Road bike bar tape

[chillyuk]

Having done 300+ miles on the Raleigh Aquilus I bought off Ebay a few weeks ago I will now go ahead and complete the overhaul. I could do with some new handlebar tape, and whilst the bars are stripped I will fit new brake cables, inners and outers, front and rear complete.

All my life when wrapping bars I have started in the middle and worked down to the bar end, tucking the surplus in and securing it with a plug. Now, looking online, several instructionals say to commence the wrap at the bar end and finish in the middle, securing the loose end with insulating tape. What is the consensus on this?

 

[iAmiAdam]

Take it to the shop, get them to do it, I can't wrap tape for anything.

 

[accountantpete]

The only difference is the finish to the overlap.

Starting at the bar end gives a rough finish when you brush the tape in a forwards manner for the drop part and a smooth finish up top.

It's vice versa the way you do it and it's a matter of personal taste.

 

[chillyuk]

I'll probably end up doing the way I have always done it. I just wondered if the modern cushioned cork type tape needed the different technique.

 

[HLaB]

Ive used the method the online stuff suggest, taping from the bar ends to the middle. I'm not sure of the consequences of this is, just the taping from the middle down may not hold the tape as tight when starting off.

 

[JonnyBlade]

I've just replaced mine. I wound from the end of the bars inwards. Didn't seem to have a problem

 

[colinr]

I always do bar ends inwards with no hassle. Also prefer the non-adhesive tape, seems easier to get right.

 

[MacB]

If you have a preference in the way the overlap runs then do it that way, as AccountantPete says. If you do need to replace cable outers then taping from the bar end up makes that slightly easier.

 

[PatrickPending]

Done from the bar end towards the middle allows the tape to overlap the tape lower down the bars. Thus protecting the edge of the lower bit of tape from being pulled up as the fore from your hands pushes down the bsars.

Poor description I know, but taping from the ends up leads to a more endurable finish.

 

[Garz]

I attempted this and when I seen the job my neighbour did who's a mechanic I conceded he done the job far far better. If you know you wont need to re-cable or touch the bars for a while and it's expensive tape then I would get a skilled person to do it.

 

[MacB]

I attempted this and when I seen the job my neighbour did who's a mechanic I conceded he done the job far far better. If you know you wont need to re-cable or touch the bars for a while and it's expensive tape then I would get a skilled person to do it.

But it's not a one strike and you're out, at least not with the tape I use, if the finish isn't good enough unwrap and start again. Technique improves very quickly, I'm hamfisted at this sort of 'delicate' thing. After a couple of goes it now wouldn't cross my mind to take it to the shop for this work. Yes the sticky strip stops being so sticky but the tension, and some electrical tape at the end, will hold it all in place.

I've got one lot of tape that has been swapped around bars 5 times and looks fine to me.

 

[chillyuk]

I have wrapped many bars without problems, so I don't think I need to go to my LBS. I have also wrapped countless cable harnesses (and laced them) so am well able to control the wrap as it goes on. I just don't fancy finishing the job with insulating tape. It'll look like a bodge job.

 

[MacB]

I have wrapped many bars without problems, so I don't think I need to go to my LBS. I have also wrapped countless cable harnesses (and laced them) so am well able to control the wrap as it goes on. I just don't fancy finishing the job with insulating tape. It'll look like a bodge job.

go the other way then, it's personal aesthetics, insulating tape doesn't bother me, nor does slightly uneven wrapping , but I get that others differ.

 

[Garz]

But it's not a one strike and you're out, at least not with the tape I use, if the finish isn't good enough unwrap and start again.

I know what you mean Mac.

However after about six attempts the sticky stuff starts to go, I did finish that attempt off and was content... till about 6 months later when the mechanic fitted new tape and made mine look blue peter.

 

[tyred]

I have wrapped many bars without problems, so I don't think I need to go to my LBS. I have also wrapped countless cable harnesses (and laced them) so am well able to control the wrap as it goes on. I just don't fancy finishing the job with insulating tape. It'll look like a bodge job.

I've done mine from the centre out as well on my two dropped bar bikes, one with cork tape and one with traditonal cotton tape. No need for insulating tape to finish, and it hasn't started to unravel, as some say it will due to the way it overlaps (after 2,800 mi). This was using cheap cork tape from Halfords.