the most annoying part of wrenching

[vqdriver]

For as long as ive been riding, i only change bar tape maybe once a year or so. Every single time I either do, this nonsense happens or i end up going the wrong way past the levers or have a teeny gap show on the inside of the lever cuz that patch piece shifted.
This time I could have hidden it but I just knew it was going to keep bugging me so I unwrapped and redid it. Last time I tried that I had to stretch hard to smooth out the "stretch marks" of the first go around. But this supacaz did much better.
ugh. This stuff bugs me to no end.

[DeBike]

For me, it is actually my lack of patience, and, as I get older, my declining ability to focus.

[ChainNoise]

I've had great luck starting out the bar tape parallel with the bar end, then starting the climb up the bars on the second wrap. I am generally a ****ty wrapper though, so take my advice with a grain of salt!

[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by ChainNoise

I've had great luck starting out the bar tape parallel with the bar end, then starting the climb up the bars on the second wrap. I am generally a ****ty wrapper though, so take my advice with a grain of salt!

yah, you need to do a full wrap around at the end then you start going up.


wrapping tape is definitely annoying though, I am not going to lie but when you are done and it looks good, its very satisfying. I am pretty OCD about it which makes it even more annoying.

[Hellgate]

Just hang an inch of extra tape off the end if the bar. Unwrap it and do it correctly. Attention to detail

[Dead Man]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

yah, you need to do a full wrap around at the end then you start going up.

yup.. op, you gotta do a full 360 degree wrap around the bar end before angling and continuing up the bar. it always surprises me that even with fat tape, i can still stuff it up the hole and jam a plug in there, but you can. sometimes it almost seems like the MORE tape you leave dangling off the end, the easier/cleaner it sucks up once the plug goes in

[robt57]

Try a 3 roll harlequin to dial your skills.

Tip BTW, if you screw up with adhesive strip tapes, use a heat gun or blow dryer to loosen the glue if you want to use the same tape fixing it.

[vqdriver]

Yeah I normally do but this is one of the brands that doesn't give you the separate trim piece for the levers, have to cut it off from the main roll which I overdid so I was pushing it a bit.

Originally Posted by Dead Man

yup.. op, you gotta do a full 360 degree wrap around the bar end before angling and continuing up the bar. it always surprises me that even with fat tape, i can still stuff it up the hole and jam a plug in there, but you can. sometimes it almost seems like the MORE tape you leave dangling off the end, the easier/cleaner it sucks up once the plug goes in

[Spdntrxi]

for me it's not being able to find a tool I know I have. I must have 3 brake cable cutters, 5 chain link wrenches.. on and on.

[buddybikes]

Why is it that bar tape is 3" too short?

[Ken Robb]

Originally Posted by steveandbarb1

Why is it that bar tape is 3" too short?

Are you using 62cm bars?

[eddief]

My 2019 Roubaix is a Di2 bike. The right hand plug is the Di2 interface and it sticks inside the bar end. Both it and the left hand plug have small, thin wings that go on the OUTSIDE of the bar. You put the plugs in before you start wrapping tape. That means you can simply wrap the tape around the wings without having to deal with working the plug in as the last step. Granted the left hand plug is a very simple plastic thingy...but it looks like a damn plug and it makes for way less f-ing around trying to smoosh a plug into the bar end and ensure the tape is stuck in the hole at the same time.

Duh. Why not make bar plugs that work this way?

This photo shows the wings that go on the outside of the bar:

https://www.amaincycling.com/shimano...wrs910/p672999

[martl]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

yah, you need to do a full wrap around at the end then you start going up.


wrapping tape is definitely annoying though, I am not going to lie but when you are done and it looks good, its very satisfying. I am pretty OCD about it which makes it even more annoying.

I always trim the starting end of the bartape so it is flush withe the end of the handlebar tube and I can start wrapping approx at the correct angle. Don't like the looks of overhanging bartape squeezed in with the plug, I rather wrap lectric tape around the plug until it fits snugly.




For me, the most unpleasant part of bike maintenance is cleaning RD jockey wheels. Eek!

[RiderR]

This thread could be awesome group therapy. I'll add manufacturers using poor quality bolts that round off way below the torque spec they include in the manual. Usually somewhere critical.

[colker]

Originally Posted by Spdntrxi

for me it's not being able to find a tool I know I have. I must have 3 brake cable cutters, 5 chain link wrenches.. on and on.

That. Wrapping bars is therapeutic... I could ride drop bars only for the wrapping part. I love it.