Help on where to tape upto !

mr_sj
mr_sj Posts: 507
edited March 2012 in Road buying advice
Just got myself some new bars and they are wing shaped and im not entirely sure where i should do the tape to. I ride 99% of the time on the hoods so i guess i dont need the tops taped and im thinking because of the shape and size that the tops wold look odd taped.

But in saying that im not sure exactly how or where i should tape to, any advice or pictures to give a little help would be greatly appreciated

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Comments

  • I would tape to the end of the wings, it might look a bit odd if you stopped half way along?
    Dolan Preffisio
    2010 Cube Agree SL
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,660
    I dont think its customary to do the tops on wing bars.....??
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    Ive seen it done where it finishes just past the hoods, on the bars i guess that would be just before the silver grey stripes start. Basically just enough for your hand to rest when you're on the hoods, cant seem to find any pictures though !
  • Take no notice of the mismatching tape but this is how I have mine and it's really comfy
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    Dolan Preffisio
    2010 Cube Agree SL
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    Thats great, thanks for that. Bars should be arriving in next few days and will tape them up and see how it looks
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    I taped the tops on mine as well because I think ending the tape at the bend looks naff no matter how carefully its done.

    Bit of extra grip in the wet doesn't go amiss either.
    More problems but still living....
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    It is a very strange look that with the bars partially taped. Not sure my 'old school' bones can deal with it!
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Bobbinogs wrote:
    It is a very strange look that with the bars partially taped. Not sure my 'old school' bones can deal with it!

    +1 especially one red, one white ;). I don't think being wing shaped amkes any diference.

    Mine go all the way over the tops, but then I do have cables running under them so it would be really odd to stop at the bends.
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  • Half taped for wing bars as above (but neater :lol: ). Fully taped wing bars look horrible to me and sometimes it's a job to get to the centre without running out tape. However you ideally need internal bar routing for the look to work.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Half taped for wing bars as above (but neater :lol: ). Fully taped wing bars look horrible to me and sometimes it's a job to get to the centre without running out tape. However you ideally need internal bar routing for the look to work.

    I think if you're taping the wing bit you need to use some nice thin tape like Fizik Microtex, otherwise with normal cork tape the bars look massive.
    More problems but still living....
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,128
    when i got some similar bars i tried both

    full taping felt bad and looked worse, it lasted about an hour before i took it off for a rethink

    the bars i have (cinelli ram) are shaped to be comfy, putting tape on the shaped parts made them less comfy

    it took a bit of experimentation to find the best place to stop and the best angle to cut the tape at, i used a bit of old tape to experiment, then put the new tape back on
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • sungod wrote:
    when i got some similar bars i tried both

    full taping felt bad and looked worse, it lasted about an hour before i took it off for a rethink

    the bars i have (cinelli ram) are shaped to be comfy, putting tape on the shaped parts made them less comfy

    it took a bit of experimentation to find the best place to stop and the best angle to cut the tape at, i used a bit of old tape to experiment, then put the new tape back on
    That's pretty much how I came to my conclusion.
    All will be glad to hear I've reverted to plain black tape on both sides instead of the psychedelic red/white combo :wink:
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    Bars are due to be delivered tomorrow morning, so i think a little playing around is going to be in order to work out best feel and look. In terms of appearance i think it looks better to finish before the wing but must admit im not 100% sold on it yet.

    Got some old tape knocking around so will try both and a few test rides
  • mr_sj wrote:
    Bars are due to be delivered tomorrow morning, so i think a little playing around is going to be in order to work out best feel and look. In terms of appearance i think it looks better to finish before the wing but must admit im not 100% sold on it yet.

    Got some old tape knocking around so will try both and a few test rides

    What was the outcome of this in the end?
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    im still debating ! ive half wrapped them in some deda carbon tape i had lying around and i think thats how im going to keep them but just need to retape them neater now. will post a photo up later of them, i think having the carbon tape and carbon bars looks much more subtle than using a coloured bar tape which seesm to stand out a lot more.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd tape up as normal. It looks weird otherwise.
    Are the bars non slip on the top ?
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    not sure if tehy're non slip to be honest but i never ride on teh tops anyway
  • PhilPub
    PhilPub Posts: 229
    I don't suppose manufacturers would go to all the trouble of putting their fancy logos all over the tops of wing bars if they thought you were just going to smack a load of tape over it... unless you find it more comfortable of course, but if comfort on the tops is not an issue I'd say go with whatever you like the look of.
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    Photos as promised, only the 2nd time ivetaped bars but im happy with them

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  • andy46
    andy46 Posts: 1,666
    They look good to me, if they're comfy I'd keep it like that.
    2019 Ribble CGR SL

    2015 Specialized Roubaix Sport sl4

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  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    yeah they feel good and i like the look of them, so im keeping them this way
  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    Top stuff. I think the choice of tape was a very good one (helps to reduce the visual impact) and it all kind of gels.
  • team47b
    team47b Posts: 6,425
    You have made a good job of that! I expect you are pleased with it.

    Looks as if it is intentional, not a compromise, perfect choice of tape for the bars, had to go to Deda site (I have Deda forks) to see what else they do, too many nice things...
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • mr_sj
    mr_sj Posts: 507
    thanks a lot, and yeah i chose the tape to blend in a bit with the bars to lessen the impact a bit. also decided to wrap from tops to bottom as after a test ride i found that my hand was resting right ontop of the finishing tape and it was sliding down and peeling off.

    just been out for an hour on the bike and stil feels good :)
  • centimani
    centimani Posts: 467
    Like the Ribble above, mine has winged bars and they're taped just beyond the shifters, leaving the wing untaped. As also stated, mine has internally routed cables.
    I quite like the look.