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Cycling Handlebar Tape
The handlebar, and many aero bars, need to be wrapped with cycling handlebar tape. Thetape should have an adhesive strip running along the back, and should bea soft foam or cork material. I have found Cinelli to be the best;unfortunately it's expensive. Real cork does not last long. The cheapmaterial that looks like artificial leather is uncomfortable. Choose adark or mottled color that won't look dirty quickly.Before wrapping the tape, install any brake and shifter cables that runto the brake handles or the bar-end shifters, using the grooves in thehandlebars if available. Tape the cables to the handlebars withelectrical tape to they don't come off all the time during wrapping. Wrapping begins by attaching the short strips to the metal strap thatholds the brake levers to the handlebar. Fold back the rubber coating ofthe brake lever body. Next, cut off one edge of one of the longhandlebar strips so it tapers towards the end, remove the end of thebacking to expose the adhesive strip, and begin wrapping at the end ofthe handlebar (not at the center near the stem). Wrap clockwise on theright side and counter-clockwise on the left side, seen from the rear ofthe bicycle (this prevents unwrapping when holding the handlebars on thetop later). Wrap under tension, but not enough to stretch the tapesignificantly. The loops should be spaced such that the adhesive stripis just barely on the handlebar, not on the previous loop of the tape. Itend to space the loops more closely near the end and wider near the stem. When you reach the brake lever, make sure that the last loop foldsagainst the brake lever body. The next loop extends all the way to theother side of the brake lever body. Some people recommend to then foldthe cycling handlebar tape to run back along the lever to the lower end and then back overthe previous loop than spanned the body, only in the other direction soit crosses the previous loop, but I find it makes the brake leversection too fat and wastes too much tape. Then complete wrapping thetape to the place where the handlebar gets wider near the stem, taperthe ends again, and seal the end with electrical tape or the adhesivestrips in the handlebar package. I usually have to re-wrap the last partafter the brake lever a few times to get the length just right. If you have aero bars that clamp on the narrow part of the handlebars,not the wide part near the stem, remember to leave enough of thehandlebars untaped to install the aero bar brackets. When folding backthe rubber brake body coat no part of the handlebar metal should bevisible. For this purpose, put a 10cm piece of cycling handlebar tape across the clampthat holds the brake handle, with the ends disappearing under the rubbercover of the handlebars after they are peeled back in place.
 Fi'zi:k Handlebar Bar:tape Fi'zi:k Handlebar Bar:tape is preferred by professionals and their mechanics. Made of Microtex it is durable, strong, stretch resistant and breathable. It is smooth and comfortable to touch
You pay only $12.93
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