wrapping bars

matt@theforce

Whats the trick to wrapping drop bars?

nickellis

Doing it right, and leaving plenty of time.

For some reason, I always decide to wrap my bars at 10pm and end up getting the hump and doing a sh!t job because it takes a hour.

Start from the bar ends and wrap from inside to outside. Figure of eight around the hoods (make sure you pull the hood covers back before you start. I find it helps to do the first 3 or 4 wraps then stick the bar plug in. Electrical tape on hand to tape the ends on the bar top (do go over the top, just one short strip will hold it all in place)

wishitwasallflat

There's a few really good videos on U-Tube that show you how - its really just a matter of taking your time and doing it carefully once you see the basic technique.

cycleclinic

Carefully pulling on the tape after each wrap helps remove any slack or folds. Doing this I can get it pretty neat. The next trick is wrapping so when you reach the hoods you don't have to chnage the ammount of overlap. The wrap around the hoods requires a fiar bit of tape stretching to get it neat. At the end cutting the tape diagonally so you can seal with just 1 wrap of electrical tape gets it looking really neat.

Cleat Eastwood

You're meant to wrap it depending on how your hands kind of twist when you're riding, so as you grip the bars you actually bind the tape tighter. I do mine clockwise on the right side and anti clockwise on the other.

If you're looking to do the 'pro' way of using the figure of 8 method around the hoods do a test first to see if the tape is long enough - for some reason not all bar tapes are teh same length.

And a good tip is to tape the bar tape at the beginning.

Coach H

Always use Cinelli tape (although I am sure it's the same for other brands), then you can line up the Flying C logo on the plain guage sections for perfect tension. Its also looks cool

matt@theforce

Thanks all. Picked my drop bars/shifters/tape up from the post office this morning so ready todo a trail fit of the leavers then ready to wrap

Sadly, Time I have plenty of at the moment as I'm unable to ride due to an Achilies problem and calf problem

Matthew