Heli Tape, what is it and where to buy ?

davewalsh

I'm just completing a new build and don't want the frame to be covered in cable rub marks in 12 months time. I've seen a few topics about applying Heli-Tape to frames and have the following questions:

What is it ? (I'm assuming it's a hard wearing clear tape).

Where's the best place to get some ?

Cheers,
Dave.

The Northern Monkey

ebay.

convertape is the shop I think

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/convertape

Bought from them loads.. very quick delivery and have it on all my bikes.

davewalsh

Cheers, just ordered some

chrisw333

How did you get on with this tape?

Any tips on how best to apply it? What areas of the bike do most people tape up ad what width tapes do you use?

Any info / ideas appreciated.

The Spiderman

I`ve used several but the stuff from Paragon tapes on ebay worked and looked the best.

mountaingoatimnot

The Spiderman wrote:

I`ve used several but the stuff from Paragon tapes on ebay worked and looked the best.

Just had soem arrive this morning from Paragon. I used it on my Spesh previously - the only thing i found was it wasn't the stickiest tape (maybe i used too much window cleaner to 'float' it on) but once dried its stuck fast for several months now. Will be a bit more liberal with the fluid this afternoon on my son's new Merida.

bluechair84

They collect millions of tiny bubbles which gives it an opacity unless you try something like Mountaingoat's method - I've not heard of using window cleaner but, maybe a very soapy water will do.

mountaingoatimnot

bluechair84 wrote:

They collect millions of tiny bubbles which gives it an opacity unless you try something like Mountaingoat's method - I've not heard of using window cleaner but, maybe a very soapy water will do.

soapy water works just as well, just don't over soap it.

I use spray window cleaner purely because its handy in the garage (used on car windows) and its less soapy so you don;t tend to squeeze out any dissolved adhesive. Just done my son's new Merida , a bit fiddly with all its curved hydroformed sections, but worked out fine. I got the '14 piece' kit from Paragon, and i've used about half of it !

paulload

My first post, hope this is allowed: I reccomend http://www.invisiframe.co.uk/ they covered my Giant Trance and very happy!

cooldad

I can't understand why anyone would try and cover a whole frame with tape. Cable rub areas maybe, which is what the OP seemed to be asking.

Giraffoto

cooldad wrote:

I can't understand why anyone would try and cover a whole frame with tape. Cable rub areas maybe

+1 (or more) on this ^^
Cable rub areas, RH chain stay and the areas that get hit hard by flying gravel, but a whole frame is a bit excessive

mountaingoatimnot

All depends how precious you are about your bike and the money you've invested in it - no different to cars, some people will polish them almost weekly, other don't even wash them for months !

ilovedirt

Resale value has a lot to do with it. I pretty much taped up the whole frame on my old Orange Patriot, just because it was so easy to do with so many flat sections.

cooldad

I don't see bikes as ornaments or investments. In fact if people spent less time faffing with jetwashes, speciality cleaners, pledge on frames etc I bet there'd be a lot fewer posts about bearings going and brakes not working properly.