handlebar tape question

[Zelda_K]

I would like to replace the tape on the handlebar of my road bike.
How long would it take an experienced bike mechanic to do this?
And how long would a totally clueless person need?

[OakLeaf]

Speaking as someone totally clueless ... ;) it takes some time and a LOT of patience. Be prepared to spend a couple of hours the first few times you try it, and be careful with it because you'll probably wind up unwinding and re-wrapping several times. Starting the plug end so it doesn't make a big lump is the hardest part and I still haven't got that down. Straighter bars are easier than ergo bars - the more bumps, bends and curves, the harder it will be.

There are some good online guides to wrapping bars - I want to say I used the one on the Park Tool (http://parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=71) site.

It's a useful skill to have, so I do plan to do it myself again when my current tape needs to be replaced (probably this summer), but so far it looks a lot nicer when I let the bike shop do it. :rolleyes: If you don't have the time or patience, it shouldn't cost much - I've never paid them to do that job alone, it's only been in conjunction with replacing shifters, etc.

[Zelda_K]

thanks for this :)

[Pedal Wench]

I botched my first attempt, but it can be done in about 15 minutes. It's a great start at doing your own stuff on the bike, and lets you change up your bike's appearance in just a few minutes.

[ny biker]

It takes a few minutes when the manager of my LBS does it for me. Since I'm buying the tape from him, he doesn't charge for the labor.

[kmehrzad]

NY Biker, what LBS do you frequent where the manager will personally wrap your bars for free? They deserve my business.

[Becky]

If it's good tape, 15 minutes sounds about right. If it's a re-wrap with existing tape (like you unwrapped part-way to move a shifter), or inflexible, non-stretchy tape, it takes me longer.

For me, the hardest part is wrapping around the shifter on the left side. I'm right handed, so I have an easier time in general with the right side.

Give it a shot....it might not be perfect, but you really can't break anything :)

[withm]

NY Biker, what LBS do you frequent where the manager will personally wrap your bars for free? They deserve my business.

I have never paid the LBS to install bar tape. I guess it depends on the relationship you have with the shop. It probably helps that I have bought 5 bikes in 10 years, and take them home-made cookies from time to time. To be fair, I don't have 2 of those bikes anymore, but the shop has been great to deal with over the years.

[ny biker]

I have never paid the LBS to install bar tape. I guess it depends on the relationship you have with the shop. It probably helps that I have bought 5 bikes in 10 years, and take them home-made cookies from time to time. To be fair, I don't have 2 of those bikes anymore, but the shop has been great to deal with over the years.

Well I bought the tape from them first, and in this case it was the manager who helped me with the purchase. It was The Bike Lane in Reston. I was probably buying other things from them at the same time -- I rarely get out of there without spending some money on something.

[kmehrzad]

I was in The Bike Lane's Reston location on Wed. test riding a Trek 520. Nice bike and nice staff.

[rubywagon]

I just replaced mine today, and I want to say it took me about a half an hour. I am sure the people at the bike shop are faster. :)

[RolliePollie]

I just did my second re-wrap job on my road bike and it looks awesome (if I do say so myself!). I am pretty picky, so I'd say the whole project took me 40 minutes or so. I used Cinelli cork tape this time and it's harder to wrap than the Bontrager tape I used last time, so I ended up unwrapping and rewrapping a few times before I was happy the results.

I actually think it's kind of a fun project...I think you should try it out!

[OakLeaf]

I guess I'm even more incompetent at it than I thought. :rolleyes::p

[kmehrzad]

I want to try this weave pattern sometime. I think it's such a cool look. I'll wait until it's time to change one of my bike's handlebar tape, though.

http://www.wastedlife.org/bike/harlequin/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9180352@N06/2569075289/page2/

[oz rider]

I've done a couple of harlequin wraps. Frustrating but fun. Definitely easier with the cloth tape.

[Zelda_K]

I want to try this weave pattern sometime. I think it's such a cool look. I'll wait until it's time to change one of my bike's handlebar tape, though.

http://www.wastedlife.org/bike/harlequin/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9180352@N06/2569075289/page2/

that looks great :)

[abejita]

It is not that hard at all. and once it clicks how to do the curves...you are golden. I did my bars the other day with my flower tape. It was my first attempt and it turned out really well. I just left the original tape on one side while I did the other so that I could look at it. The only thing is that I didn't leave enough tape to tuck inside the bar under the bar ends. Must have done a good job because hubs asked me to do his tape last night.

[aicabsolut]

For your first time applying bar tape, use a tape that doesn't have an adhesive backing. Then if you mess up, you don't risk ripping the tape when you unwrap. One with a gel strip on the back will be tacky enough to keep from slipping without needing adhesive.

[OakLeaf]

If it's a re-wrap with existing tape (like you unwrapped part-way to move a shifter) ... it takes me longer.

:D It's much quicker and easier for me to re-wrap with existing tape, because it has the indentations and possibly the dirt to show me exactly where to overlap, and it's already stretched to conform exactly to the bars.