Author Topic: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?  (Read 21732 times)

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Joe B

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Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« on: November 10, 2011, 05:00:50 pm »
Hello folks,
I have reached the point in my bike build (joesride.wordpress.com)to wrap the bars. I used Cinelli gel tape and am quite pleased with the look and more importantly the feel. However, the termination method that they suggest is terrible , they provided a strip of tape that is both ugly and ineffective. Now the last time I had to do this I used natural cork tape and then varnished it on after wrapping the "loose" end with fine twine, like you see on fishing poles or billiard cues. Is this the way to do modern wraps as well? Is the tape thing the universal default now? What have you folks done on your own bikes?


« Last Edit: December 31, 2011, 08:52:57 am by Joe B »

Offline Twoteller

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2011, 05:40:29 pm »
Electrical tape.

Online John Nelson

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2011, 06:03:18 pm »
I've seen several web sites that show how to do this. They're pretty easy to find. I think it looks pretty cool, but it's more work than I'd do. I think it's called "whipping." People typically put some form of varnish or shellac over the cord to seal it and prevent unwrapping.

Offline ezdoesit

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2011, 06:52:55 pm »
Electrical tape.


+1 for the electrical tape it's what I use.:)
Remember it's mind over matter
you don't mind it doesn't matter

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Offline waynemyer

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Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2011, 07:04:00 pm »
Another voice for electrical tape. I recently found this generic tape with an adhesive that doesn't smear. The trouble I have is getting the terminating cut angle of the tape just right so that everything lines up square and even.
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Offline bogiesan

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2011, 08:42:24 pm »
I put the question into goolge and came back with a dozen awful videos and a ton of racer wannabe sites. I even found a 3M product called Finishing Tape.

I ride my recumbent with a bunch of roadies. Electrical tape is universally despised because the adhesive bleeds and the black is not always the statement desired. Colore PVC adhesive tapes tend to fade AND bleed.


I play go. I use Macintosh. Of course I ride a recumbent

Offline Tandem4Rider

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #6 on: November 11, 2011, 06:46:54 am »
Another vote for electrical tape.

Offline staehpj1

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #7 on: November 11, 2011, 06:57:49 am »
Wrapping the ends with cord and shellacking them is probably what you are looking for, but I can't say I have ever noticed anyone I met on tour having anything but electrical tape or the tape that came with the bar tape.

My take on this:
Bar tape is something that takes a good bit of abuse on tour and does not last for all that long.  It gets replaced pretty frequently, mine is usually pretty ragged after a few thousand miles when on tour, less often at home.  Electrical tape or the tape that came with the Cinelli bar tape is fine.

Then again for me the bike is just a bike and not some fetish object.  Good enough to do the job is good enough.

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #8 on: November 11, 2011, 11:24:28 am »
Electrical tape: +1 more

But don't get the cheap stuff Wally-world or Home Depot has on sale.  Spend real money ($2-3?) and buy 3M tape.  It'll outlast the bar tape.  It even comes in colors!

Offline PeteJack

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2011, 12:05:14 am »
Quote
Spend real money ($2-3?) and buy 3M tape

+1 for electrical tape

The good stuff breaks cleanly when you pull it leaving a nice square end, the cheap stuff stretches like chewing gum and leaves a ratty end that doesn't stick down properly

Quote
Then again for me the bike is just a bike and not some fetish object.  Good enough to do the job is good enough.

Well said

Offline driftlessregion

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #10 on: November 14, 2011, 10:24:15 pm »
Here's the Rivendell way of wrapping with twine:http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/twine.htm

Offline hem

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #11 on: November 16, 2011, 07:07:01 pm »
Normally I use Scotch 33 or 88 electrical tapes as they seem to hold better and don't get as gooey as other electrical tapes.

From an European tour long ago I picked up some Tesa tape which is a cloth like tape that is real strong and grips tight. The roll I have is blue and about the same width as the black electrical tape. But I cannot find a place to buy it in a single roll so I use it sparingly .

http://www.tesatape.com/industry/products/tesa_4651.html

Offline Ron Scott

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #12 on: November 16, 2011, 08:00:02 pm »
Here's the Rivendell way of wrapping with twine:http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/twine.htm



This is actually very cool and I'm going to try next time out.

Hope this doesn't turn my bike into that fetish object alluded to above; I'll let ya know...


Offline driftlessregion

Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #13 on: November 17, 2011, 10:37:26 pm »
At risk of digressing into a completely different direction, Grant Peterson of Rivendell builds some of the most beautiful bikes in the world, but is the first to say bikes are to ride not turn into fetishes.  Beauty and utility do not have to be mutually exclusive which is one of the great things about bicycles.

Joe B

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Re: Preferred method of terminating handlebar tape ?
« Reply #14 on: December 31, 2011, 09:07:34 am »
Update:
I decided to do the twine wrap method. I used fly fishing thread and spar urethene. The complete process and more photos are on the blog. joesride.wordpress.com
« Last Edit: December 31, 2011, 10:24:15 am by Joe B »