The covering or wrap around the handlebars of your bike protects your hands from the metal of the bar and provides traction when riding. With time and use, wrapping begins to pull loose, tear or wear down, exposing the metal. Wrapping the drop-down handlebars of a bike takes patience. The curvy design of this bar makes wrapping tricky. If you need a new wrap on your drop-down handlebars, allow some time to complete the project. This way the tape will be smooth and hold in place.
Step 1
Slide the hoods of the brake levers away from the bars. The hoods will be a cloth or plastic piece that protects the brake mechanism. Not all bikes have brake hoods.
Step 2
Pull the end of the tape roll out approximately 6 or 7 inches.
Step 3
Place the wrap down on one end of the handlebars with the over section of the roll facing the ground. Hold the tape in place against the bar with your thumb. Leave several inches of tape hanging off the end of the bar. This portion will be stuffed into the hollow end before capping it.
Step 4
Hold the tape taunt and begin wrapping. Pull the roll around the bar, keeping the tape tight. Some tape may be fragile. If the tape feels like it is tearing, loosen your grip.
Step 5
Overlap the tape. Lay one section, pull the roll around and apply the next section covering half the previous section.
Step 6
Wrap the tape around the back of the exposed brake lever. This is the area of the brake mechanism attached to the bar. Wrap the tape at least two times around the base of the brake, then move past the lever. Pull the hood back toward the bar and check that the wrap looks smooth under the hood.
Step 7
Apply the wrap until you reach the bike frame around the center of the handlebars. Cut the tape at the end line carefully with a utility knife. Make the cut at an angle. Take care not to score the handlebars with the knife.
Step 8
Add electrical tape around the end of the wrap, near the bike frame. Apply the electrical tape around the handlebar covering the wrap to secure it.
Step 9
Tuck the extra tape hanging from the end of the bar into the open hole on the handlebars. Push the rubber end cap into the hole and hammer it with a rubber mallet to secure it. Repeat the wrap process on the other side of the bar.
Things You'll Need
- Handlebar wrap
- Utility knife
- Scissors
- Electrical tape
- 2 end caps
- Rubber mallet
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