What's the deal with half wrapping bars?

Just wondered if there's a reason for it or is it just fashion? Curious like.

It's what they do at the track to reduce weight. No need to have tape on the tops. It's replicated on the street because it looks awesome. Personally I prefer the keirin grips which are mega-awesome.

I reckon it's people who only bought one roll of tape to save £3.

it's if you're riding on the top of the bars, and want to go down on to the drops more quickly; a polished surface will shave 0.5 seconds off this manouvere. Some riders even grease the top of their bars... ;-)

I had a spare half packet of bar tape knocking about when I was about to do my new track bars.

I had a spare half packet of bar tape knocking about when I was about to do my new track bars.

Hipster excuse.

Crash victim excuse.

It's what they do at the track to reduce weight. No need to have tape on the tops. It's replicated on the street because it looks awesome. Personally I prefer the keirin grips which are mega-awesome.

Yeah, that guy's saved even more weight by only having a left-hand handlebar. Also more streamlined (the second arm goes tucked behind the back, like a speed skater).

Yeah, that guy's saved even more weight by only having a left-hand handlebar. Also more streamlined (the second arm goes tucked behind the back, like a speed skater).

I thought the point of having one hand free by using the German track invented 'Halvenbar' was to allow the rider to knock one out while gazing lovingly at his/her own reflection in shop windows?

Looking for reasoning in a fixed gear world... hahahahahaaha... bwaaaahahahaahahah

Okay.... Okay... I've stopped laughing. It's illegal to ride the tops in a Keiran race. Some riders forget so they only wrap where they are allowed to grab to have a visual reminder.
They couldn't give a hoot whether they saved 20 grams in tape weight...

I thought it was to make your bars look like a dogs cock (copyright Bikesnob).

I thought it was to make your bars look like a dogs cock (copyright Bikesnob).

That's if they're taped the other way, with the tape on the tops and the drops exposed. Looks fucking shit IMO. Whereas half-taped in the correct manner looks the shizzle.

i have my father-in-law's bound copies of Sporting Cyclist from the late 50's and it was all the rage then - even with roadies.

What's the deal with half wrapping bars?

It means you have a small penis

it's an affectation used by hipsters who have yet to, and never will, ride a bike in anger.

I rode my (fully taped) 'racer' around Regents Park for 45mins last night in anger. I was positively fuming.

My legs are not happy about these emotional outbursts, and are giving me the silent treatment today.

whereas people like myself and PJ are just about managing to contain our wrath every time we step onto a bicycle.

you're basically talking fucking biblical levels of ire here

i got cut up by a old bellend on a mountain bike today, replete with lank grey locks and a paunch, deliberately, apparently because i waited in front of him at the lights. he was giving me a really hard time, until i said 'do you your children hate you as much as i do?". he then looked like he wanted to punch me, then rode off.

i rode in anger for a bit after that.

:d

you're basically talking fucking biblical levels of ire here

Less of the biblical, more of the necronomiconical*.

• try saying that when you're sober.
  

It's what they do at the track to reduce weight. No need to have tape on the tops. It's replicated on the street because it looks awesome. Personally I prefer the keirin grips which are mega-awesome.

is that a bubble wrap top tube protector?

no it's cobwebs.

its weird how people who only wrap the drops hardly ever use them, i mean they are really low and it must hurt your back and how do you reach your hipster goldfinger brake from down there?

because the goldfinger type brake is a solution for people who want to ride their track bike to the drome without taking another set of handlebars.

its weird how people who only wrap the drops hardly ever use them, i mean they are really low and it must hurt your back and how do you reach your hipster goldfinger brake from down there?

Brake? What is this thing you speak of? Does it go on the handlebars?