tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post979885779020842723..comments2023-10-07T07:28:55.729-04:00Comments on Dave Moulton's Bike Blog: Taping HandlebarsDave Moultonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07556183205157714280noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-84493946463114038982008-07-07T05:56:00.000-04:002008-07-07T05:56:00.000-04:00the guy _jhota_ is the only one who talked about t...the guy _jhota_ is the only one who talked about the tendency for the friction from the hands resting on the bars (the ("grip") to uncoil the tape. <BR/><BR/>I also start at the tope (for thin velox etc tape is much neater) When I ride on the tops I rest on the bends where bars direction changes from perpendicular to parallel and depart slightly from the horizontal; here the lower paer of my palms has the most friction/force and this works to unwind the tape OPPOSITE TO _jhota_ 's direction (so I do the oppsite from him and mount the tape anticlockwise on the right, clockw. on left.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-69721172409125877642008-03-13T17:48:00.000-04:002008-03-13T17:48:00.000-04:00Dave, you've done a great job of clearly explainin...Dave, you've done a great job of clearly explaining this often tricky procedure. The photos are great!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-27907612469463981502008-03-13T01:31:00.000-04:002008-03-13T01:31:00.000-04:00A follow up question: How does one go about posit...A follow up question: How does one go about positioning(and keeping level) the brake levers themselves? I've tried using improvised plumb lines, rulers and levels to get a level/parallel, and I just wonder if there is a more scientific way. Any advice would be fantastic. Keep up the great work, and enjoy spring as she takes off those arm warmers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-3120467476364250792008-03-05T16:31:00.000-05:002008-03-05T16:31:00.000-05:00I too am a fan of wrapping from the top down. I pr...I too am a fan of wrapping from the top down. I prefer a thin tape like Fizik. Also, if you loosen the brake levers you can tape underneath the clamp (just remember to re-tighten them!), which makes for a very clean look.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-77779154058045062722008-03-05T12:04:00.000-05:002008-03-05T12:04:00.000-05:00Great to find your blog!I found that going from th...Great to find your blog!<BR/><BR/>I found that going from the top down and finishing in the bar end plug is the most empirical and aesthetically pleasing way for me. The tape always stays wrapped up top not matter how hot, sweaty and long the ride. <BR/><BR/>Granted tucking the tape into the bar end plug is an issue with the thick tapes, but I never like the feel or look of them anyhow....<BR/><BR/>My most comfortable drops ever were wrapped with Velox over cut-up neoprene wet suit material. The Velox kept the bars from becoming slippery when wet, and the neoprene was like riding on air- I could dial the firmness by how tight I wrapped the tape. It seemed the neoprene never decays out of the sun under the tape, it must not mind my sweaty hands either! This was far and away my favorite touring and cross country bar wrap setup ever.<BR/><BR/>Happy Riding!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-35805710447104252852008-03-05T02:28:00.000-05:002008-03-05T02:28:00.000-05:00I've taped exactly one set of handlebars in my lif...I've taped exactly one set of handlebars in my life... and botched it badly. Ever since then I just go out and buy a new bike. :-DHowardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082570455287868268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-62929456341861072842008-03-04T22:38:00.000-05:002008-03-04T22:38:00.000-05:00Nicely done, Dave. I've lost count on how many ba...Nicely done, Dave. I've lost count on how many bars I've taped, starting with the old Velox cloth stuff back in the 70's (that's dating me!)<BR/><BR/>In reading up on this topic in several bike maintenance books over the years, I was always puzzled by the instructions to make a "figure 8" wrap around the brake levers. It always struck me as overkill, resulting in a bulge of tape right behind the levers. So I just did it my way, which I'm now gratified to know is also your way, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-24469141551441667322008-03-04T18:01:00.000-05:002008-03-04T18:01:00.000-05:00Nice one, though personally I don't like the look ...Nice one, though personally I don't like the look of your brake hood placement. Shoulders and wrists can get pretty tight. Forgive me if that picture was just for demonstration and you have a different setting.Ron Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394865788996482667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-48911780289744540912008-03-04T14:33:00.000-05:002008-03-04T14:33:00.000-05:00I tape my bars in the same basic fashion but take ...I tape my bars