How does everyone fit benotto style tape around the brake levers? I can't remember how I did it bitd, and now I seem to need two strips to cover the brake lever clamp, held in place with electrical tape. I'm sure I never had to do that before. I'm using traditional bend bars and shimano 1055 levers, so its not a problem of modern parts... I thought about loosening the levers from the clamps and fitting the tape under the levers, but I'm not sure that would work?
fitting benotto or other thin tape?
- Thread starter foz
- Start date
Robbied196
Senior Retro Guru
Re:
I've always taped around the brake lever by cutting 2 pieces of tape about 4cm long. I hold them in place vertically as the main roll of tape comes under the brake lever and round over the top, trapping the 2 cut pieces and leaving none of the bars showing. Not easy to explain!
Maybe this pic might help...
I've always taped around the brake lever by cutting 2 pieces of tape about 4cm long. I hold them in place vertically as the main roll of tape comes under the brake lever and round over the top, trapping the 2 cut pieces and leaving none of the bars showing. Not easy to explain!
Maybe this pic might help...
Robbied196
Senior Retro Guru
I've always taped bottom to top wrapping outwards from the handlebars. They say that way your hand grip won't loosen the tape.
Condor have a page on wrapping: http://www.condorcycles.com/blogs/journ ... -perfectly
They say the figure of 8 but I find tape gets to bulky around the levers. There must be another way
Condor have a page on wrapping: http://www.condorcycles.com/blogs/journ ... -perfectly
They say the figure of 8 but I find tape gets to bulky around the levers. There must be another way
Shaun, I don't find that bit of chrome sexy at all. It looks like you've done it wrong :shock:
I prefer benotto top to bottom, to avoid the need for electric tape at the tape. Since I'll probably do the bars again (I've only done one side so far) then I might try wrapping under the brake levers then clamping them down again and see what happens!
I prefer benotto top to bottom, to avoid the need for electric tape at the tape. Since I'll probably do the bars again (I've only done one side so far) then I might try wrapping under the brake levers then clamping them down again and see what happens!
OK, so I just got back up from re-taping the side I had done, now it's top to bottom, with a figure of 8 round the lever (and two strips of tape around the lever), and it looks fine. Will do the other side the same and see how it goes... I decided not to loosen the brake levers as I already had the bars and lever clamps fully taped with white insulation tape (I find that makes the white benotto whiter, and a more even colour, than wrapping it on alloy bars)
Shaun, just out of interest, when was benotto tape introduced? When I started riding it was around, but the ambrosio "bikeribbon" type stuff was the latest thing. Cinelli Cork came out a few years later (mid 90's I think?)
Shaun, just out of interest, when was benotto tape introduced? When I started riding it was around, but the ambrosio "bikeribbon" type stuff was the latest thing. Cinelli Cork came out a few years later (mid 90's I think?)
stringfellow1946
Senior Retro Guru
I use double sided tape on the bars to start & finish off with Benotto tape as I find it much easier to keep the tape tight. (me getting old & weak).
I've taken to setting the brake levers at the correct height first & marking the position on the bars then putting double sided tape over the clamp to hold it in place & then removing the leaver, fit one piece of short tape over the clamp & fit the tape as normal refitting the lever after the tape is finished. This makes things a lot easier as you don't have to get the hoods out of the way & there are no brake cables in the way for me it makes things a lot easier.
NB doing it this way only works with non aero levers, but I only use Benotto style tape on older bikes before STI or Ergo levers were invented.
This is a bit of a long winded way of doing things but like I said I'm loosing a lot of strength in my hands these days so every trick helps me.
Bottom to Top always
I've taken to setting the brake levers at the correct height first & marking the position on the bars then putting double sided tape over the clamp to hold it in place & then removing the leaver, fit one piece of short tape over the clamp & fit the tape as normal refitting the lever after the tape is finished. This makes things a lot easier as you don't have to get the hoods out of the way & there are no brake cables in the way for me it makes things a lot easier.
NB doing it this way only works with non aero levers, but I only use Benotto style tape on older bikes before STI or Ergo levers were invented.
This is a bit of a long winded way of doing things but like I said I'm loosing a lot of strength in my hands these days so every trick helps me.
Bottom to Top always
