Re: [CR]Have I been doing it wrong all these years?

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot)

From: "dddd" <dddd@pacbell.net>
To: "Classic Rendezvous" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
References: <B491495B-0256-4E66-B0B4-4FBB1ED523EC@mac.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Have I been doing it wrong all these years?
Date: Tue, 15 May 2007 18:22:50 -0800
reply-type=response

Well, yeah, if you are using anything but plastic tape, the tape's edges get rolled up from the hands sliding outward and foreward along the top portion of the bars.

That's why they include finishing tape, but that doesn't really complete the job, imo. To secure the upper end of the tape I always apply some contact cement to the sticky side of the last inch and a half of tape that then gets wrapped with the finishing tape, and also add a spot of the cement to the last half inch of the sticky side of the finishing tape itself, lest it unravel as it often does. A well-considered, sharply angled cut to the end of the bar tape will allow the finishing tape to smoothly cover the upper end of the bar tape.

I've seen bikes taped "backwards" with Benotto plastic tape that seems to stay put without curling, with the tape stuffed into the handlebar end. Come to think of it, Benotto tape never included any logo/finishing tape, but then neither did/does cotton tape, which tends to curl readily when taped backwards.

Most modern shops and riders/racers favor electrical tape over logo'd finishing tape, with infinite length used for several trips around the bars. It is reliable but unravels and exudes sticky residue over time.

David Snyder Auburn, CA, usa

Mark Fulton wrote:


> Since 1948 i've been wrapping my handlebars from the stem out. I simply
> wrap out and around, down and back, pop in the cap and I'm done. No extra
> tape up top. Have I been doing it wrong all these years? Have people
> secretly been making fun of me for this? Is there some compelling reason
> to wrap from cap to stem? Just to keep this on topic, I only ask because
> I'm about to retape my 1950 Locomotief Tour de France and the Cinelli
> cork ribbon that I just bought includes the extra plastic finishing tape.