Vetus Ossa wrote:I think most start at the bar ends. Some wind inwards and some out. I'm not sure it really matters which way you wind.
I think you can do a good job either way, but not with every tape and not with every end plug. I will happily tape bars from top to bottom, but only if the tape itself is both tough and can be wound on with a fair amount of tension in it. If these things don't apply then the turns on the bends/ramps can ruck up and/or move.
One of the reasons why I might choose to tape top to bottom is that I can concentrate on taping the most used parts of the handlebar the way I want, and the least used part of the bar (for me the drops) can have the pitch of the tape varied as needs be so that there is little or no wasteage. I reckon this approach usually results in about 20% more tape turns on the tops and the ramps (i.e. where you really need it), it vs taping from the bottom to the top.
However if the tape is soft, not very sticky, and/or won't take stretching when applied, bottom to top is your only choice.
Note also that the rubbishy (usually shiny plastic) end plugs supplied with most bar tape are only suitable for bottom to top taping; for top to bottom taping better plugs than that are mandatory.
cheers