What bar tape for a drop bar touring bike? Any wrapping hints?

[vickster]

I like Supacaz or Fizik
Lizard Skins wears too quickly
Don't like cork
All my bikes have crosslevers

 

[mrushton]

BCR on YouTube had a vlog on wrapping and showed some really nice stretchy bar tape

 

[T4tomo]

Wrapping from the drop ends is what I've been referring to as "outside-in". Am I using the wrong terminology?

That's what causes the rucking.

No I understood, but then there is also which way you start wrapping from that end / outside and you need each side to match, particularly if there is any logo or brand name on the tape

 

[Sharky]

After all this reflection on bar tape, I might go back to cloth tape, to match my age. If I wear gloves, they would be gel padded and most of my riding is on the SRAM hoods, which are soft rubber.

 

[MichaelW2]

Has anyone tried the fancy bar tape plaiting with two colours?

 

[freiston]

I haven't taped bars for years (my only drop bar bike hardly ever gets used) but I do recall being impressed with the Cinneli cork/gel stuff. I have a vague notion that I have used the Spa equivalent too and been ok with it.

You are correct, but removing the levers is IMHO a small added inconvenience compared to the tape being sticky from using insulating tape.

I too have used the heatshrink and liked the result but when the tape needed replacing, I couldn't be bothered with removing the levers and so reverted to inferior methods (iirc, the silicone sleeves mentioned below but ultimately with added insulation tape).

crikey, that's expensive........ I recall Cycling weekly gave a similar design (plastic) pair away with each issue about 40 years ago - I probably have a pair tucked away in a drawer!

I have some silicone sleeves for the same purpose but they do tend to move - which defeats their purpose.

There are some superb creations using 2 different colours of bar tape on the same bar - I don't think I'd be able to do it, but take my hat off to anyone with the ability!

Has anyone tried the fancy bar tape plaiting with two colours?

I have tried using old tape (of the same colour) on a spare bar (sans bike) but found it impossible to even get started.

 

[mickle]

Outside in.

 

[matticus]

Has anyone tried the fancy bar tape plaiting with two colours?

No ... but I have recently seen an example in the flesh. Very nice!

The owner had only done one side - said it was a project with his daughter, and life was too short to do the other side :P

 

[T4tomo]

Has anyone tried the fancy bar tape plaiting with two colours?

You need the old style cloth tape and a lot of skill / practice for that.

there are a few brands that either do a solid colour that chnage to black at the drops, or black with a fade pattern for the drop ends for a fancy look.

We have a couple of bikes (maybe 3) with "bike ribbon drops" tape, which is black but with a secondary colour showing through.

 

[Cycling Badger]

Great discussion.

I’ve concluded over the years that there is no correct way to wrap bars. But there sure are wrong ways.

I’ve recently switched wrapping out-to-in (anti-clockwise on RHS) and continuing same direction on top. My rational is that the direction should ensure that as you grip the bars the natural twisting motion should tighten, not loosen the tape. I noticed that with my flared 44cm bars my wrists role such that the my hand is turning in towards the frame. I therefore decided to mimic this with wrapping. (On less flared and narrower bars my writs tend to rotate away from the frame)

On endurance bike I have some gel fillets(?) under the tape - can’t remember where I got them from but they’ve outlasted multiple sets of bartape. Having large hands I find the increase in dimension and comfort most welcome.

I have, when I can be bothered, used the method of wrapping electrical tape sticky side out at the bottom of the drops to help keep take secure. I think I took this from Clavin’s videos on wrapping bars.

 

[matticus]

On endurance bike I have some gel fillets(?) under the tape - can’t remember where I got them from but they’ve outlasted multiple sets of bartape. Having large hands I find the increase in dimension and comfort most welcome.

Yes. the gel "fillets" seem to work - and last! - really well.

 

[T4tomo]

I have, when I can be bothered, used the method of wrapping electrical tape sticky side out at the bottom of the drops to help keep take secure. I think I took this from Clavin’s videos on wrapping bars.

oooh I like that. I usually put a small length on the back of the first piece of tape (having cut off a circumference of length off the tape at the correct wrapping) but do occasionally have the last piece need "tucking" back in. That might be a more secure way of achieving same result.

I find securing the tape end with the bar end bung a bit scruffy on modern cushioned tape.

Mrs T has fillets on her bar tops, I have a double tape layer.