Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?

Question

Every time I wrap road bike bars, I generally have about a foot of brand new bar tape leftover from each side if I trim the end square (i.e. cut off the part that was tapered to end the wrap). Two feet total. Nowhere near enough to wrap another set of bars but more than just a tiny scrap.

Has anyone thought of any good uses for this so it doesn't just go right in the garbage?

Doesn't have to be a bicycle related application.

Please specify if your application requires a specific type of bar tape, e.g. cork, fabric, padded, adhesive. Or color.

Similar question for the full-length pieces of old bar tape removed from the bike. It's usually pretty ratty by the time it's removed, but could have a second life somewhere aside from the garbage.

Answer 1

At the risk of sounding like a total nerd, I have used leftover padded handlebar tape to create a makeshift thumbrest for my mouse. I have a Logitech G Pro Wireless and the side buttons are super sensitive. The thumbrest was just enough friction to prevent my thumb from accidentally bumping the side buttons. I've since switched to custom-fit Lizard Skins for my mouse, but its interesting that they make handlebar tape too.

Answer 2

I've used it to wrap the handles of the types of terrible tools you get in the box with new bicycles and flat-pack furniture, turning them into actual more-or-less usable tools:

In the store I work in we also have a long pole with a hook on the end used to lift bicycles up to some hooks on the ceiling to hang them. We wrap bar wrap around those poles to create a handle so if your palms are sweaty the pole doesn't just slide through them when you try to lift a heavy bicycle.

Answer 3

If it’s long enough you could use it to wrap/repair the handles of hiking poles, ice axes and other tools. Though I think people usually prefer racquet tape because it’s thinner.

Shorter scraps can be used to cover the small gap right at the brifters (some tapes even come with an dedicated short piece for that purpose).

You can also put pieces under your handlebar tape for additional padding, next time you wrap them.

Answer 4

You could use it as a chain stay protector instead of the classic old inner tube. You would most likely do this with old handlebar tape since the length would be more suitable.

Here is an original example from the VeloORANGE blog:

Answer 5

Rewrap your bars with a little more overlap - this gives you slightly more cushioning.

Or use the same bartape to double-wrap your main contact point again for added thickness.

I even use bartape on flatbar bikes rather than pushon grips. It feels nicer, and I can cover the bartape with heatshrink to hold it all together.

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I got a new front light last night, and the provided clamp was too big for my old school road bike drop bars.

So I used a couple wraps of bartape to increase the diameter just where the light clamped on, and it worked perfectly. Using the same bartape means it visually blends in better too.

Answer 6

If you use aero bars, you can wrap them to make them more comfortable and warmer (at least if aluminium) to hold. That doesn't take much.

Answer 7

Not at all bike-related: I've used scrap pieces around the house to dampen impacts, e.g. on door frames, on furniture if a door might hit it, on the backside of drawer fronts and cabinet doors to cushion the closing "clank", etc.

Tape that comes with adhesive might work well as is, but I found that double-sided sticky tape makes scrap pieces stay in place much longer. You can also use differently coloured pieces to match furniture or appliances!

Answer 8

I use it for the "handlebar" of my lawn mower. It's a cheap lawn mower with a bare metal handle. The tape makes it feel like an expensive mower.

Answer 9

When I have to carry bicycle up or down the stairs I use to grab it at the base of the saddle tube. That point is well balanced, so you can easily hold the bike with one hand. But if it is rainy it is slippery. If you have a city/commuter bike that you have to shuffle around often a good grip on that point will be very useful.