Another "Handlebra is Marvelous" Thread

[palincss]

I think it's time for another "Handlebra is marvelous" thread.

I just finished wrapping the bars on my Spectrum Ti with it. It feels wonderful, and it was as easy a wrap as I have ever experienced. Some bar wraps seem to want to wrinkle, or are reluctant to go around the bends evenly, but not this stuff. You don't have to fight with it at all.

Ray's order form asks how wide your bars are, and the wrap you get is plenty long enough to do a nice job with no worries about it being long enough. Some nice brands are barely long enough and leave no margin for error, but not with Handlebra. Delivery was very quick too, only a couple of days.

There is one very unusual thing about it, though: there's no spool, so wrapping it feels different than anything else I've ever tried - squishy and prone to going conical on you.

If you've been thinking about it and are on the fence, do it. It's not cheap, but it is definitely worth it.

[mcteague]

$80 for handlebar tape! It had better feel wonderful.

Tim

[palincss]

It definitely does feel wonderful.

As for cost, if it outlasts the other materials, it could end up being cheaper in the long run. Case in point, I have one bike I wrap cloth over cork. The cloth is frayed and worn out in a year. Sixteen bucks for the cloth, at least another 13 or so for the cork. Almost $30, and it lasts a year, assuming you don't crash and damage the wrap. In 3 years, $90.

I have another bike I wrapped with Fujitoshi leather bar wrap 3 years ago. I crashed once on this bike six months after wrapping the bars and gouged up the wrap on the side of the handlebar, where it hit the ground. Fujitoshi's $55, and I figured I'm damned if I'm going to pay that much again in only six months, so I smeared some Proofide on the gouges and kept on riding.

Funny thing: in a couple of days, the gouges darkened up to match the rest of the wrap, and become almost invisible. They were pretty small anyway, because the stuff is so much tougher than cork or cloth and has little tendency to rip. I'm still using that bar wrap, and it still looks fine. In terms of cost, I figure I've at least broke even and there's still no need to replace it, and the wrap feels and looks a lot nicer to the touch than either cork or cloth.

OK, you might ask, if Fujitoshi is so good (and I do like it very much) why Handlebra rather than Fujitoshi this time? One reason is, it was a tough wrap. Another, there was barely enough to do a 44cm bar. And, it feels and looks different. One reason I have different bikes is so that they will feel different.

[dave thompson]

$80 for handlebar tape! It had better feel wonderful.

TimIt does feel wonderful. It lasts for a very long time, is reusable more than a couple of times, comes in some very interesting colors, plus Ray is a hell of a nice guy and is one of us.

[palincss]

And, the stuff is made in the USA.

[Ahneida Ride]

And, the stuff is made in the USA.


Amen .... made in USA. Leather from USA enterprises.

[Smiley]

Da Bra Wrap makes my bike feel .....well sexy :banana:

[climbgdh]

I love my HandleBra..... awesome stuff. Have it on 2 of my bikes. Looks wonderful for a long long time. Ages well..... with a nice patina.

[DHallerman]

What underwrap do you use with Handlebra?

Why do you use that one, like cork tape or hockey tape?

Dave, who wonders if the double-wrap suggested on the HB site makes the handlebar too thick for those without big hands

[rugbysecondrow]

I have althetic/cloth tape as an underwrap for one and used cork tape on another. I have big hands, so it is fine for me to have it extra thick. If you have smaller hands, then I would just use cloth tape.

Paul, who wants to help Dave. :)

What underwrap do you use with Handlebra?

Why do you use that one, like cork tape or hockey tape?

Dave, who wonders if the double-wrap suggested on the HB site makes the handlebar too thick for those without big hands

[palincss]

What underwrap do you use with Handlebra?

Why do you use that one, like cork tape or hockey tape?


