Beginner Question about handlebar tape

Put these pieces on the brake lever clamp strap before you wrap the bars. Usually when bar is wrapped, there is a little spot at the brake levers that does not get covered. That is the purpose of the small sections of tape.

rymoto said:

I just got a set of cheap drop handelbars and some bontrager gel tape. The tape came with two 4 inch sections of tape with adhesive on one side and im not sure what they are for. I think I know how to wrap the tape on there but I can't see where those small peices fit in. Anyone know what they are for?

Kdelong is right, but, since STI levers have become nearly universal, I seldom find it necessary to use the filler strips anymore. Back in the days of separate brake levers, particularly the non-aero ones with the cable coming out the top, things were different.

rymoto said:

I just got a set of cheap drop handelbars and some bontrager gel tape. The tape came with two 4 inch sections of tape with adhesive on one side and im not sure what they are for. I think I know how to wrap the tape on there but I can't see where those small peices fit in. Anyone know what they are for?

Assuming your bars are bare with the brake levers (or brifters) in place. You flip back the rubber covering of the brake levers (AKA "hoods"😉 so the round clamp that is holding the brake levers onto the bars is exposed (you keep this flipped back until done wrapping). The extra piece(s) of tape are applied with one end of the tape on the side of the clamp, wrapped around the bar, and stuck to the other side of the clamp. Trim to size.

Then, as someone else said, when you wrap the bars, this piece will cover a potentially bare spot that would be left as you wrap from below the levers to above.

See this web site: parktool.comreadhowto.aspOpen ↗