How the heck do you remove Cinelli Bar Tape?

[JimInSF]

I had an OTB incident a while ago which munged up my bar tape good, and little did I know the Cinelli tape would be almost impossible to remove - the tape comes off but the adhesive strip, filled with chunks of the cork strip, does not come off.

I've already tried using alcohol, goo gone, and an acetone based adhesive remover, and none seem to allow me to do more than scrape the stuff off with my fingers millimeter by millimeter.

If you have a lot of tape on a big set of bars, this is absurd - I'm going to end up spending hours removing the #@%$ing tape - I could do a nearly complete mechanical service of the bike in less time than it will take me to replace the bar tape.

Any recommendations on how to get this stuff off?

[MTBeing]

May be a little out there but my trick for getting adhesive off is to liberally spray with Windex and use a plastic scraper. Spray, scrape, repeat.


Sent from my mountain bike while crashing

[Dirty $anchez]

I'll tell you what to use if you edit the title of your thread. Suggesting that people not use a product because it works well is poor sportsmanship IMHO.



This stuff works great:
Amazon.com: Goo Gone Automotive Cleaner 1oz: Automotive

[JimInSF]

I'll tell you what to use if you edit the title of your thread. Suggesting that people not use a product because it works well is poor sportsmanship IMHO.



This stuff works great:
Amazon.com: Goo Gone Automotive Cleaner 1oz: Automotive

Ok, fixed, but I would not call this "working well" - people have to remove bar tape, so using an adhesive that, on removal, does not stick to the bar tape but instead sticks only the bars and when you remove it, leaves impossible to remove residue is *not* a function of the tape. A quick web search reveals I'm not the only person to experience this but no good answer for getting it off.

EDIT: Thank you for the edit/solution. Unfortunately, as per the original post, I tried goo gone, and it didn't work any better than the alcohol.

[kingbozo]

Heat it up with a blow drier.

[JimInSF]

Thanks - the blow drier helped a little, but we're still talking scraping it off millimeter by millimeter. {Sigh}

[Aaron D]

rub it with your thumb real hard, it will start to role off.

I have to do bar wrap almost every day at work and that seems to work best.

on my own bike i wrap a layer off elec tape around then appliy the wrap

[HEMIjer]

So what did you end up doing having same issue right now think I ma going to do my best and just cover. I have new Cinelli bar tape I Purchased anyone ever not use the adhisive except and begining and end?

[shiggy]

So what did you end up doing having same issue right now think I ma going to do my best and just cover. I have new Cinelli bar tape I Purchased anyone ever not use the adhisive except and begining and end?

The adhesive is needed to hold the tape in place.

I have never had a big problem removing the tape. The adhesive strip can stay on the bar but little of the cork does.

A prewrap of electrical tape is not a bad idea if you are worried about removal.

[customfab]

Some of the pro teams that were sponsored by Cinelli would wrap the bars in cling wrap to ease removal. Electric tape can work but that stuff isn't cheap. The blow dryer/ heat gun trick works well but you need to start with it and use it to keep the cork and the adhesive together. This way you don't wind up where your at now.

[HEMIjer]

So just did the best I could with windex, razor blades, gritty rag, put down electrical tape except at start and finish and did a ok wrapping job. I like a thinner bar tape on the road bike and the electrical tape didnt seem to make much of a differnece grip still feels good but I only did some trainer time after completing.

Good thing we are in middle of a Hurricane and I didn't miss any real ride time! Everyone be safe and take care we will be back on trails soon enough.

[wschruba]

I'm a non-adhesive bar tape guy myself (I use profile designs cork, pull it tight enough to hold itself on) but most shops/people will want adhesive.

To be perfectly honest? I don't mess with the adhesive left behind usually. Doesn't change the feel of the new tape on the bar. If you want to though, scraping with plastic/fingers is the best and safest, especially if the bar isn't metal. If it's metal, hit is with some white lightening brake cleaner. Eats adhesives/oils with great gusto.

[bigbadwulff]

Starting the removal from fresh start, I'd heat it well FIRST and go inch by inch slowly without tearing it(as much as you can). The OP now has a mess but good luck.

[Sheepo5669]

Scrape off all the chunks of cork and rewrap. Who cares if some adhesive is left behind?