

I'm not happy with the new bar tape; first thing, it was installed without cleaning the handlebar from the sticky residue from the old tape but hey oh they didn't charge me for the new tape and we were pretty tight on time so I didn't say anything. Second thing, the new tape is some sort of corky one. I don't like the feel of it and it looks cheap as hell.

For these reasons, I want to change the tape. Will be the first time I do it. My question is: how many times did you have to do it before you achieved a reasonably good result?

 

[fossyant]

Don't worry about the sticky residue, but start from the end of the bar and wind upwards. Reasoning is your hands won't curl over the edges when on the drops. It can look neater from the middle first, but I had issues with the tape edges curling after use.

 

[si_c]

It's not too difficult but it is definitely something that you get better at over time.

As above start at the bar ends and work up, GCN have a couple of videos on how to do it on YouTube.

 

[fair weather cyclist]

Would you recommend I start with a cheapo bar tape so if I screw up it's no big deal or should I take the risk and buy a good quality bar tape and hope I do a half decent job?

 

[vickster]

Pay your LBS a tenner to do it

 

[si_c]

Would you recommend I start with a cheapo bar tape so if I screw up it's no big deal or should I take the risk and buy a good quality bar tape and hope I do a half decent job?

Take off the tape you currently have on, try it, see if it works, if it doesn't repeat the process. Have a roll of electrical tape on hand.

The trick is to wind it just tight enough to keep it in place but not so tight that you are stretching the tape too much, you eventually get a good feel for it. Cork tape is actually quite forgiving so definitely have a play with what you have right now before getting a more premium tape.

 

[fair weather cyclist]

I would normally, but I'm done training hard for a particular event so now I'm mor

Pay your LBS a tenner to do it

Until a few weeks ago that's what I would have done, really.

Now that I'm done training for a specific event I've got way more time on my hands so that'd be a good chance to learn how to do it myself