Bar Wraping Top down?

[one60]

Originally Posted by john segal

Data point of one: I've been wrapping top down for years (can't stand finishing tape) and not once has it creeped down.

same experience...top down works with leather or non-leather bar wrap & makes for a very clean look. Apply sufficient tension when wrap and you will have no problems.

If it doesn't work, you can always try the other approach with the same tape?

[palincss]

Originally Posted by pcxmbfj

Always done ends to top but is tops to bottom any better?

When I did it top to bottom the wrap slid down near the brake hoods and gaps opened up in the wrap.

[pcxmbfj]

I found the Park Tools tutorials to be very good if you don't mind working with blue tools.

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by Dead Man

If you haven't seen it already, there's some dudes here who do a nifty trick with cross-sectioned inner tube - cut it about 1.5-2" wide, slide it on prior to taping, put it up by the stem at your future end run... wrap as normal, up over half the tube section... wrap a narrow band of electrical tape over the end of the bar tape, then double back the exposed remainder of tube section over the end of the bar tape. Produces a slick finish - way better looking than ugly tape. Maybe someone will post a pic

Anybody ever done this with pink latex tube? Would look extra dope on the right bike pallet.. probably would rot out way sooner than butyl, but I have to think it'd last the life of the bar tape

This is the inner tube trick. You have to remove your brake levers and disconnect your cables to get the tube on but after that you can retape as many times as you wish.

[oldpotatoe]

Originally Posted by pcxmbfj

Waiting for bar tape to arrive later today (Amazon Prime) so thought to do some research.

My road bikes have been neglected to pursue trail riding but just redone a ti road frame for the local greenway.

Any recommended videos for methods?

Always done ends to top but is tops to bottom any better?

Now to Google it.

If you do top to bottom and put pressure on your hands while on hoods, the edges of the tape will uncurl..

[UKBROOKLYN]

Used to always do it like that as kids then when I moved to the USA and came back to cycling i tried the bottom up a couple of times.. 95 degree NY summer is not nice to sticky tape...

Went back to top down and never had any of the problems people suggest, but I think, probably have no experience of. As long as you do a good tight wrap top down is way cleaner.
I tend to change my tape every 2 years with no probs. Also I run white tape and manage too keep it really clean.. can never figure out what people are doing to make their tape so dirty...

[xvxax]

man there's something about the grain on top down that drives me nuts. Did it once, never again. It does look clean though.

[ColonelJLloyd]

While you can sometimes keep the edges from curling when taping top down by stretching really tight, this often greatly reduces the shock absorbing quality.

I'll finish a nice leather tape with waxed twine and some clear nail polish, but for most jobs I like the ESI finishing tape. Even electrical tape looks better than the logo-laden stuff that comes with most tapes.

[UKBROOKLYN]

I don't know what you guys are doing wrong.. I have never had this fabled edge curl happen.. I ride in excess of 5k miles a year..

[jc031699]

https://www.velocipedesalon.com/foru...%2FnU0gvx_2Gco

Courtesy of gattonero from vsalon. Fastest bar tape job I've ever seen.