Non-electric tape options for wrapping handelbars?

[raygunner]

I've done electric tape & tried twine but I've seen a few builds with a kinda of canvas grip tape used to finish up a handlebar wrap.

Anyone know what I can use?

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2242/2176500047_d34c9289bc_b.jpg

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Kyle_SpaceHorse-13.jpg

[pavel]

you could do cloth tape and clear shellac at the ends.

[kramnnim]

Has anyone tried silicone tape?

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Asilicone%20tape

I've been using short segments of normal inner tube, slid up to the center of the bars before tape or brifters are on. (no seams)

[raygunner]

I was thinking the tape shown above was similar to the type my brother wraps his drum sticks with.

[brockd15]

I've used black hockey tape before...sorta looks like the first picture.
I've never used the self-fusing tape but have heard it works well.

[pavel]

nm

[Tony]

I've seen several folks use tennis racket over tape. Looks neat.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/251371886087

[vqdriver]

I've been using short segments of normal inner tube, slid up to the center of the bars before tape or brifters are on. (no seams)

haven't tried that before. how's it do holding the tape in place? any shifting around?

[Steve in SLO]

haven't tried that before. how's it do holding the tape in place? any shifting around?

Use piece of 18-23mm innertube tube 1.5-2" long and run it up the bars so its midway point is where you want your bar tape to end. Wrap bartape as usual and flip the innertube over on itself over the bartape to bind. It works best wth a dot of superglue or e-tape flush with end of bartape (I know, this is cheating) .

[vqdriver]

Cool. I'll give a go next time I wrap bars.

[AngryScientist]

i bet heat activated electrical shrink wrap would do a good job.

http://penforhire.wordpress.com/files/2007/08/2233-heat-shrink-wrapped.jpg

[54ny77]

y'all need to see a signature cycles bar tape job from justin or soren.

ain't nothing finer on the finish work. nowhere, no how.

they use magic.

[eddief]

Wow, a bike thing I never heard of. Sounds cleaner than wrapping. Got a photo of what that looks like?

Use piece of 18-23mm innertube tube 1.5-2" long and run it up the bars so its midway point is where you want your bar tape to end. Wrap bartape as usual and flip the innertube over on itself over the bartape to bind. It works best wth a dot of superglue or e-tape flush with end of bartape (I know, this is cheating) .

[crownjewelwl]

y'all need to see a signature cycles bar tape job from justin or soren.

ain't nothing finer on the finish work. nowhere, no how.

they use magic.

Pinstriping tape!!

[christian]

There's a solution to this. It's called "electrical tape and stop inventing problems that don't exist." :)

[EPOJoe]

Isn't there a way to start wrapping from the middle and somehow do away with the tape? I heard that Merckx used to do this.

[Dale Alan]

I like hockey tape.Comes in just about any color you can imagine.

[choke]

IMO there is no cleaner way than to use plastic 'tape locks'. Arundel (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/arundel-bar-tape-clips) makes some for cables on both sides of the bar which I've used but I don't have any pics of them on a bike. The ones below are some old 'LeTour' brand that came from the original Brandford Bike - these (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ambrosio-Ribbon-fixing-rings-for-handlebar-tape-Italy-NOS-road-cyclocross-track-/221212057686?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3381442056) appear to be very similar. Both sets are held together with a small screw.

[kramnnim]

Use piece of 18-23mm innertube tube 1.5-2" long and run it up the bars so its midway point is where you want your bar tape to end. Wrap bartape as usual and flip the innertube over on itself over the bartape to bind. It works best wth a dot of superglue or e-tape flush with end of bartape (I know, this is cheating) .

I haven't been flipping it over on itself. It stays in place fine. Your way sounds better, I'll try it when I rewrap next!

[DRZRM]

Pics or it didn't happen.

I haven't been flipping it over on itself. It stays in place fine. Your way sounds better, I'll try it when I rewrap next!

[raygunner]

There's a solution to this. It's called "electrical tape and stop inventing problems that don't exist." :)

At least this isn't another Rapha thread!

[wallymann]

yabbut the tape tends to peel back and push apart because the exposed edge faces "upward". not a biggie for merckx, he had handlers to deal with his bikes.

Isn't there a way to start wrapping from the middle and somehow do away with the tape? I heard that Merckx used to do this.

[Louis]

OK, I'll admit it, due to the original tape tears and repairs over time and my postponing a complete replacement, my daily driver's bar tape currently has almost as much electrical tape as cork.

[Pars]

3M makes a vinyl tape, that while similar to electrical tape, is thicker by a bit, and comes in colors. I think the last ones I bought were at Target and was a 5 or 6 pack of various colors. Otherwise, I have found it at Ace hardware.

[mvrider]

For something that's tougher than electrical tape and doesn't stretch, try Gorilla tape. It's basically black Duck tape with a finer weave, and available in 1-inch width.

http://www.gorillatough.com/index.php?page=gorilla-tape

http://www.gorillatough.com/images/products/12yd-roll.png

[kramnnim]

Pics or it didn't happen.

http://1drv.ms/1nkT8be

[kramnnim]

There's a solution to this. It's called "electrical tape and stop inventing problems that don't exist." :)

Electrical tape always seems to move around when it gets hot. I might be stretching it too much...but if not stretched, it doesn't conform to the contours of the tape.

