Wrapping New Bar Tape

[MartinGT]

Its something I have never done.

Is it easy? Any tips?

 

[online-rider]

Its something I have never done.

Is it easy? Any tips?

It is very difficult. I'd recommend microwaving the tape a little to make it softer. The main problem is the caps popping off the bar-ends. A little glue would help if your bars arent too precious

 

[SteveT]

Plenty of videos on this subject, its easy enough just a little knowledge required.
Heres one video of many
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7BY4wKHTM

 

[usedtobefast]

Park Tools has a handy guide for all kinds maintenance.

 

[avanti]

Buy two sets of tape.
You will learn from your first attempt then do a fairly good job on your second attempt.
Personally I like Cinelli tape the best.

 

[Kakhmed]

Always start from the bottom. After about three or four goes you'll start getting it perfect.

 

[JayKosta]

It is not difficult, but the 'little details' that the instruction mention ARE important, so don't try to do it 'quick & dirty'.
1) first, use some other tape (electrical, friction, etc.) to hold the cables in the desired position on the bars.
2) use small sections of tape around the brake levers - it is difficult to get complete coverage with the main tape.
3) start at the bar ends - that is so the wraps overlap so that your hand pressure is not pushing against a 'high side' of the tape which would cause it to fray or unravel.
4) wrap the left side counter-clock-wise when viewed from the rear, and the right side cw - this is so that when you lean on the tape near the stem it causes the tape to tighten.
5) wrap the tape with even tension and amount of overlap - that will give the best 'feel' and looks good.
6) finish-off the wrap near the stem with the special pieces in the tape kit, or with electrical tape.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

 

[brianf7]

Get tape without glue on it so you wont get a mess on the bars that takes ages to clean off later. also its easy if you have to wrap it two or three times .
do in warm sun so it stretches tight.

 

[richwagmn]

It is not difficult, but the 'little details' that the instruction mention ARE important, so don't try to do it 'quick & dirty'.
1) first, use some other tape (electrical, friction, etc.) to hold the cables in the desired position on the bars.
2) use small sections of tape around the brake levers - it is difficult to get complete coverage with the main tape.
3) start at the bar ends - that is so the wraps overlap so that your hand pressure is not pushing against a 'high side' of the tape which would cause it to fray or unravel.
4) wrap the left side counter-clock-wise when viewed from the rear, and the right side cw - this is so that when you lean on the tape near the stem it causes the tape to tighten.
5) wrap the tape with even tension and amount of overlap - that will give the best 'feel' and looks good.
6) finish-off the wrap near the stem with the special pieces in the tape kit, or with electrical tape.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

Can't argue with any of this. Electrical tape works far better than the pieces in the kit.

Also, watch as you go. If you find a gap, unwrap and start over at that point. It's far easier to do with new tape.

 

[erik saunders]

old school baller style is to start from the stem, if you are really good you dont even need the little pieces under the brake levers... stuff the end into the bar, plug it... thats how the plugs are designed to work i think... looks good, no e-tape... old school baller style...

 

[richwagmn]

old school baller style is to start from the stem, if you are really good you dont even need the little pieces under the brake levers... stuff the end into the bar, plug it... thats how the plugs are designed to work i think... looks good, no e-tape... old school baller style...

Won't the tape tend to turn up when you lean your weight on it?

 

[Damiano Machiavelli]

Won't the tape tend to turn up when you lean your weight on it?

Old school baller tape was so thin and could be wrapped so tight that it was not a problem. It did not offer any more padding than a bare bar either.

 

[MartinGT]

Thanks for the reply guys. Ive got some Cinelli on order

 

[Benotti69]

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

 

[The Gnome]

Contrary to what a few have said, I don't think it very difficult at all...I learned by picking up some tape twenty years ago at a LBS and asked the guy if he would show me while he did it...he did and I never had a problem doing it again...it is really easy...no worries....the good thing is you can rewind and just practice a few times...watch a vid online...it is easy peasy...

 

[MartinGT]

Well I did it today and I have to say, its a lot easier than I thought. The hardest part was the finishing bit. I had to do that a couple of times until I was happy with it, but all in all, easy(ish)