Bar Tape

PaulC555

Hi all

I just purchased some new Cinelli bar tape to replace my current white bar tape which is a bit..well a lot dirty....
Just a quick question.......Can I put the new tape over the old one, to give a bit more comfort, or do I need to remove the old tape and apply to a clean bar?????????

thanks
Paul

ai_1

Double wrapping is common enough to add comfort. Depends what you like really.

popularname

I double wrapped my touring bike and found it to be slightly *too* chunky. I find the tops are OK, but the drops to be less comfortable. It's very subjective though. I've left it double wrapped and it works fine, I just won't do it again.

drlodge

A word of caution on double wrapping, since the diameter of the bars is increased, you may need to really stretch the bar tape as you apply it in order to have sufficient length. Otherwise it should work fine.

Alternatively, take the old tape off, and re-apply half of it to the top part of the bars securing with insulation tape. Then apply the new tape.

PaulC555

Thanks guys......had a go on my wifes winter bike first.....its quite an art, difficult coming up the drops not to get gaps with the tape not sitting flush.......not sure about doing mine now.....!

ai_1

PaulC555 wrote:

Thanks guys......had a go on my wifes winter bike first.....its quite an art, difficult coming up the drops not to get gaps with the tape not sitting flush.......not sure about doing mine now.....!

It's easy!
Perhaps it helps to have experience wrapping racquet handles in the past but do it a couple of times and you'll find it a doddle. I only take a while doing it because I'm a bit obsessive about having both sides symmetrical and the overlaps consistent and parallel.

Iamnot Wiggins

The bit that always throws me is when you get to the bar/shifter bit. I've never, ever been happy with my own results here.

ai_1

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

The bit that always throws me is when you get to the bar/shifter bit. I've never, ever been happy with my own results here.

You mean taping around the base of the hoods?
Do you put a separate strip around the back of the steel band first?

andrewc3142

If a job's worth doing, etc. Take off the old stuff, clean any remaining gunk and put on the new tape.

You'll get a much better finish.

If you want more padding (personally I don't want more than Fizik Micro has) buy a more padded tape.

Iamnot Wiggins

Ai_1 wrote:

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

The bit that always throws me is when you get to the bar/shifter bit. I've never, ever been happy with my own results here.

You mean taping around the base of the hoods?
Do you put a separate strip around the back of the steel band first?

Yes to both. It's usable but not to the standards of my friend/mechanic. But then he's been working on bikes for 30 odd years so knows what he's doing!