Getting a handle on bar tape: the tape thread

Is anyone else terrible at wrapping bar tape or is it just me? Or perhaps it's the tape (he asked hopefully)? I've put some Deda Elementi on my bars so badly not only is some of the bar still showing near the shifters (despite doing that figure of eight thing), the tape now appears to be preventing me shifting back up the sprocket. I also appear to have a mental block when it comes to cutting the triangle bit at the end before finishing off with electrical tape.

Feel like I might pay someone to teach me how to do this properly.

Big Calvin's got you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MzIiv7pewE&ab_channel=ParkTool

Short version: practice with some old/very cheap tape following the video until you're happy or pig sick of it and confirm it's definitely a bike shop job!

I never used to like doing it but have become passable at it by watching that video as I go - I seem to forget every time I re-wrap bars. Set far more time than necessary, wrap as tightly as you can and evenly, unwrap if it's not perfect. I personally use the little tabs to fit behind the shifters and continue the wrap round the back of the shifters, using a dab of superglue to keep it in place.

Mark the bars with electrical tape where you want to end on the tops before wrapping. Make sure the tape is overlapping and angled forwards as you wrap towards the stem as you wrap the tops. Cut the end straight on the outside to fit flush against your electrical tape marker. Pull the tape and re-adjust as much as you need, trimming to get it nice and straight, and trim to get the pointy bit on the underside of the bars. Having the end of the tape already pulled off the roll and hanging (and a pair of scissors to hand) helps to stick it tightly without losing the chef's kiss alignment. Best of luck and apologies for the adenoids guide!

If I had a quid for every time I'd watched that (and others) YouTube video, I'd have enough to pay someone to do it.

Have done it successfully in the past, but I really don't enjoy it and that shows in the results. I don't think having Campagnolo shifters helps - the thumb shifter seems to get in the way of a good wrap - but my cack-handedness is definitely a factor.

Edit: Also seem to have genuine issues folding the tape into the bar ends and plugging them neatly too. Just shit at it from start to finish.

Practice with tape but don’t peel the backing off. Wrap and rewrap and rewrap until you like what you see. Forget about that little bit of tape under the hoods, get a nice tight wrap and you don’t need it. Anyway who cares if there’s a tiny bit of bar or strap showing? really?

If you think electrical tape to finish the wrap looks shit:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004984082661.html

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Any suggestions for decent bar tape in like a burnt orange colour?

In fact, any decent bar tape in a fun but not retina searing fluorescent colour please!

I’ve not used it, but I love the look of this stuff.
https://bicyclecollective.co.uk/products/samurai-handlebar-tape

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I had fizik, the leathery looking one with holes in it and loved it, super durable, orange but not fluoro. I have the same now, but "soft touch" version. Looks and feels great but gets dirty really quickly.

Tempo microtex is the one. Don't get the vento, too fluoro and doesn't last long. Avoid the soft touch unless it's Sunday best bike and don't mind scrubbing it sometimes.

I don't put any tape between the lever bodies and hoods, if I can help it. If you wrangle the tape persistently enough it'll go the way you want without overlapping the lever, and just bunching a bit in the gap at its edge. If I use the extra bit of tape (usually only necessary on Campy levers due to the height of them where they meet the bars), I'll trim it flush with edge of the lever.

As for getting it under the plugs, just keep wrapping off the end of the bar as if it continues, then trim it square about 15mm past the end. Fold the excess in while applying some twist to keep it tight, and give the plugs a bit of a twist as you're shoving them in.

This may be controversial, but the plugs are a much nicer way to finish the tape than whatever other tape you might use at the top of the bars. There are a lot of types of tape which won't curl when you wrap them top-down tight enough. Best kinds have a tougher layer over a foamy layer, which bites in when under tension. That Deda stuff with the twill texture works a treat.

That looks like what I'm after, thanks!

Just purchased some Grepp bar wrap. I tend to change my bars often so having something durable and re-wrappable appeals to me. I'll post images and thoughts once I get it on some bars.

https://grepp.cc/collections/cloth-handlebar-tapes

I have some Specialized S Wrap Roubaix bar tape in the stash drawer. New still in box, choice of pink (see Winston 1 bike), or sort of a Bianchi turquoise.
The best bar tape ever, but not made any more (glum face).
If you fancy either, gimme a shout.

Thanks a lot but I'm all sorted now!

The best bar tape ever, but not made any more

Just did a search, apparently it's in stock near me (Melbourne, Oz)... Might wanna scrounge around and stock up then.

Never EVER buy Burgh bar tape. I've never seen such a mess when trying to take it off. Just torn the top layer off and left a horrid layer of foam stuff that is both falling off, and staying stuck....

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Soak wd40 on a rag and wrap its will then peel off . The glue may be even water based and come off with bouling soapy water.

Tbh I'm swapping bars over so just leaving it. Took nearly 20 minutes to remove enough foam to get the lever off! Mental.

Never EVER buy Burgh bar tape

Unless you just have to complete your topography set

Which is what I did haha, although I don't have the top cap...

Sucker for topo. I was hoping to reuse it on new bars, but never going near it again.

I've never seen such a mess when trying to take it off.

Deda foam tape would like to have a word with you.

Any recommendations for nice tape in Celeste? It's not for a Bianchi but that shade suits perfectly

Fizik. I’ve a couple of variants in the spares box in pink and all seem pretty good.

Might have been covered before, but anyone got any experience with newbaums padded? Any better than normal newbaums with a bit of inner tube around the bars underneath?