Fizik Microtex

Lord Jimmy 7th

HI, im fitting some microtex tape to my bike and wondered if anyone had any specific tips on fitting it, i read in another thread keep it cool and run a hair dryer over it at the end. just wondered about the strength of the tape.

Also i bought it to replace some bontrager that i thought was too thick and when i took it off it has got gel pads underneath, do people need these or should i remove them? or buy a second tape incase i dont like it when its on with them and have to start again?

James

Monty Dog

IME Microtex is pretty tough - I've used some for a couple of season, removing and reapplying a couple of times and it scrubs up well too. I'd suggest warming it up first on a radiator to give it a little bit of stretch - it's pretty hard to tear as it's Lorica based.

Lord Jimmy 7th

cool, i have changed it now, the only problem i had was trying to fit the bloody bar ends in at the end. for my first bar tape t=change i dont think i have done a too bad a job, it did stretch quite well after warming so thanks for the tip.

bikeit65

How did you finish the tape of, and did you cut the tape to a point at the end, if so how did you work this out?
i am going to fit some Fizik tape soon but was wondering how to work out the angle of the final cut.

Monty Dog

I use electrical tape to finish off - the stickers that come with most tape simply isn't flexible enough. I generally wrap the tape until it meets the bulge - if it's too long or short I unwind and start again - get one side right and then count the turns when doing the other. Wrapping electical tape over the bars/cables means you can wrap / unwrap the tape easily too.

bikeit65

I like the way the the mechanic on the Park tool web site finishes the tape off but i can never work out the right angle of the cut.

ravey1981

Bikeit65 wrote:

I like the way the the mechanic on the Park tool web site finishes the tape off but i can never work out the right angle of the cut.

When you have the tape wrapped to where you want it use a soft pencil to draw the cut line at a right angle to the bar. Then unwrap slightly and cut. Re-wrap and tape.

Lord Jimmy 7th

i just pulled it out towards the front of the bike at the same angle as wrapping and then cut it at a right angles to the handlebars then electrical tape followed by the fizik stickers but i agree that they dont tape up nicely

bikeit65

if someone could post some photos doing this on both sides of the bars that would be fab

Scrumple