Hand position query

[graham bowers]

I seem to shove the bar tape towards the hoods on both of my drop-bar bikes. Its easy enough to move it back but I wonder if this is an indicator that there is something wrong with my setups? Or just sloppy technique??

 

[ianrauk]

Yep, not applied tight enough.

 

[numbnuts]

It's a bum wrap

 

[ianrauk]

[QUOTE 4851939, member: 45"]Is it wrapped the right way? I can't remember which way it's supposed to go.[/QUOTE]


Either or.
On my bikes, one wraps outside drop (as in OP's pic), t'other inside. Never been any problem.

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4851939, member: 45"]Is it wrapped the right way? I can't remember which way it's supposed to go.[/QUOTE]
Opinions vary but the top bit looks OK to me.

As others say, it looks like it wasn't pulled tight. I dislike the modern trend of tape-destroying adhesive on the back of the tape which seems to make it more difficult to pull tight and have switched to non-adhesive tape. So far, so good.

If you're consistently holding behind your hoods, that can push the bar tape forwards more quickly and suggest it may be worth trying a shorter stem, but that tape still looks too slack.

 

[mjr]

I think we need an internet abbreviation for this. IDTMT or something. It's a sentiment I find myself expressing a lot.

Well... what is the point of adhesive on the back of the tape? It ain't strong enough to hold the tape to the bars in use, if it touches another piece of tape then it tears it and it hinders pulling the tape tight. Is it mainly to damage the tape, stop you rewrapping the bars if you fluff it and thereby sell more tape?

 

[mjr]

[QUOTE 4851998, member: 45"]Adhesive tape copes with being re-wrapped. Well that's what I've found anyway.[/QUOTE]
Neither Specialized that I used to use (pre-Roubaix incident) or the RSP I've used recently have. They might if you diligently stop the adhesive sticking to other bits of tape while rewrapping, but that's flipping difficult and I rarely manage that.

 

[ianrauk]

Never had any problem unwrapping and rewrapping sticky backed tape when ever I have had to change cables etc. You just have to know what you are doing.

 

[mjr]

You just have to know what you are doing.

Rather than include a dig like that, it would be better to explain whatever method you're using or say whichever brands you've used that don't have so aggressive adhesive.

Still no-one has a reason why there's adhesive, though.

 

[ianrauk]

Rather than include a dig like that, it would be better to explain whatever method you're using or say whichever brands you've used that don't have so aggressive adhesive.

Still no-one has a reason why there's adhesive, though.

I already did mention the methods I have on my bikes up thread.
Over the very many years and very many different types of bartapes I have used, I have never come across tape with an 'aggressive adhesive'.
Learn how to tape, YouTube will help, and you shouldn't have a problem.

 

[mjr]

Learn how to tape, YouTube will help, and you shouldn't have a problem.

I've been taping handlebars for decades TYVM (ever since I stopped using 1980s-style foam covers) and it's only the adhesive sticking to the tape and destroying it while retaping that's causing problems. Maybe when you've tried one of the recent aggressive adhesive tapes you'll share the befuddlement at this development.

 

[ianrauk]

I've been taping handlebars for decades TYVM (ever since I stopped using 1980s-style foam covers) and it's only the adhesive sticking to the tape and destroying it while retaping that's causing problems. Maybe when you've tried one of the recent aggressive adhesive tapes you'll share the befuddlement at this development.

Nope. Never come across it with new sticky tapes either,
Cinelli, Spesh, Hoy, Vittoria, Lizard Skins amongst many

 

[ayceejay]

can you post a picture of your bike from the side? If your handlebars are tipped forward this would cause the problem you show,