Fitting bar tape ...... any pointers?

[jmgk]

This is something I enjoy doing. I did many while working in the shop.

You have to take care, it's worth taking time because when it looks good i's fine, but if it is imperfect then it looks awful.

there are different ways of dealing with the brake levers, but no matter what everyone else says:

1- Keep an even and secure tension/pull
2- Left and right must mirror each other. Have the big roll of tape starting off at the same end of the bike on both sides. If you don't do this, people will accuse you of being a moron, with some justification.

 

[cotterpin]

Before starting peel back the lever hoods and place a strip of tape about 4" (100mm) long round the back of the bar and lever (covering the clamp and part of the lever on each side). Then as mentioned above, start rolling the tape from the end of the bar and work outwards keeping the tape slightly stretched as you roll and keeping the overlap even on the straight bits. When you get to the bend create a bigger overlap on the inside and less on the outside until you get to the lever. You then do a figure of eight round the lever, up and round the back, over the top, down and round the front. Repeat this for a second figure of eight then continue along the top of the bars. Finish off by cutting the tape on a diagonal parallel with the bulge in the bar. Use either a tape clamp or PVC tape to secure the ends. Peel the hood back again to cover the finished tape.

 

[SIMONFREESE]

Just logging in to this thread, it will be very useful for me in the near future..