How to Apply a Handle Bar Grip Tape
Grip tape is one thing on your bike that can wear out quickly. Grip tape can need replacing after a crash, from frequent transporting of your bike or usage over time. You may even want to replace it for a new color or because it looks dirty. Replacing handle bar grip tape is something you can do at home in a short amount of time. As you apply the grip tape, remember the goal is to make your handle bar grip as clean and smooth as possible.
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Instructions
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Remove your old grip tape and bar ends. If your old tape was gel-based, you will not need to worry about adhesive but if it wasn't gel tape, make sure to remove all the adhesive from the handlebars.
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Take the new bar tape out of package. If it has adhesive, pull the new adhesive backing off the tape so the sticky part is showing.
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Lay the bar tape out on a table or floor to help lessen the stickiness of the adhesive. This will help you out when you go to replace it later on because this will cut down on any residue left from the old tape.
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Start by cutting a small piece of electrical tape. Put half of the piece of tape on the end of the grip tape and the other half towards the inside of the bars to keep the tape from shifting while you are wrapping it and to keep the tape from unraveling when you are riding.
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Slowly pull on the tape so it has a little tension as you begin to wrap the bar towards the inside. Try to keep the same amount of tension throughout wrapping.
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As you pull on the new bar tape, start to wrap over the piece that you started with by going over every wrap half way as your making the new wrap.
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Eventually you will get to the shifter. In the bar tape packaging should be two small strips of bar tape to put over the silver clamp that holds the shifter in place on the bar.
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Take the two small pieces of tape and do the same wrap that you have done to get the shifter but go around the shifter by stretching the tape under the shifter and making a loop on top of the bars to start wrapping the top. With that loop you will have gone over the exposed silver clamp.
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Continue the same wrap you have done on the bottom of the handlebar. Try to match the same layover that you did before you reached the shifters.
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It is personal preference where you end your bar tape. When you reach the desired spot, take your scissors and make a clean diagonal cut to the inside of the bar. Start from the edge of the bar tape and cut toward the faceplate of the stem.
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Once you have done that, stretch the end of the tape around the end of the bar so it make a straight line all around the bar. This will look better than just ending it as the goal is for the bar tape to be clean and smooth.
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Use electrical tape to finish off the tape to hold the tape longer . All you need is 2 or 3 complete layers of the electrical tape.
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Make sure you add the bar end plugs back to the end of the handlebar on both sides when you are done wrapping the new handlebar tape.
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Tips & Warnings
Feel free to get creative and add colored electrical tape to match your bike, logos, etc.
Wrapping your bars with no tension is not as soft but it will not loosen up while riding. If you want it soft without having it unwrap, make your wraps less than half way. Just make sure you have enough to get that one side of the bar done.