in the same basic fashion but take one additional step at both ends. Rather than starting with a square cut end, I cut the tape at a diagonal in line with the “wrap angle”. This leaves a more uniform level with no starting point lump. At the top, I'll do the same thing, cutting the tape at a diagonal so that it finishes right up against the center reinforcement. <BR/><BR/>Besides eliminating the lumps, you won't have to wrap more than a single width’s worth of the electrical tape and the result is a good bit cleaner in appearance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-84541004609964994462008-03-03T23:12:00.000-05:002008-03-03T23:12:00.000-05:00You left out the part where you pull it too tightl...You left out the part where you pull it too tightly and snap the cork tape and have to go out and buy some new tape.Tarik Salehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09664260510124463879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-80599041947550397762008-03-03T19:50:00.000-05:002008-03-03T19:50:00.000-05:00My cork tape used to slide all over my bars until ...My cork tape used to slide all over my bars until I put unpadded double-sided tape underneath it. That's the ticket. CTTO cork tape rules!<BR/><BR/>Anyone have ideas for the best fishing tape? I don't like the look of electrical, and haven't found a cotton-tape that stays stuck at its ends. Think I may have to cord-whip the ends.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-82518749996374697372008-03-03T17:56:00.000-05:002008-03-03T17:56:00.000-05:00nice post, Dave. i think there's as many methods t...nice post, Dave. i think there's as many methods to tape bars as there are cyclists who tape them.<BR/><BR/>what i usually do is start at the end, like you, and wrap the tape "in" (that is, anticlockwise on the right and clockwise on the left), then change directions when i cross past the levers (to clockwise on the right, and anticlockwise on the left). i've found that it helps keep the tape tightly wound, as it makes sure it's always curling in the direction of my grip (whether i'm on the tops or the drops).<BR/><BR/>and hooray! for electrical tape...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-47933154946146708122008-03-03T15:44:00.000-05:002008-03-03T15:44:00.000-05:00I have to stir the pot now and then. Some years ag...I have to stir the pot now and then. Some years ago maybe 25 I decided that I didn't like the finishing tape so I started wrapping the bar from the top down and finishing with tucking the end in and inserting the plug. I get two or three years out of my work, so it works well enough for me. I started this in the day of Benotto Celotape but I find it works well with the newer Cinelli cork tape with the double sticky removed. If you are particularly hard on your bar tape or you don't get it good and tight it will begin to curl on the edges which will never happen with the bottom up method.<BR/><BR/>Thanks a again for a great blog.<BR/>-RobRedtailddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13373889195992287343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-83368471451067377572008-03-03T15:41:00.000-05:002008-03-03T15:41:00.000-05:00Hi Dave, Wow, that is a very informative post abou...Hi Dave, <BR/><BR/>Wow, that is a very informative post about taping handle bars. I just wanted to thank you for stopping by my site and leaving a comment. <BR/><BR/>And, no, it's just a Schwinn from Wal-Mart to serve a temporary purpose.<BR/><BR/>I'm intrigued by your road bikes, and look forward to spending time reading more about your art.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again, <BR/>PoeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-69277119783738145842008-03-03T13:57:00.000-05:002008-03-03T13:57:00.000-05:00Thanks Dave! This article came just in time - I pl...Thanks Dave! This article came just in time - I plan to retape my bars later this week.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18899086.post-75840347013371128522008-03-03T11:05:00.000-05:002008-03-03T11:05:00.000-05:00Good article, Dave. The part about using short pie...Good article, Dave. The part about using short pieces behind the brake levers is especially useful because these days they barely give you enough tape and you'll come up short after criss-crossing and going round and round at the levers to cover all exposed metal. Most tape kits I've used had a couple of pieces of tape with stripes or a logo to use at the ferrule. I usually secure the bar tape with Krazy Glue and then cover that with the finishing tape supplied. But sometimes this tape is too flimsy or doesn't match, so it's back to the electrical tape. Another method I've seen described is to remove the brake levers and just leave the mounting bands and nuts in place, then replace the brakes after taping. That may work with cloth tape, but would probably cut through the thicker stuff you're using.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com