How To Wrap Bar Tape Like A Team Sky Pro Mechanic

[@D.Eldon_]

I almost skipped this video, thinking it would be boring. What a surprise! I'm so glad I watched it! Ian is both hilarious and pragmatic in the same breath! Great vid, Jon. Please do more videos with Ian!!!

[@Mersuharrastaja]

Best way to wrap your handlebar is that what Park Tool's Calvin Jones teached, swap the rotation/direction at the hoods-point.

[@MrTheropod]

Yeah you are right...you would think that he would have discovered that "best of two worlds" method after 10974 bars....but...for me it just took a quick search and watching Calvin for a couple of minutes..👍

[@alexsajine5395]

yeah figure 8 is stupid

[@helvettefaensatan]

Yeah. That is a better tip for mechanics with time, and for me I think I'm better at that technique. So that it's also faster.

[@Methodical2]

That's who video (Parks Tools) I used when I changed bar tape.

[@Beery1962]

@@alexsajine5395 Figure-8 looks better. Look at Calvin Jones' godawful non-figure-8 tape job on the Park Tool video.

[@tomshield9730]

I wrap according to Park Tools demo, it's very good. I've switched to using silicone tape instead of electrical tape at the end as it's nicer stuff.

[@Is_this_4_reelOU812]

I can't stand gooey electrical tape! Silicone tape comes in an array of colors from clear to black. Yeah, it's more expensive but when I am riding on a hot day the Silicone tape does not start sliding around and undoing and getting sticky gooey like electrical tape. It should be banned even from electrical work!

[@monkfitz]

Nice to hear from proper pro mechanics with huge experience instead of hearing opinions of guys who have only a bit of an idea! Decent vid

[@prestachuck2867]

I’ve been wrapping bars exactly the same way he does and for the same reasons since the 1980’s! Nice to see that I’m not alone on this one. Great interview, Jon!

[@Darkswatt21]

Best video ever on "how to wrap a bar tape like a pro" without recording any wrapping bar tape action !

[@seadbiberovic9591]

This reporter of GCN is very witty an interesting.He is the best I ever seen.

[@uomorana71]

some useful tips, but i was expecting to see him in action wrapping that handlebar and not just talking

[@lechprotean]

I also wanted to see how much overlap there should be for each rotation, how to do the figure 8 in practice and how to properly finish. Talking heads was still fun but we need a follow-up hands-on video.

[@SK-cc2gw]

@@lechprotean I thought the figure 8 was a bit outdated, from a time when tape was super thin. I've tried to do some with modern thicker tapes and they're just too bulky. I'm personally a fan of the method used in the Park Tools videos. Great instructional for first time wrappers.

[@philippbrumund9521]

For all others who were as disappointed as us: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a37depysbNWYrac Great explanations and techniques.

[@betoborrela]

That's true! so frustating, we would like to see action, they did not show haw to do it, useless after all

[@lesmerritt7976]

Watch the Park Tool one, much better.

[@andyc9187]

I saw this straight after the Park Tools vid. There’s no “right” way to do it, it’s personal taste and what works for you. I think the Park Tools vid is more useful because it’s a practical demonstration. All said and done, I still watched this all the way through. 😊

[@sweepsp8468]

My first bike with drops had engraving and I did not want to hide that years later I gave into bar tape and wished I had used it before. I have wrapped it both ways and both worked ? loved the video

[@AOH1321]

I just sent this to everyone of my junior mechanics as a pro level justification for my insistence that they wrap bottom to top. Thanks GCN!

[@fredmcgough748]

Thanks Jon! I appreciate your enthusiasm!

[@julianidrobo55]

This is the video about wrapping bar tape with the least bar tape wrapping I've ever seen, and yet so useful.

[@mikefreitas1331]

"The microphone is mine!!! I want him to explain things but i wont reach the mic to him!!!"... Hahahaha... great video, pour sound...

[@linslins4860]

This is most precise and accurate, how to bar tape that ive ever seen. Very very very detailed.

[@izi941]

I do it both..bottom-to outside, 8figure so, that the top of the handlebars are fastened to the back.

[@bmccall30]

Your friend from Park Tools (Calvin Jones) wraps from the inside out on the bottom then uses the figure 8 around the leavers to change direction and wrap outside in (over the top towards the front) on the top.

[@DennisKrger]

Calvin Jones does not use the figure 8, he uses the "up, over and around" technique, unless he's changed his mind since this video (January 2016): kzbin.info/www/bejne/a37depysbNWYrac (The figure 8 is 'method 2' in the video, quote: "I don't like this technique so much")

[@gradyzyner7423]

Rapping about wrapping with Jon and demonstrating the proper technique to surgically snip the end bit tips properly for lifelong handling. Great clinic, Jon.

[@morrimohr439]

I reverse the wrapping at the shifter to compensate for the reverse "throttle" grip on the drops vs the tops - super easy.

[@lifeafterlon]

This winter's indoor training has demolished my bar tape; this was just in time. 🙏🏻

[@pknark]

I just recently did the bar tape on my road bike for the first time, I accidentally did it the pro way, yay me. Tell the pro teams I’m available

[@shawnpitman876]

He saved 15 hours of time with his long scissors.

