TriSports.com Bar Tape 101

Tips and tricks on how to wrap your bars like a pro

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• TriSports.com
• bar
• tape
• wrap
• triathlon
• cycling
• tips

[techathy]

A very useful how-to, thanks for posting.

On a slightly different subject, I notice that most bikes have their brake leavers set quite high, such as the bike used in this example, is it wrong to have my brake leavers set lower down the bar?

[TriSportsVideo]

In general you want the top of your levers (the top of your hoods) to be flush with your handlebar; however, it all comes down to a comfort issue.

[ramiejose]

hi you know those break levers that have the gears in them what are they called thankd a repply will br much apriciated

[TriSportsVideo]

These are called STI levers.

[thestig360]

theres lots of these videos on youtube but i found this one to be the most useful,very well explained through each stage.Many thanks.

[TomDefy]

Thanks! Very useful! :)

[erbel888]

it seem that you are wrapping the wrong way.

[wannabeuk]

That's the worst wrapping video I've seen.

[happylabrador]

I keep tellin' ya, this guy just does not know how to wrap bars!!!! He is wrapping the wrong way, and he is using the little piece of tape under the brake lever, which is something pro mechanics do not use...Mark Walls is NOT a professional bicycle mechanic!!!!

[hommuside]

Don't know why this gets so much praise. He is wrapping the wrong way as the riders grip and natural downward pressure will loosen the tape rather than tighten it. Wrap clockwise on the right, anti-clock on the left. Also he is not using the figure 8 method eliminating the need for the dicky 2' piece of tape.

[chrospoke]

excellent job...very nice

[TriSportsVideo]

@superincredibleguy #2: You could wrap the bars as shown but when finishing you use glue or other adhesive under the tape instead of electrical tape on top - this can be difficult. Easier: Follow the video but start by the stem and work your way down to the bar end. At the end, leave 1”+ extra and shove it inside the bar using a plug to hold it in place. The downside is you will start the roll the edges of the tape around the hoods since your hand will be working against it instead of with it.

[TriSportsVideo]

@superincredibleguy #1: Pro cycling teams usually used colored vinyl tape to finish the ends of handlebar tape nearest the stem. You can buy colored vinyl tape at hardware stores. Some brands such as Cinelli and Profile Design include a short strip of “finishing tape” in their handlebar tape with their logo on it to provide a professional look- it’s usually black though, so colored vinyl electrical tape may look better on your bike- you can match the tape or the color of your bike.

[NojBremner86]

This is the best video I have seen for how to wrap bar tape. Really useful and it is made easy.

Wrapped my first set of bars the other day perfectly with the help from this.

Thanks.

[Henders100]

@ironmanc5 He means so you have a reference point on how to wrap the first bar.

[ironmanc5]

only do one side at a time ... how do you do both sides together ?