How to Wrap Handlebars for Road Bikes
How to Wrap Handlebars for Road Bikes
Calvin Jones directs a complete walkthrough of wrapping road bars with bar tape. Includes wrap direction, getting past the brake lever, and taping the end, as well as some advanced tips for a professional finish.
Questions or comments? Leave them below!
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Video contents:
00:43 Tools Needed
01:07 Prep Work
03:43 Wrapping Process – Getting Started
06:10 Wrapping Process – Getting Past the Lever
09:03 Wrapping Process – Finishing the Wrap
11:09 Advanced Techniques
➤ Tools & materials used:
• Repair Stand – http://www.parktool.com/category/repair-stands
• HBH-2 Handlebar Holder – http://www.parktool.com/product/handlebar-holder-hbh-2
• SZR-1 Scissors – http://www.parktool.com/product/scissors-szr-1
• UK-1 Utility Knife – http://www.parktool.com/product/utility-knife-uk-1
• HMR-4 Shop Hammer – http://www.parktool.com/product/shop-hammer-hmr-4
• Handlebar Tape
• Finishing Pieces
• End Plugs
• Strapping tape to hold down housing (such as fiber tape)
• Finishing Tape (such as electrical tape)
For a text-based walk-through of this process: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/handlebar-tape-installation-drop-bars
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➤ About Park Tool:
Since our founding in 1963, Park Tool has been the leading name in bicycle tools. Our YouTube channel is an extension of our mission to be the ultimate resource for mechanics and riders of all skill levels. Here you will find comprehensive repair help tutorials for a wide range of components and processes, as well as troubleshooting guides, tips and tricks, and information on the latest Park Tool products.
➤ More Bars & Stems Repair Help:
• How to Replace Flat Handlebar Bicycle Grips – https://youtu.be/DN2Q8tnOLoo
• How to Cut Bicycle Handlebars – https://youtu.be/IoMAMzLdsME
• How to Replace Bicycle Handlebars – Flat Bars https://youtu.be/iE1Si-ndgE4
• How to Replace Bicycle Handlebars – Drop/Road Bars – https://youtu.be/AR2PyG0pJ7o
• How to Replace a Bicycle Stem – Threadless – https://youtu.be/TPYGv6fMnBw
• How to Replace a Bicycle Stem – Quill Stem – https://youtu.be/yM90mfrjkUA
Thanks for the tip at 12:17! I really needed it as my wrapping constantly tends to move under load despite being wrapped correctly. Using this technique I’m finally able to ride my bicycle without this issue.
I was pretty much affraid of non-adhesive tapes before buying it. With this video I’m now confident enough of handling it well.
Also, the direction of wrapping the tape is something I have come across quite new to me & realized it is the real key in this technique.
Thanks for making this video.
I conclude that the direction of wrapping is the real key which you taught in this video.
Thanks much.
Thanks! My bars on my Italian baby look fantastico!
That’s a Wrap!
I’m beginner cycling, so I decided to start with a fixie!? Any advice!?
Great video!! Thank you. Worked perfect.
Did the same thing with tape but after few months tape always moves and reveals the handlebar, specially during summer and intensive rides. Sewing leather grips I find as much better solution for problems related to handlebar grips/tapes.
I like pushing about 6” of wrap tape into the bar to start. If the tape must be re wrapped for brake lever adjustment , or swap, it leaves extra to make sure it’s not too short.
With as much padding as you want and a 2 dollar roll of grip tape
Thanks for still showing the other methods around the shifter even though you don’t like em as much. I figured the figure of 8 is indeed bulkier but it works much better on my handlebar/shifter combination.
Whats that handlebar?
This was extremely useful and a well executed demo. This was clear what needed to happen and why. I also liked that several techniques were shown. I had never thought there was different ways to do it. Thank you so much!
Watching this guy is like watching an artist painting a beautiful piece of artwork.