I used what I had left of a roll of friction tape. It's sticky on both sides and it helps keep bar wrap in place. Besides, it's traditional, as described here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction_tape) , and I've always loved the stuff. We used to wrap baseball bats and broom handles (bats for stick ball) with it when I was a kid, and the smell of it brings back memories.

[AngryScientist]

this should of course go without saying but: pictures are going to be mandatory here!

:beer:

[palincss]

this should of course go without saying but: pictures are going to be mandatory here!



OK, here's a bunch: http://handlebra.com/gallery

Seriously, you can get an excellent idea what it looks like in Ray's gallery - not limited by my wrapping ability, such as it is, either.

[legacysti888]

I have Handle Bra on 30 bikes.

Soft to the touch but tough sumb*&%hes.

[dave thompson]

this should of course go without saying but: pictures are going to be mandatory here!

:beer:
Here's my 'Bras..

[AngryScientist]

Here's my 'Bras..

that white is beautiful :hello:

[northbend]

...and mine (with one more to be wrapped soon in white)
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/CH013.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj140/northbend/brown.jpg

[firerescuefin]

Went to the site...read around a little bit, considering the sports wrap. Do they come ready to install, or do they need to be treated/conditioned before install. How are they holding up in wet weather....and how often do they need to be treated/conditioned and is this done while on the bars or does the wrap need to be removed.

Thanks,

Geoff

[BumbleBeeDave]

Here's my 'Bras..

. . . they are all beautiful! But the REALLY important, burning question here is . . . do you wrap your tequila glass with it? :D

BBD

[BumbleBeeDave]

$80 for handlebar tape! It had better feel wonderful.

Tim

. . . considering how long it lasts, how it feels, and the pricing of competitors. Brooks has their antique leather tape at $80. Their other tape is "only" $52 but if it's the stuff I saw at NAHBS several years ago it looks and feels--and wraps--like thin cardboard.

Busyman Bicycles in Australia sells theirs for $250 Aussie, which is $256 US according to the online converter I used! :eek:

BBD

[dave thompson]

Went to the site...read around a little bit, considering the sports wrap. Do they come ready to install, or do they need to be treated/conditioned before install. How are they holding up in wet weather....and how often do they need to be treated/conditioned and is this done while on the bars or does the wrap need to be removed.

Thanks,

Geoff
The HandleBra on my Taylor will be entering it's third year this year and includes one handle bar change. http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=908436&postcount=26 It's waterproof, I clean it with 303. It doesn't need to be removed to do anything to it.

[Ahneida Ride]

Went to the site...read around a little bit, considering the sports wrap. Do they come ready to install, or do they need to be treated/conditioned before install. How are they holding up in wet weather....and how often do they need to be treated/conditioned and is this done while on the bars or does the wrap need to be removed.

Thanks,

Geoff


Ready to use. No need to treat. However the white water based creams
do provide a renewable sacrificial layer. These creams are used in corporate
jets. Apply as with any other fine leather surface.

Stuff is liquid repellent. Washes up with plain old water.

HB Last ?

A certain individual put the wrap on a few on the teams cross bikes.
Held up the entire season. Looked like the wrap went thru WW III and it
was still functional.

[firerescuefin]

The HandleBra on my Taylor will be entering it's third year this year and includes one handle bar change. http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=908436&postcount=26 It's waterproof, I clean it with 303. It doesn't need to be removed to do anything to it.


Thanks Dave!

[veloduffer]

I like my stitched Handlebra tape, which matches my Kish.

http://racerx.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v23/p386159114-4.jpg
http://racerx.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v20/p373751583-4.jpg

Good stuff! :beer:

[rounder]

Just wondering. I love my handlebra...when do the cool new wood plugs become available?

[BumbleBeeDave]

I like my stitched Handlebra tape, which matches my Kish.

http://racerx.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v23/p386159114-4.jpg
http://racerx.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v20/p373751583-4.jpg

Good stuff! :beer:

That is one HOT lookin' bike, Mr. Duffer!

BBD