can anyone give me some advice on the best way to do bar tape yourself?? i just bought some and i wanted to try to put i on by myself .. i usually do everything that has to do with anything i own mainly because i only trust myself. I work on my own golf clubs exclusively and have a shop for it and im in the process of setting up a shop to work on my bikes as well. when i played baseball i wrapped my bat handles very often i have also done hockey sticks and tennis rackets .. i assume this will be similar but can anyone offer any siggestions to help it go smoothly??
As Sogood indicated, Park Tool has a good explanation. But be sure to read through the whole article, first. I have always had the best usage, reverse wrapping the lower portion of the bars, which is not discussed till towards the end of the article under "Advanced Tips".
Make sure that the tape is long enough first. Without taking the backing off try it up the bar(wrapping it and remember you'll need some for under the lever hoods).
I've found - after trying 3 brands that it's never long enough and I only have 42cm bars - it's annoying:o
Without having looked at the parktool instructions, but staunchly believing that it's not rocket science . . . .
. . . . simply use some scotch tape to secure the brake (and derailleur cable housings if using Campy) to the bar, cut approx 2.5" of bar tape and wrap around the clamp for the brake levers, and then at the bar ends start wrapping the bar tape while overlapping approximately 40% of each wrap, and start working your way up to the bar top. Secure the end near the stem with electrical tape (color-match with your bar tape color if you prefer) and start riding.
Without having looked at the parktool instructions, but staunchly believing that it's not rocket science . . . .
. . . . simply use some scotch tape to secure the brake (and derailleur cable housings if using Campy) to the bar, cut approx 2.5" of bar tape and wrap around the clamp for the brake levers, and then at the bar ends start wrapping the bar tape while overlapping approximately 40% of each wrap, and start working your way up to the bar top. Secure the end near the stem with electrical tape (color-match with your bar tape color if you prefer) and start riding.
I do not change the color of my tape so this works well for me. I just reuse the peice of tape over the brake levers. That way I do not have to shorten the alreay short new tape.
