taping handlebars
taping handlebars
Recently I was looking for tape for 2 of my own machines, and was totally amazed at the prices we are being asked for often cheap rubbish, and even worse expensive rubbish some at over 30 quid, so when a friend who runs a touring company asked me to clean and service and do some upgrade repairs to 5 of his fleet, I spoke to another contact who does quite a bit of bulk buying of all sorts of cycle trade service items, and sourced some Clarks black carbon look like bar tape, I had 4 to retape and never in hundreds of bar tape experiences did I ever work with such hard to use stuff, It wouldn't stretch, it didn't like being plugged when it did eventually submit to reach the bar ends, the only bits that looked decent were the straight bits heading for the stem.. Earlier i sourced some from China via AliExpress, leather microfiber in two shades of brown for my own machines and i hope to have a sweeter experience using that stuff.. ime tape has to be strong, durable, easily washed clean and stretchy to allow decent corners and in around the hoods, i'll do some pics when my camera reappears.AND dont ask about the wee strips of finisher tape God Alone knows how that works cause i never got it to look good at all.W..
Re: taping handlebars
Silicone tape is great to work with. Stretches where you want and can easily be undone whilst having just enough grip to itself to help you.
Re: taping handlebars
The Clarks fake carbon look tape is, as you say, expensive rubbish.
If you must buy from Halfords, go for their cheaper rubber(?) tape.
It is much better and is thick enough to give a decent amount of padding.
However, this was my last bar tape purchase - Nice product and cheap ish.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebar-t ... tape-2010/
If you must buy from Halfords, go for their cheaper rubber(?) tape.
It is much better and is thick enough to give a decent amount of padding.
However, this was my last bar tape purchase - Nice product and cheap ish.
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/handlebar-t ... tape-2010/
Re: taping handlebars
I use cotton herringbone twill which has just sufficient stretch to work fine round the bends and hoods, last time I bought a (25mm x 50m) roll it was about £7 delivered. Old inner tubes are used for extra cushioning as required.
I have seen some extraordinary prices for what looks like poor quality tape, but packaged smartly.
I have seen some extraordinary prices for what looks like poor quality tape, but packaged smartly.
Re: taping handlebars
Can't go wrong with Deda Elementi's standard Deda bar tape, from £8. Strong, reasonably comfortable, enough stretch to wrap well, good grip without feeling tacky, long lasting.The end caps aren't brilliant but they're OK.
I also use SRAM Supercork as it's a bit thicker - 3mm rather than the typical 2.5mm - and I like some good old-fashioned cork bits in there. Also good value at around £12.
I also use SRAM Supercork as it's a bit thicker - 3mm rather than the typical 2.5mm - and I like some good old-fashioned cork bits in there. Also good value at around £12.
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Re: taping handlebars
Mine's Deda that I bought for about a tenner in 2006/2007ish. It's been on and off numerous times since then, but it's still fine.
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
― Friedrich Nietzsche
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Re: taping handlebars
Giant Connect Gel Handlebar Tape or Specialized Phat bar tape - but this last one is now pricier than when I got mine.
Re: taping handlebars
I have never managed to get the Deda to last . After a year or two iit seems to wear out in key areas. Great choice of colours so i use it on bikes that get use.
Re: taping handlebars
I've used Bike Ribbon Cork Gel with gel underlay for the last 20 years. My only gripe is that recently the shade of red that I like has been replaced by a more orange-red shade, so that it shows the dirt much faster. As to price, it used to be around 8€ and now it's 11€. That's about the price of a sandwich and a couple of cups of coffee, so who's complaining?
I've used the same underlay the whole time. Never gets old.
I've used the same underlay the whole time. Never gets old.
Have we got time for another cuppa?
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Re: taping handlebars
The best cheap stuff is probably Prime Comfort from Chain Reaction, it's about £12 or that SRAM Supercork mentioned earlier. Kinesis does a good one too, their 4 Season tape is about £20 but it lasts well.
You seriously re-use and re-wrap 15 year old tape?! That's just eeeewwwww.axel_knutt wrote: ↑29 May 2023, 9:41pm Mine's Deda that I bought for about a tenner in 2006/2007ish. It's been on and off numerous times since then, but it's still fine.
Re: taping handlebars
Lots more useful advice from 2021: "Bar Tape":
viewtopic.php?t=147644
And from 2018: "Bar Tape":
viewtopic.php?t=126115
Jonathan
viewtopic.php?t=147644
And from 2018: "Bar Tape":
viewtopic.php?t=126115
Jonathan
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Re: taping handlebars
It must be ~12-13 years since I last took it off now, and 3 years since I rode the bike, but I had a lot of bovver finding tape I could get on with, so I wasn't about to chuck out some good stuff and start all over again.rareposter wrote: ↑30 May 2023, 10:49am The best cheap stuff is probably Prime Comfort from Chain Reaction, it's about £12 or that SRAM Supercork mentioned earlier. Kinesis does a good one too, their 4 Season tape is about £20 but it lasts well.
You seriously re-use and re-wrap 15 year old tape?! That's just eeeewwwww.axel_knutt wrote: ↑29 May 2023, 9:41pm Mine's Deda that I bought for about a tenner in 2006/2007ish. It's been on and off numerous times since then, but it's still fine.
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Re: taping handlebars
Cinelli cork, available in lots of colours for about £13, even has self-amalgamating finishing tape that really works. Plus - after three years use - I recently half-unwrapped both sides to renew the cable casings and it went back fine. (Only the finishing tape was obviously single-use and replaced with PVC electrical.)
Chris Juden
One lady owner, never raced or jumped.
One lady owner, never raced or jumped.
Re: taping handlebars
Re: Finishing tape.
The standard item supplied with most bar tape does not survive hot weather IME.
So I use string - a nice traditional look and very neat, if done well.
Tuck the last wind underneath and secure with a dot of super glue.
BITD the string and the cloth tape would have been coated with shellac.
Very long lasting.
The standard item supplied with most bar tape does not survive hot weather IME.
So I use string - a nice traditional look and very neat, if done well.
Tuck the last wind underneath and secure with a dot of super glue.
BITD the string and the cloth tape would have been coated with shellac.
Very long lasting.