[CR]re: wrapping bars with cloth tape

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PY-10)

Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:48:43 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From: <chasds@mindspring.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]re: wrapping bars with cloth tape

Dmitry wrote:

Hi list,

I am going to wrap the bars on a bike with some Tressostar tape, problem is that I've never done that using cloth tape before, and the tape being somewhat rare, I'd hate to botch up the job, so would appreciate any cloth tape-specific tips/tricks/instructions. In

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At this past Cirque, Ed Grainger and I were discussing some alternatives for the Saturday Seminars, and a general notion Ed had was for old hands to do instruction sessions on things like gluing sew-ups and wrapping bars with cloth tape. I thought sessions on wheelbuilding (where an actual wheel is built, slowly, so all can see how it's done), bottom-bracket installation, adjusting a Nuovo Record derailleur for a 28-tooth rear-cog (52/42 front), concours detailing of different sorts of bikes...would all be very interesting subjects for a session.

I'm sure you cna think of many more such topics for instruction. Perhaps Wayne will consider such a thing next year.

As for bar-wrapping with cloth tape, everyone has their favorite method. A plugged-nickle from here:

1) Tressoplast is stiff and does not bend in three dimensions as easily as one would like. I usually find myself wrapping and unwrapping to stretch new tape so that it will go on the bars evenly, with no wrinkles. Takes more time and effort, but worth it in the end.

2) Cateye tape from Japan forms up much more easily, and is very nice, but harder to find in many colors. I love that stuff. But if Tressoplast is your choice, just be ready to wrap and re-wrap until it lays down nicely.

3) The amount of tape you'll need is a function of things like the size of the bars (the c-c size), if you are wrapping stainless bar-end cable casing up to the top of the bars (which I like to do), and how much over-lap you like, turn-to-turn.

If you need to use less tape, you can cut off two short lengths to just cover the brake-lever clamp. This gives the best visual result. One short length can work, but then you need to manage the wrapping around the clamp more carefully to get a good final visual result.

If you wrap Cinelli bars at 38cm c-c you'll never face this problem..if you like the 40 and 42cm c-c bars, getting to the top of the bars with the tape will be a challenge. It can be done, but you may have to do it a few times.

4) It's better to have more overlap. Too little and you end up having the tape slide around on top of the bars, and it'll expose the metal eventually.

5) Overlap very little on the length of bar below the brake lever. That gives you more to work with on the top of the bars. You don't need much overlap on the lower end of the bars anyway.

I used electrical tape of appropriate color to finish at the top of the bars. Some hate it. I like it. It can be a style point if done right. But Grant Peterson's method of wrapping the end with thread is the best.

There's more, natch. Some of the fun is in coming up with yer own way.

Charles Andrews
Los Angeles