19
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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 ...
- 291
16
votes
How to best prevent handlebar tape from unraveling at the inner ends?
I use high quality electrical tape (such as 3M Super 33+) to mechanically hold the bar tape in place. Over top of that, I use the provided finishing tape, which usually matches the bar tape better ...
- 17.4k
15
votes
Accepted
Should I rewrap my peeling handlebar tape? Is this a job for a bike shop?
You don't need to take the brifters off to do this.
Simply "lift the skirts" of the rubber hoods and you'll see how the current tape was wrapped. Take some photos before unwrapping.
...
- 131k
13
votes
Accepted
Spots on bike bar tape after wet ride
It's almost certainly cork that is used in the bar tape for its vibration damping and sweat absorbing properties.
It's clearly visible in this promotional image for Cinelli tape:
- 18.5k
11
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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 ...
- 29.4k
10
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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 ...
- 4,169
9
votes
How to best prevent handlebar tape from unraveling at the inner ends?
You are correct that many stock finishing tapes have relatively weak adhesive and are mainly decorative. In my experience, if you wrap the bars tightly and you maintain roughly even tension on the ...
- 36k
9
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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 ...
- 131k
8
votes
Should I rewrap my peeling handlebar tape? Is this a job for a bike shop?
We'll start with the easy bit - yes, you should definitely change it!
It's a relatively simple job that doesn't require removing the brifters (you just fold back the covers).
It'll probably take you a ...
- 18.5k
7
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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.
- 62.6k
6
votes
What brands of handlebar tape match the Brooks B17 Aged saddle?
Brooks makes leather bar tape for some large amount of money (I think 75-100 USD), which matches their saddles.
They also make a cotton bar tape in a similar color (for some large, but not as large ...
- 46.4k
6
votes
Adjusting road brake levers
Answer: No - you can't just move the brake levers up the curve of the handlebar drops. If you did this, the bar tape would be bunched up above the hoods and skinnied-out below the hoods.
Tools: You'...
- 131k
6
votes
How to best prevent handlebar tape from unraveling at the inner ends?
My wrapping technique is using electrical tape, however I split it in half width ways along its length first. Usually by rotating the roll next to a Stanley blade or similar - both resting on a hard ...
- 677
6
votes
Accepted
Is there a way to wrap bullhorn handlebars to avoid unwinding both in the center and on the sides?
Options that could solve this:
Make two neatly divided grip areas per side of the bar, and change orientation on them.
Use track grips (maybe glue them since it sounds like they'll have a tough life)....
- 88.2k
6
votes
Is there a way to wrap bullhorn handlebars to avoid unwinding both in the center and on the sides?
I've wrapped handlebar tape around drop bars in road bikes countless times, but never have I reversed the wrapping direction when passing the brake hoods.
The thing with wrapping around bends is that ...
- 741
6
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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 ...
- 161
6
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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.
- 161
4
votes
Tape or grips for bar ends?
Adding bar tape to the bar-ends is certainly possible. What kind of tape you want to use is determined by your preference. There are both thin and thick types available. If the bars still feel to thin ...
- 75.9k
4
votes
What brands of handlebar tape match the Brooks B17 Aged saddle?
Many people sew their own leather grips. It's easy enough to buy an old leather handbag, belt, or jacket at a thrift store that matches the color; cut it into strips; and sew it up using leather ...
- 29.5k
4
votes
Can I use bar tape on my (non race bike) bike with flat handles (not drop bars)
You can use any road tape on a flat bar. The main reason people do it is to make the grips thin and firm. Even a thick tape will be thinner than a thin grip. It's important to choose a wrap ...
- 88.2k
4
votes
How to best prevent handlebar tape from unraveling at the inner ends?
Not all finishing tape is the same. I often ignore what's provided and just use electrical tape, but the latest bar tape I bought (own brand from a shop where I was ordering something else) came with ...
- 62.6k
4
votes
Should I rewrap my peeling handlebar tape? Is this a job for a bike shop?
That's a reasonably easy job but you really do need to make your phone silent during the job and wish nobody rings your doorbell. The only important things that can go wrong are:
You use a ...
- 21.3k
4
votes
Should I rewrap my peeling handlebar tape? Is this a job for a bike shop?
Change it, yes.
In addition to what Andy P mentioned, you now have an opportunity to make a change to the tape color(s), the brand/manufacturer, and finally the specific features of the tape. ...
- 6,757
4
votes
Is there a way to wrap bullhorn handlebars to avoid unwinding both in the center and on the sides?
I wouldn't bother - just wrap the bartape so it winds on in the same direction as your fingers for the single most common position.
Make sure to use all the double-sided tape underneath and to use a ...
- 131k
4
votes
Uses for leftover or used handlebar tape?
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 ...
- 664
3
votes
Tape or grips for bar ends?
I've taped some bar ends successfully using cheap bar tape.
As a second stage I used a length of 30~35mm black electrical heatshrink tube over the top of the padding tape. Apply heat from a hot air ...
- 131k
3
votes
Accepted
Tape or grips for bar ends?
I have added standard grips to bar-ends for some added comfort. Depending on the grips they can be difficult to pass over the bend. I used grips designed for Twist Grip Shifters. They are shorter and ...
- 19k
3
votes
Best colour for handlebar tape
As we noted, this is not a site to ask general opinion-based questions. It can sometimes be possible to have productive discussions on subjective matters, so we can try. Some rules of thumb that ...
- 36k
3
votes
How to best prevent handlebar tape from unraveling at the inner ends?
One hack is to fit an accessory clamp such that it secures the inner-end of the bartape.
Of course this doesn't help if you have aero/non-round bars, or don't want a front light or bike computer ...
- 131k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible