Re: Handlebar tape wound wrong way?

11-04-2003, 05:38 PM

Roger wrote:
> I have just taken delivery of a 2002 Dawes Audax and it's great.
> However, I reckon they have wound the handlebar tape the wrong way,
> starting at the middle. This causes 2 problems - when I have my hands
> just behind the hoods, the generally forward pressure I apply tends to
> "ruffle" the tape edges and make them stick up. Even after my first
> ride around the block! Also, the ends of the tape at the bar ends
> sticks up slightly. If they started at the ends, this end would be
> tucked under. But I suppose that would just move the problem to the
> middle of the bars...
> BTW there was a black tapered sticker about 7" long that came with the
> bike and I don't know what it's for. Maybe it's to wrap around the bar
> end to stop the tape coming adrift. But then there should have been 2
> stickers, and they should have already been applied to the handlebars?
> cheers Roger

As someone has already noted, start at the end of the bars and sprial
inside out looking down at the top of the bar. I also use the plastic
electrical tape method to seal the ends (like one of the other
respondents noted. In addition to these, I also wrap the handlebars with
a (semi-) permanent double-sided tape (available by say 3M at office
supply stores) to keep the tape at the h/b corners above the brake
levers from slipping out of place. I've found the backing tape supplied
by the h/b tape mfr doesn't hold quite enough. (Probably all purpose
(barge) or rubber cement judiciously applied to the handlebars will
accomplish the same thing.) It's messy when you have to remove & replace
the tape but hey, the whole point is to keep the tape fixed on the
handlebars. Oh yeah, when doing a long tour, the handlebar tape
inevitably gets torn so I always carry as small roll of plastic
electrical tape for repairs.

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