

- #Right adbike white bar tape how to
- #Right adbike white bar tape full
- #Right adbike white bar tape pro
However, some handlebar tape manufacturers recommend not stretching the tape check any instructions that come with the tape you purchase before you start wrapping. You’ll typically need to keep constant tension on the tape as you wrap-enough to stretch it slightly, but not so much that it tears.
#Right adbike white bar tape how to
Then, follow Spilker’s simple steps below on how to wrap handlebar tape. Before starting, you’ll need new bar tape of course, scissors, electrical tape, and ideally a workstand and rubber mallet. Take a test spin with your hands on the base of the drops to figure out which direction is right for you. (Or, counterclockwise on the right, clockwise on the left.) “That means you want to wrap away from you.” (That’s clockwise on the right, counterclockwise on the left, so that the natural roll of your hands goes with the tape instead of pulling it loose.) “If your hands roll more to the inside, wrap toward you,” Spilker says.
#Right adbike white bar tape pro
“If your thumbs sit more toward the top of the bar, it means your hands roll more to the outside,” explains bar-wrapping expert Mike Spilker, head mechanic of the former Navigators Insurance Pro Cycling Team. Join Bicycling All Access for more tips and tricks Many tend to follow the rule-of-thumb of “wrap toward the bike,” but the best direction for you can depend on your preferred hand placement.

But tape is about more than just looks: A well-thought-out handlebar tape installation takes into account the way your hands sit in the drops so the tape lasts longer and provides the cushion and slip-proof grip you need for long days in the saddle.Įxactly which direction to wrap your handlebar tape is sometimes a point of contention amongst cyclists and mechanics. Just make sure your hands are clean too, or it'll be back to square one.Dollar for dollar, no new part takes a bike from dingy to dashing as noticeably as new handlebar tape.

Make sure your bars are clean and no longer slippery with soap (obviously) and then push the pedals and let the wind do your drying work. Rinsing might take a bit more soak in the sponge/rag than the scrubbing did, so you'll probably be putting a good amount of water down on the bars, but they'll still dry faster this way than if you totally sprayed 'em with the hose.Īnd once all the soap is clear, your bar tape should be shining like new!Īll that's left to do is get them dry, and there's no better way to do that than a sunny spin around the block a few times! (Sure, you could just use a third, dry towel - but that's less fun and it's not like you have an unlimited towel budget). You'll end up with brightly colored lint on your clean bars and have to redo the previous step. Note: Don't try to use a red, or another brightly colored, towel for this step. Instead, take your second (clean) towel or sponge, dip it in plain water this time, wring out the excess, and then wipe the bars down to clear off the soap and rinse everything clean.
#Right adbike white bar tape full
Sure, you could just hose down the bike, and if you're doing a full clean right now, you probably might as well once you've washed everything else But, if you're just freshening up your tape before you roll out on that bike date, you won't want to ride over with wet bars. Just wrap the rag around the bars and pull back and forth like you're shining a shoe.įor particularly stubborn spots, just dab some soap directly on the rag and rub it in, but for the most part you can just keep dipping in your soapy water and scrubbing until the stains are gone. sponges because it makes the tricky curves on drop bars, bullhorns, etc. Here's a "halfway done" photo for some "before and after" action. Once your rag starts to dry up, just redab it in the soap, wring out the extra water, and keep on scrubbing!

You're not trying to soak the bars, just get them sudsy enough that it lifts the oils, stains, and stuff from the tape.
