I've tried the Bontrager X Race Lite foam grips (28 grams) to replace my Yeti grips (saving about 50 grams) but I find that they are a little too thick for my taste. I'm thinking about trying roadie cork wrap and I was looking for some instructions from those folks that have gone this route. I was thinking of using some 3M77 spray adhesive on the bar then wrapping the cork tape tight securing the brake end with strapping or electrical tape (doing 2 wraps). Secure the free end with the plug. Is this a good idea...
Thanks in advance...
I never could get the tape to quit slipping off the end of the bars. It felt really good though and was light. Single wrap was a little thin, preferred it when i double wrapped the tape. Give us some feedback.
I've tried the Bontrager X Race Lite foam grips (28 grams) to replace my Yeti grips (saving about 50 grams) but I find that they are a little too thick for my taste. I'm thinking about trying roadie cork wrap and I was looking for some instructions from those folks that have gone this route. I was thinking of using some 3M77 spray adhesive on the bar then wrapping the cork tape tight securing the brake end with strapping or electrical tape (doing 2 wraps). Secure the free end with the plug. Is this a good idea...
Thanks in advance...
When I was getting around to wrapping the tape on the bars, I hit the Park Tool Website.
I never could get the tape to quit slipping off the end of the bars. It felt really good though and was light. Single wrap was a little thin, preferred it when i double wrapped the tape. Give us some feedback.
It is actual better to wrap from the end toward the middle (and from front-over the top-to back) then secure the end with a wrap of electrical tape. Then the tape holds itself in place.
mtbtires.com
The trouble with common sense is it is no longer common
I've tried the Bontrager X Race Lite foam grips (28 grams) to replace my Yeti grips (saving about 50 grams) but I find that they are a little too thick for my taste. I'm thinking about trying roadie cork wrap and I was looking for some instructions from those folks that have gone this route. I was thinking of using some 3M77 spray adhesive on the bar then wrapping the cork tape tight securing the brake end with strapping or electrical tape (doing 2 wraps). Secure the free end with the plug. Is this a good idea...
Thanks in advance...
Some cork tape doesn't have its own sticky back (I have some) and the traditional way to secure the end is to use the sticky strips (fancy electrical tape really) that come with it. But Tom Kellogg at www.spectrum-cycles.com has a (roadie) bar taping primer and he uses super glue for the end bit. He trims it to a point so that there is no lump at the end.
As this is the WW forum I'm sure a few blobs of super glue is lighter than 6" of 'lectrical tape!
Last edited by Mike T.; 12-19-2005 at 01:13 AM.
Mike T's home wheelbuilding site - dedicated to providing Newby wheelbuilders with information and motivation.
try the fizik microtex tape its very thin so you could double wrap without it getting real thick and its like fake suede so its pretty grippy unlike cork which doesn't seem to have a lot of grip.
I use road tape for my mtb grips. It works well and you can get about 3 sets of grips from 2 rolls of tape. Start at the end of the bar and push a little bit in the bar and then use a rubber plug at the end to hold it in place. You might be able to use the set provided with the tape, but they should be too big to fit in. Then overlap the tape to your controls. Cut it at an angle so when you finish it up, it sit's flush so there is no bump or high point to it. Then finish with electrical tape.
Super easy to do and cheap....3 sets for about 10 bucks......I think bar tape weighs about 25-30 grams with tape, electrical tape and the rubber bar end plug
good luck
Rich
Proud Tribe member since 1992 - looking for better singletrack to be ridden year round
I like to strategically place approx 1" strips of the cork tape along the bar before wraping around the bar. Placing these under the bar where my fingertips land really helps my natural grab on the bar without having to squeeze harder. I tried starting the wrap from the end of the bar, but much prefer starting from the shifter. Fold the tape in half lengthwise at the start and let it run out to full width in 1/2 of a wrap, then just continue wraping. Adjust the pitch as desired. The trick is tucking in the barend. I use bar end caps with an expanding screw from a set of ODI grips. The regular caps did not stay in well. Good luck - it takes some trial an error.
Originally Posted by flipnidaho
I've tried the Bontrager X Race Lite foam grips (28 grams) to replace my Yeti grips (saving about 50 grams) but I find that they are a little too thick for my taste. I'm thinking about trying roadie cork wrap and I was looking for some instructions from those folks that have gone this route. I was thinking of using some 3M77 spray adhesive on the bar then wrapping the cork tape tight securing the brake end with strapping or electrical tape (doing 2 wraps). Secure the free end with the plug. Is this a good idea...
Thanks in advance...
Thanks to everyone's help on this board, I replaced my Bontrager Race X Lite foam grips with Cinelli cork tape. I used a caliper to measure the Bontrager grips and they were at around 34mm. The double wrapped Cinelli (with a layer of sticky side up electrical tape on the bar) measured at 30mm and fits my hands a bit better. As recommended by Shiggy and others, I started from the brake lever side and worked my way towards the outside-wrapping from the front back-going over the bar. I secured the brake lever side with electrical tape, the bar-end side with a plug. Hopefully-it holds.
Last edited by flipnidaho; 12-21-2005 at 10:58 AM.
Sorry, but I would not be happy riding with grips like that - I really think you should try starting from the shifter; And double sided electrical tape (??) should not be necessary - remember this is bar tape.
Here is what mine looked like when I first did it almost 2 years ago (can't beleive it's been that long).
Originally Posted by flipnidaho
Weight is approximate 25 to 28 grams for the bar tape and electrical tape and another 4 grams or so for the Bontrager bar plugs.