I’m done I was doing everything exactly as the tutorial, then my Band just snapped …. well darn what to do now … I just continued warping and put some tape over the snapped location. Looks like shit but guess don’t stretch the tape TOO much is also a good tip.
You are a master!!!!
Total Frank Zappa
And you wrap it the wrong way. Absolutely useless video.
Im watching this video for like the 5th time in the last year. Not because i need the help, but because this is a really well made video and Calvins voice and explanation of things is wonderful
Thank you for this lesson! I had to do it for the first time and following your steps helped me do a pretty good job.
is a spacer tower above the stem good or not? ive read that some bike manufactures forbid that .maybe you can make a video for stemping etc.
Park tool make everything complicated 🤦🏾♂️
His "preferred" less bulky technique looks more bulky than the figure 8 version. Also, if you do the figure 8 method properly, you don’t need that extra piece of tape.
is finishing tape just electric tape?
A craftsman at work. Amazingly informative and clear.
This is actually the lesson proper of how to put bar tape efficiently and properly. This video is very good, explained the mechanics by detailed and reasons behind it.
Now i can finally change out that Frankenstein tape-job that was done by the previous owner of my bike.
He had some black wrap as a base layer but then he went berserk and covered everything in black electrical tape.
Just terrible grip feeling!. (what she said)..
Also found remnants of sand mixed in with it all and i spend probably 30 -45 minutes to tear it all off.
Who watches but never do it
Bullshit…….. I’ve been riding and building bikes for OVER 30 years and have ALWAYS wrapped my bars from the top down and have NEVER had ANY problems. Wrapping from the top down takes more skill and talent…. you have to pre-stretch the wrap and know how to handle the material. Wrapping from the top down yields a better wrap but takes more skill.
Does anyone know what blue bar tape is being used in the video? I’d like to get some.
All I can say is WOW! 👍
If you’re scared about wrapping your bars, just don’t take the paper off the adhesive backing on your bar tape. Pressure from the bar plug and electrical tape/brand tape it comes with at the top will be enough to hold it there. And you can wrap and unwrap as much as you want, without having your bar tape getting all screwed up from doing and undoing, if it’s not neat enough for you. The adhesive on bar tape really isn’t needed.
YOU ARE THE BEST! THANKS A TON!
What a legend! The best bicycle service tutorial I’ve ever seen.
Nice mate 😍🤩👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Why is park tool blue ??
Merx style is good if you hate finishing tape. Just pay attention to directions and use 3m spray adhesive.
Bob Ross of cycling
I had never done this before, and it turned out great. Very good video. I’m still trying to figure out why 455 people gave it a "thumbs down". LOL.
Best diy bar wrap video
This was actually a really informative and enjoyable video for me. I and my friend are also documenting our trip from Toronto to Miami in a bid to save the planet! If you have some time you should definitely check out my channel, and subscribe! And make sure to leave a comment so I know you enjoyed it! 🙂
One thing you didn’t address, Calvin, is with the preferred [final] method of wrapping around the lever body and reversing the direction is that the notch the little ‘lug’ on the inside of the hood is supposed to sit in is now completely covered with tape. I have a possible fix – after wrapping, coat just the outer edge of the lug with the black pen, then quickly fold the hood back into position, then fold it away again. Now the ink will have transferred to the tape and you can cut a small notch in the tape for the lug to grab onto.
Need to grow moustache 🙂 great video sir
Não entendi nada que esse maluco falou
You are the god of bicycles
Method 3 8:17
Brilliant, now I know why I have gaps in the tops!!!!
Thank you for all of your videos. I took a bike (Cannondale R500 2.8 Aluminum) that had significant sentimental value to me to a local bike shop, they told me they couldn’t fix it, and wanted me to buy a new bike. With your videos, I was able to do a complete disassembly and put it back together with new parts. It works great now, and I am happy. Thank you.
“Calvin Johnes here, Park Tool company.” => upvoted.👍🏽
Very nicely filmed and explained. Thank you.
That was beautiful! Thank you Calvin!