Handlebar tape direction of application.

[lee1980sim]

GCN YouTube vids give you lots of useful info, including bar tape application

 

[zacklaws]

I've never tried wrapping from the stem towards the bar end, but the problem I foresee (if your a clumsy bugger like me) is that if your do not judge the starting point correctly, get it wrong a bit around the shifters and use a bit too much tape and the overlaps a bit narrow as you wind, you could end up short of tape to reach the bar ends

The other problem is.......it will not be aerodynamic along the bend at the bottom of the bars and will break the airflow up causing drag instead of flowing smoothly over the overlaps and will negate the effects of shaving your legs.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi again rn. Oh yes you can and I have never had any problem. The secret is to thin the thick centre of back down,this is referred to as a Skived edge in leather work.
The tape is lost into the bar end at the middle of the circumference and underneath.

I have found that generally the last 40mm needs thinning but also if using a foam sleeve prior to the tape being applied then that will also need to be thinned before applying the tape.
Thinning of the foam is best carried out with a piece of sand paper and by using light strokes with a backwards pulling action towards the end of the bars from approximately 20mm from the ends.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi zackslaw. Whether the tape is applied from the ends or from the stem /tops is of little difference,one can still run out of tape. The secret is in the regularity/consistancy of the overlap.

Also,as for the aerodynamics aspect of the leading edges of the tape,it would require tape as thick as abrick to create any potential loss of air flow.
I have overcome this potential issue by not speaking during my regular rides - instead,I use signing,the added advantage of that - I can now also ride with no hands whilst texting

 

[Yellow Saddle]

There is only one way for a bike that's going to be ridden - bottom to top.

Reason: If you wrap this way, it is like stroking a fish from snout to tail. The scales will not be raised. If you wrap from the top to the bottom, it is like stroking a fish from tail to snout. This (wrong) way makes for the edges of the tape to life and fold over, whereas the right way prevents that.

The exception to the rule is for a showroom bike or bike for the photographic studio. Then you wrap from top to bottom, which lets you avoid the ugly tape on top. However, all bartape is supplied with tape for a good reason - to be thrown away and replaced by NITTO (nothing else would suffice) insulation tape. All other insulation tapes lift and leave sticky residue. Nitto does not.

Further, the sticky tape supplied by bar tape manufacturers is rubbish. It does not stretch and therefore always leave pleats. It is Nitto or bareback for me.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi Y S. Yes,I can totally go along with the notion of the lower portion of the bars BUT what if the upper to the hoods were carried out from the top and towers were carried out as is convention and from the bottom.
That would then leave the tails meeting beneath the hoods and out of site and secured with an insulation type tape - wouldn't it !!!!

 

[Yellow Saddle]

You must be a diplomat by profession. Countries have gone to war over the direction of bar tape and then you come up with this solution. Now all we have left to fight over is chain lube.

I suppose your solution would work but no-one really uses the drops so there is no danger there of upwards curling of the tape.*






*Watch everyone coming over and telling me they ride on the drops all day.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Hi Y S. A Diplomat !!! no I am an early retired upholsterer that saw the decline in my trade,that decline was taking place with the overload cheap crappy imports and silly finance deals that leave people still paying for furniture that has ended-up fuelling a bonfire.

I took a Degree in Brain Surgery and supplemented it with a Degree in Human Psychology

PS. On a more serious note and back on topic. I will be taping the bars on my Benotto again in the next days,I will keep you posted..

 

[Cyclist33]

This is a true First World problem!

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

This is a true First World problem!

Hi C33. As a Warrington based cyclist are you old enough to remember Rex Jones ?
He had a shop just up from Warrington Central Station and was one of the few Lancashire & Cheshire cycle shops about that stocked and sold the Gitane brand.
I am going back to the days before Warrington became "Posh" and was redefined as Cheshire.
There was not really a great-deal wrong with it being in Good Old Lancashire but politicians did not see it that way and were seemingly aiming higher in the voting stakes.

 

[ayceejay]

I tried wrapping from the top and it moved, whether due to my ineptitude or my method I can't say. I did it because I too dislike that electrical tape thing. I also had a problem with tucking in to an end stop so I shall definitely try the 'skiving' method mentioned above perhaps at both ends. I agree with YS (hey stuff happens) that you need less on the drops so this is where you can stretch it out if need be.
Anyone got alternative suggestions for the electrical tape and don't say KNITTO I was never any good at that.

 

[Cyclist33]

Hi C33. As a Warrington based cyclist are you old enough to remember Rex Jones ?
He had a shop just up from Warrington Central Station and was one of the few Lancashire & Cheshire cycle shops about that stocked and sold the Gitane brand.
I am going back to the days before Warrington became "Posh" and was redefined as Cheshire.
There was not really a great-deal wrong with it being in Good Old Lancashire but politicians did not see it that way and were seemingly aiming higher in the voting stakes.

Lol, the 33 in my codename refers to my age not the year of my birth. My mum grew up round Culcheth though and still insists Warrington is Lancashire.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

Lol, the 33 in my codename refers to my age not the year of my birth. My mum grew up round Culcheth though and still insists Warrington is Lancashire.

Hi C33. I was not even thinking that you could possibly have been born in 1933,I was undecided whether your Veteran tag beneath your Avatar could be a reference to your age but then decided - NO,it is in recognition of your longevity on the forum.
If it was a reference to your age, I would somehow doubt that you would be riding a bike such as-is depicted in your Avatar.

Your mum is absolutely correct in her insistence - after-all it was fudging County Boundaries that got it relocated BUT that was only a STEALTH STUNT for the purposes of votes

 

[youngoldbloke]

Always used to wrap top to bottom. Not sure when it changed. ..... anyway - Rose sell silicone rings that finish the job neatly, and they use a fabric tape to finish off the bar tape on their bikes - the closest I've found is auto wiring-loom tape, which works well and looks good IMO.

 

[TheCyclingRooster]

I tried wrapping from the top and it moved, whether due to my ineptitude or my method I can't say. I did it because I too dislike that electrical tape thing. I also had a problem with tucking in to an end stop so I shall definitely try the 'skiving' method mentioned above perhaps at both ends. I agree with YS (hey stuff happens) that you need less on the drops so this is where you can stretch it out if need be.
Anyone got alternative suggestions for the electrical tape and don't say KNITTO I was never any good at that.

Hi ayceejay. As a point of interest - maybe,I am using foam sleeves and the synthetic tape with the thicker central 1/3rd and not sticky.option.
As I see it, there is nothing wrong with wrapping from the tops but in an over and down towards the wheel direction THAT IS until you reach the hoods and then it becomes "interesting" because of two things.
I have used just less than half of the roll and there is not enough to complete,approximately 5" short.
Upon reaching the hoods the dilemma is where do I hide the obvious need to stop the tape. The outside edge of the hood is favourite but securing it is then going to leave some of the finishing strip visible.after the lowers are completed.
I am of the belief that starting the lowers at the open end gives the better finish.