Re: [CR] Securing Bar Tape

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

Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 06:47:04 -0800
From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
To: M-gineering <info@m-gineering.nl>
In-Reply-To: <496EF4D5.4050209@m-gineering.nl>
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Securing Bar Tape


I first started wrapping top to bottom, i.e. from stem to barend, I think because that was the way, top to bottom, we used to wrap the old leather grips on tennis racquets when I was a varsity tennis player in high school. That worked OK until cork tape became prominent. I found it impossible to stretch cork tape tight enough to keep the edge from rolling up. If I tried to stretch it that tight, it often tore. So I went to wrapping bottom to top. Now I became dissatisfied with cork tape maybe 10 years ago and since then have used mostly Benotto or Hunt-Wilde plastic tape. This stuff is thin enough you can wrap it either way, but I have continued to wrap bottom to top, then finish off with plastic tape at the top, which comes in assorted color which can usually complement the bar tape ot the frame color. One trick I use with plastic tape is to coat the bars with Elmers Glue and let it dry to just tacky before beginning to rwrap. This helps prevent the tape shifting, especially on the bends. Works best if you apply the glue only to the side you will then immediately wrap. I kind of adapted this thrick from one Jack Moran of City Cycles in Little Rock, AR used to use In The Day. When wrapping cork tape, he would apply a drop of super glue to the bars every couple of turns to prevent the tape shifting.

Regards,

Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA


--- On Thu, 1/15/09, M-gineering wrote:


> From: M-gineering <info@m-gineering.nl>

\r?\n> Subject: Re: [CR] Securing Bar Tape

\r?\n> To:

\r?\n> Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

\r?\n> Date: Thursday, January 15, 2009, 2:33 AM

\r?\n> Kurt Sperry wrote:

\r?\n> >

\r?\n> > I prefer the feel of tape wrapped top down, it gives a

\r?\n> bit of "bite"

\r?\n> > that way. By the time the top edges start to curl,

\r?\n> the tape's

\r?\n> > inevitably sun faded and tatty looking anyway. I

\r?\n> suspect people who

\r?\n> > like to run their bars well below seat level and thus

\r?\n> are putting more

\r?\n> > weight on their hands may be the ones who have

\r?\n> problems with top down

\r?\n> > wrapping.

\r?\n> >

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> I'd say it depends on whether the glue is applied

\r?\n> across the full width

\r?\n> of the tape or not. EG it won't work with cork where

\r?\n> the edges are not

\r?\n> glued, but is ok with cloth tape.

\r?\n>

\r?\n>

\r?\n> BTW i have the distinct impression that current tressostar

\r?\n> tape is much

\r?\n> thinner than the stuff of the 70-s. Anyone know for sure or

\r?\n> is my memory

\r?\n> playing up?

\r?\n> --

\r?\n> mvg

\r?\n>

\r?\n> Marten Gerritsen

\r?\n> Kiel Windeweer

\r?\n> Netherlands