Handlebar Wrapping Tips

[Alembicbassman]

I'm wrapping my second set of road bars, my first set went OK, but I was not using self adhesive tape and the tape began to move slightly. I have seen somebody use Prit-Stick on the bar before applying the tape to prevent this.

I am using Velox self adhesive cork tape.

Starting at the plug end some people wrap clockwise, some wrap anti-clockwise. Velox instructions show clockwise wrapping.

What's the difference?

 

[david1701]

one is for gay people (I made that up, I have no idea, hopefully someone helpful will come along soon)

 

[Andy_R]

iirc, as you look at the bars from a riding position, you wrap the left side clockwise and the right side anti-clockwise, apparently it's supposed to self tighten as you ride. But I'm sure someone will come along and correct me!

 

[tyred]

The most important point imo is to keep the tape under tension as you wrap.

 

[gaz]

iirc, as you look at the bars from a riding position, you wrap the left side clockwise and the right side anti-clockwise, apparently it's supposed to self tighten as you ride. But I'm sure someone will come along and correct me!

This is correct!
You wrap each side from outside to inside from the riders point of view. This means when you hold the bars the tape will tighten and not undo.

My top tips are to take your time, watch YouTube videos on how to do it and make sure you keep it nice and tight!

 

[youngoldbloke]

I find this useful to remind me Park Tool

 

[smokeysmoo]

I used these vids until I was confident. Still refer to them at times as well.......

PART 1

PART 2

 

[2Loose]

http://road.cc/content/news/39338-video-how-tape-your-bars-pro

 

[g00se]

A tip I got from a video (not sure if it's one of those posted) is to get an old spoke or rigid bit of similar sized wire and bend it in half to that the two ends are about an inch and a half apart.

Keep it to hand over the stem as you wrap one side - then as you get to the point you want to cut the tape and use insulating tape to secure it down, you can push the wire 'grip' over the end of the taped part of the bars to keep the tape in place as you cut it to size and stick it down.

 

[smokeysmoo]

A tip I got from a video (not sure if it's one of those posted) is to get an old spoke or rigid bit of similar sized wire and bend it in half to that the two ends are about an inch and a half apart.

Yeah he uses a 'spanner wrench' in the video, but the bent spoke idea is an excellent idea