[@Sooperhans3636]

50/50! There’s no wrong way unless it’s top-down!

[@jasongirvan6729]

Hi john You guys think you two are bar tape geeks. I not only measure my cut distance from the stem but I measure my start placement (inside-out) but I count the number of wraps and let my electrical relax for 5 minutes after cutting it to a rough length and then giving it a final measured cut before setting the ends of the tape down. It must be perfect!! Btw great show, I don’t miss any of the tech shows

[@okantichrist]

Jason Girvan how do you sleep at night?😂

[@LaughingSaint66]

Jason Girvan Jason u need a more lax hobby 😂😂

[@jacqueschiron4035]

Thousands of km on a top-down bar tape, no unraveling, no twisting. It does take a bit more time to do because you have to pay a bit more attention to what you're doing, so maybe that's why they don't do it. But it looks a hell of a lot better. And no lose bit of end of tape under the thumb when on the tops. #teamtopdown !!

[@thomasvmanning]

I thought you guys did a video about this, but... I'd you do the figure eight around the brifter clamp you can wrap in the direction of tightening take when throttling on both the drops and the tops.

[@cjharrer01]

I liked the comment about the snips at the end should be equal length, never happens for me, but I've wrapped less than 50 bars :) I am getting better at the figure 8 though. Also, I wrap bottoms from inside to out.

[@ryan_coleman]

I could listen to this for hours. Thank you.

[@leogrubl6815]

The Bike color with the black and the blue Shine ist so f***ing amazing 😍

[@criticalmile5631]

Spot on Jon! That answered some questions I had about handlebar wrapping. Fun times!

[@palooza90210]

Super interesting, more videos of just talking to pro mechanics please. P.S the more opinionated the better

[@sbdstudent]

The Zen of wrapping bar tape. Cheers

[@Aphidman1]

That was fun. And of course I like it more because they agree with me about wrapping method.

[@jen3800]

to avoid that sound issue in the future, may i suggest recording the two mics on seperate tracks, left and right, and invert the polarity on one. when you mix the video, mix it to summed mono. of course you could have the guest clap for syncing the two mics in mixdown, easy peasy. hope it helps and thanks for another great video !

[@OutdoorsIQ]

Could you explain this further? I’ve always struggled with this

[@jjohnson1476]

So Correct me if I'm incorrect but wasn't wrapping from the top the standard in the early days? Was there a switch at some point? or has this always been a debate?

[@nofascistsonmywatch]

I started racing in 1970, and yes, back then I ALWAYS started at the top and wrapped to the ends. BUT, we were using Velox, or Tressostar thin CLOTH tape with a FULL adhesive covering on the back way back then, so no worries about rolling the edges at all because of direction. With the advent of the thicker cork/cork gel tapes and then the more rubberized, cushy silicone/gel padded type tapes of today, the direction does matter more. Interesting point (albeit not related to actually wrapping the bars); In the USA back in that era above ('60s to at least the '80s), EVERYONE used black bar tape, whilst the pro peloton, and even the great international amateur elites (when there was still such an animal!) used white tape exclusively. Nowadays, the Pro Tour riders ALL use black tape unless trying to be fancy and show off/complement their race classification leader's jersey, or a current national championship status, etc. ;) Maybe all of the Pro Tour mechanics got sick and tired of changing out dirty bar tape on 8 to 10 bikes every single night?? (Think of the extra time wasted on THAT chore, every day!)

[@mattghanivand7397]

Question: I am pretty ocd about keeping my bike clean. Do I need to ever worry about living or greasing brake parts? Rim brake Sram or Dura ace direct mount 9100 ? Thanks

[@SPN-78]

Lots of hate for this video but personally thought it was brilliant. Should be more content with team mechanics for little tips & tricks.

[@ydvitaSwim]

Amazing Video!

[@tomnewham1269]

Great video, it would be good to have some more interviews with that mechanic. One question I have is, how often do the pro mechanics change the pro riders bar tape? Thanks for sharing.

[@vaughanc4919]

My life is complete, I wrap bartape exactly as the Team Sky mechanics do, even down to the long scissors!

[@al33tpickle]

Surprisingly enlightening

[@pantherv5]

naturally the direction of hand grip is over the bar and away from bike when below the lever and over the bar and toward the rear when hands are on the top of the bar. what i do is changing direction of the tape wrap when doing the 8 figure at the lever so tape wrap direction will follow your hand grip no matter if it's at the bottom or top of the bar.

[@mrmatthewking]

To the outside on the drops. Then change direction at the hoods, and finish the tops towards the rider.

[@amfearliathmor8213]

I think I'll use a Velobitz Vintage Black Leather Handlebar Cover, Wax Thread & Needles kit to wrap some Cinelli 64 bars rather than bar tape, then there would be no arguments which direction the tape is wrapped. Should look nice and complement the black leather Brooks B15 saddle.