[Vientomas]

3M makes a vinyl tape, that while similar to electrical tape, is thicker by a bit, and comes in colors. I think the last ones I bought were at Target and was a 5 or 6 pack of various colors. Otherwise, I have found it at Ace hardware.

http://www.3m.com/product/information/Vinyl-Tape.html

Way better than electrical tape. Less stretch, less movement, less gummy.

[avalonracing]

At least this isn't another Rapha thread!

Although if Rapha made pink electrical tape with their logo on it many of the guys here would be paying $35 for it.

[JAGI410]

Origin8 makes these bar sleeves to cover up tape. Now if only you could cover up the logos...

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-8-31965-Origin8-Sleeve/dp/B005DO2AQA

[avalonracing]

Origin8 makes these bar sleeves to cover up tape. Now if only you could cover up the logos...

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-8-31965-Origin8-Sleeve/dp/B005DO2AQA

Cover the logos with electrical tape.

[bobswire]

Origin8 makes these bar sleeves to cover up tape. Now if only you could cover up the logos...

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-8-31965-Origin8-Sleeve/dp/B005DO2AQA

Easy, just use electrical tape to cover the logo's. Gawd, do I have to school you guys all the time. :)

Edit: Darn Avalon, you beat me to it.

[Steve in SLO]

Wow, a bike thing I never heard of. Sounds cleaner than wrapping. Got a photo of what that looks like?
Sorry, but no. The good thing about this is if you don't like how it turns out, just unwrap your bars a bit, slit the tube and remove it, and use electrical tape as usual.

[Veloo]

My LBS uses a black adhesive rim tape that is REALLY thin. Best part is that it doesn't stretch like electrical tape so you don't get that glue residue smudging. If you want to color coordinate then you can put a colored tape over it. Since the rim tape already has the bar tape secured, the color tape wouldn't have to be stretched and thus won't have glue creeping from under the tape. No extra bulk either since this rim tape is so thin.

The tape comes in a roll as opposed to the usual vinyl stuff that is already cut and shaped for one single use.

[Ti Designs]

There's a solution to this. It's called "electrical tape and stop inventing problems that don't exist." :)

It's been a long winter...

[merlincustom1]

Tom Kellogg method. No tape.

[Peter P.]

I'm with merlincustom1; I use the Tom Kellogg, tapeless method.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2765/4130186292_dbb43209fd_z.jpg?zz=1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53479013@N00/4130186292/)
Handlebar Taping, Finished Nicely (http://www.flickr.com/photos/53479013@N00/4130186292/) by Peter Polack (http://www.flickr.com/people/53479013@N00/), on Flickr

Tom Kellogg's Bar Tap Tricks (http://www.spectrum-cycles.com/mechanical.php)

[93legendti]

Use piece of 18-23mm innertube tube 1.5-2" long and run it up the bars so its midway point is where you want your bar tape to end. Wrap bartape as usual and flip the innertube over on itself over the bartape to bind. It works best wth a dot of superglue or e-tape flush with end of bartape (I know, this is cheating) .

I passed this on to our mechanic who replied "Absolutely brilliant. I am doing that next time I wrap a bar."

[wallymann]

yabbut your tape is wrapped "backwards"...NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2765/4130186292_dbb43209fd_z.jpg?zz=1

[oldpotatoe]

Cover the logos with electrical tape.

That's FUNNY!!

37 pages on wrapping handlebars..glad it's march, altho gonna snow today.

[Bob Ross]

i bet heat activated electrical shrink wrap would do a good job.

http://penforhire.wordpress.com/files/2007/08/2233-heat-shrink-wrapped.jpg


As an techy geek who actually solders electronics as a form of meditation, I wholly endorse this idea

...except that I've never actually tried it. But it seems like it oughtta work. Check out http://www.heatshrink.com/ one of their products must work!

[Tony]

One would have to take the shifters off before they are able to use the electrical shrink wrap.

[batman1425]

One would have to take the shifters off before they are able to use the electrical shrink wrap.

And the cables and housing.

[Birddog]

One would have to take the shifters off before they are able to use the electrical shrink wrap.
I think a magician could do it. I've seen them do tougher stuff than that.

[GRAVELBIKE]

you could do cloth tape and clear shellac at the ends.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/11758203274_87de2518cc.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/justridingalong/11758203274/)

[malcolm]

start top down and just tuck the ends into the end of the bar and let the bar plug hold it in place and don't use any tape all mine are done this way. Be sure to wrap from the front wheel toward the saddle so your grip doesn't tend to loosen the bar tape.

[johnmdesigner]

All colors....

[biker72]

http://graphicfxs.com/Handlebar.jpg

[jmoore]

finishing tape?

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWD_GCIZnwU/T5ikOniomhI/AAAAAAAACWY/nN2Npjp0e2s/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG

[Louis]

finishing tape?

Gee, why'd they even bother to lock that to the pole?

[Peter P.]

yabbut your tape is wrapped "backwards"...NO SOUP FOR YOU!!!

It's wrapped in that direction for a reason.

As my hands grip the bars on the tops, rotational forces keep the bar tape taut. If I wrap it in the opposite direction, it tends to unravel with time.

Please sir, can I at least have a cup of gruel?

[Cat3roadracer]

jmoore wins the prize tonight.

[Louis]

jmoore wins the prize tonight.

1st Prize is a date with her:

http://enviousfashions.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/all-over-leopard-print.jpg