Putting on New Bar Tape

Vélo

Is it easy to put Bar Tape on a bike? I've looked it up on youtube and it does look easy. I'm just wondering if anyone ever had any trouble with it?

I suppose I could do a test run with a grip for a hurley which can be picked up fairly cheaply.

DirkVoodoo

Vélo wrote: »

Is it easy to put Bar Tape on a bike. I've looked it up on youtube and it does look easy. I'm just wondering if anyone ever had any trouble with it?

I suppose I could do a test run with a grip for a hurley which can be picked up farly cheaply.

Take your time and be patient. A firm hand is needed, the technique for wrapping is quite easy (it just follows your hands so they tighten rather than loosen the tape as you grip), the hard part is not ending up with loose bits of tape.

If it has a sticky back, try a few "test wraps" without removing the tape until you are comfortable with how you need to apply it. A few wrong turns and it's easy to think you don't have nearly enough tape.

Once again, take your time. Make sure each pass is perfect.

abcdggs

+1

did it for the first time recently and it went well, granted i have been putting grips on hurls and hockey sticks for as long as i can remember... it's a life skill

Caroline_ie

I can't believe you have never changed bar tape before very fastidious job. I once spend 1:30h replacing my tape to have it just right ... and I am not THAT finicky compared to a certain boardsie I know ...

DirkVoodoo

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I can't believe you have never changed bar tape before very fastidious job. I once spend 1:30h replacing my tape to have it just right ... and I am not THAT finicky compared to a certain boardsie I know ...

Is it who I am thinking of? Does he have a penchant for yellow booties?

It does take a very long time. I even retaped my left bar after cycling for a day and spotting a few lumps that I wasn't happy with. If you are generally unhappy with your own DIY work, bring it to the shop!

Vélo

Caroline_ie wrote: »

I can't believe you have never changed bar tape before very fastidious job. I once spend 1:30h replacing my tape to have it just right ...

Giz a chance, I'm only cycling a year and a half.

Normally if I want new bar tape, I just buy a new bike:p

paddyduc

If you start from the bottom and work upwards it prevents the edges rolling just above the hoods.Hope this helps

DirkVoodoo

Vélo wrote: »

Giz a chance, I'm only cycling a year and a half.

Normally if I want new bar tape, I just buy a new bike:p

That's probably the easiest and sane solution. Honestly, you can drive yourself nuts!

hynesie

http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=71

Vélo

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

That's probably the easiest and sane solution. Honestly, you can drive yourself nuts!

The tape is for the new bike. I feel it's fitting to have a Brooks saddle and Bar Tape on a steel bike.

I now have to decide between brown or honey.

It's for this

Kapu (1).jpg

blorg

It's a 5 minute job once you have done it a few times.

Sticking the roll of tape on a radiator helps it become more mallable. Then the main trick is to make sure you pull it very tight as you are wrapping- but not so tight as to tear the tape

To be honest the overly sticky stuff is annoying and impossible to remove without tearing and leaving bits behind, the stickyness is completely unnecessary. Get a couple of rolls so you can try it again, there is a bit of a knack to it in the sense that your second and third goes will probably be better than your first.

If it's Brooks tape, that is expensive so give it a go with cheap tape first.

rottenhat

Vélo wrote: »

The tape is for the new bike. I feel it's fitting to have a Brooks saddle and Bar Tape on a steel bike.

Hmmm...I will say that leather (and cloth) tape are harder to do than the synthetic cork stuff because they don't stretch. On the other hand, you're not going to tear the leather tape by accident while trying to get a really tight wrap. Either way, it's not a complicated business but be prepared to redo it a few times if you're concerned about getting it exactly right.

blorg wrote: »

If it's Brooks tape, that is expensive so give it a go with cheap tape first.

You're not going to damage Brooks tape significantly by having a couple of goes - the only thing that doesn't seem reusable is the cloth tape they give you for finishing the wrap.

blorg

rottenhat wrote: »

You're not going to damage Brooks tape significantly by having a couple of goes - the only thing that doesn't seem reusable is the cloth tape they give you for finishing the wrap.

I'd still say give it a go with something cheap first, you can get cheap tape from £4 and it probably will take a few goes until you get good at it.