cloth bar tape and bar end plugs

[wilfh]

evening all,
I'm putting some cloth bar tape on and was wondering on the way to finish it. I'm not desperately keen on the insulation tape route but have no ideas as to what they did before. Did they just leave it flush on the bar. Was anything used to stop the end from being picked up?
Open to ideas but am curious to what was used.

In addition- what was used circa 1969 as a bar end plug. Cork?

cheers
Wilf

 

[lewisfoto]

You could try a line of lacquer about an inch wide all the way round, though I just uses the tape. Also, if the bike wont be ridden much you could wrap it beginning at the stem and finishing at the bar end. This will not work too well on a user because your hands are constantly unwrapping the bars as you ride.

the end caps in the 60s were either simple domed steel very similar in appearance to the current plastic ones or a nifty rubber cap with an expander bolt in the middle that made for a very nice fit.

Steven

 

[glpinxit]

Can't help with the stem end (I am happy with insulating tape - plenty of options from Screwfix) but I'm quite partial to Champagne corks at the open end. (commonly need trimming to fit.)

 

[bagpuss]

Re:

what colour plugs do you need ?

 

[Rainbowdave]

Re:

I once used wire id gotten from an art shop for a bicycle that was pre leccy tape. Various colours are avaliable to match your bike/tape.

 

[non-fixie]

The traditional way is to wrap from the stem outward, and finish by folding the last half inch or so inside the bar and put in a rubber plug with an expander bolt. Like so:

The Tressostar tape I use is quite sticky, and unwrapping under hard use is not an issue. I even wrapped from bottom to top when using bar end shifters, and even without finishing - I just cut the tape - it holds up nicely:

In this case I didn't have a plug that fit, and used gin corks:

 

[Martin Rattler]

Re:

When I used cloth bar tape on my RO Harrison I whipped the ends with twine and then finished the whole lot with a few coats of button polish, which ought to glue everything together and seal it. There are a couple of YouTube vids showing how to wrap bars with cloth tape and whip the ends; take a look and see what you think.

 

[dirttorpedo]

The traditional way is to wrap from the stem outward, and finish by folding the last half inch or so inside the bar and put in a rubber plug with an expander bolt. Like so:

The Tressostar tape I use is quite sticky, and unwrapping under hard use is not an issue. I even wrapped from bottom to top when using bar end shifters, and even without finishing - I just cut the tape - it holds up nicely:

In this case I didn't have a plug that fit, and used gin corks:

I've seen this technique used on modern Rivendell and Velo Orange bikes.

 

[Jonny69]

The unwrapping thing happens when you wrap the tape in a certain direction. I usually start the wrap underneath the bars, but I can't remember if I then take the tape forwards or backwards. One way your hands unwind it, but the other way they don't

 

[wilfh]

Re:

thanks everyone.
What have you all used to cover up the brake bracket. I don't seem to be able to get the cloth over the band without it kinking.
cheers
Wilf