[@sjjjr1]

Great video but I would've like to see him actually wrap the bars 🤔

[@waynesbutler7834]

Being from another generation I remember wrapping from the top down and never a issue , although I was never a pro rider obviously but pedalled many miles . I think it comes down to the type of tape you use . I find tape like Lizard Skin , not every riders cup of tea , that's real tacky almost has fused edges when wrapping but cork tape needs bottom to top wrapping . But that is just my experience . Plus if you want a nice finished edge use fusing tape instead of black tape for the finished look . Fusing tape has no adhesive but sticks to itself permanently and can be bought on Amazon .

[@grandad1982]

That Pinarello is such a nice looking bike.

[@AsherMaximum]

This was done Down Under though, so for the Northern Hemisphere, we should reverse it, right? Start at the top, inner to outer.

[@drjwbriand]

asher, what happens at the continental divide????? neenee!

[@bikescience1]

No. Upside down

[@Sp3z]

You can actually change the direction when going around the hoops, so you can get either direction for both top and bottom part of the handlebars

[@bmorlok1]

yeah im surprised that wasn't mentioned

[@your_average_cultured_dude]

Calvin Jones from park has the best video on wrapping bar tape.

[@frankgerner9822]

Great job and instructor

[@mrchuckglider]

Excellent vid! So happy that I do it the same way and even +1 on the long scissors. I want to know more about how many wraps of electrical tape, moving inwards to overlap the bar metal and back out again? Reducing electrical tape tension before cutting? End of elec tape underneath the bars, right?

[@ivanb___2217]

Fantastic! Next time record those juicy bits that we missed 5:34. This also was a good episode for Lasty to do.

[@patrickstep]

Very helpful, if only I had watched it before I wrapped my bars

[@bhumiriady]

Good video as always! Looks like my personal mechanic Misaki can learn a thing or two from Ian! Hats off to Jon and Ian.

[@lauig]

How about testing the two methods in a wind tunnel ?

[@StuntpilootStef]

I can bet you a paycheck that's not going to make any noticable difference. Not even in the test data.

[@701garage]

Can you do both like I just did so you would always making tighter

[@grumpsyo7301]

Wrap it so it goes with the "throttle" on bottom and top. You can do it so you get both worlds taken care of. This is a pro??? Sheesh.

[@bondy284]

Welcome to 🇦🇺 Jon. While in Adelaide try one of the “ Coopers “ brews.👍🇦🇺

[@StudioWilkeMedia]

Don't usually comment, but this hit the sweet spot. Thanks for this.

[@RajczakMichal]

Great video guys, as always!

[@pauli6570]

When you run out of videos to make....always return to the “how to wrap a handlebar “ ......

[@jarnozondag694]

Winter is boring indeed

[@HarryBeanpole]

Its summer in Ausland @@jarnozondag694

[@Phaidrus]

Don't be grumpy, cheer up!

[@jrabbott64]

What watch are you wearing Jon??? Interesting!!

[@kenblair2538]

During the last decade or so, I've gotten too old to be in the drops . So, now I wrap (starting at bottom), outside- in as I tend to throttle on the tops. Only time I'm in the drops, is to hold on, going down hill, fast !

[@malcyates]

The 5 seconds saved using big scissors (great idea) I'd lose working out which edge of the tape to taper !

[@JonathanYen3]

Great video! I might still use those little bits for the hood since I only have one handlebar to do

[@cyclegeeks6097]

I swear this is the 3rd how to wrap yours bars on GCN. Does the technique keep changing each year?

[@zzhughesd]

Cyclegeeks ha, I would do too for contents content sake, Well Observed. Agree

[@dblockeu]

Well once you've covered every single aspect of cycling from aero to erectile dysfunction and then bang the lot in Espagnol what is there really left to do? lol

[@zzhughesd]

HARSH!!! It's a business it's content, it pays the bills offers free and FUN insights. GCN need to be left alone unless they start charging and then that is different

[@acousticgearhead7820]

Bottom to top, to the inside on the drops :-) Need some more opinions here: Do you overlap the electrical tape with the bars or keep it fully on the handlebartape?

[@cliffordromina3527]

I wrap the electrical tape just inlined with the bar tape but never with the bars. Just looks cool that way. I use some double sided tape on the end of my bar tape to prevent is from sliding lose, since it doesn't have those adhesives with it..

[@fukawitribe]

Bottom to top - inside to out on the drops, half loop at the hoods, and front-to-back on the tops. Tape overlap on the bar otherwise the exposed end trips my OCD (and the lighter colour tape looks grubby there quickly, which doesn't help the twitching) :)

[@samuelhopely4853]

When I can, I like to use Diamondback factory tape because its stupidly stretchy, so i can really crank the tension on. Most bar tape won't come loose from not overlapping anyways but its nice to be sure. I might drive Tim crazy here because I not only don't overlap but ill cut the finish short with a razor so my finish line is nice and short. I must've seen that in an old GCN video when I was younger, but every client that gets their bars wrapped really seems to like the touch. It's just a little different!

[@fukawitribe]

@@samuelhopely4853 I'm trying not to picture it, but big respect for finishing it with a razor blade all the same Sir.

[@idixon5168]

It’s possible to reverse the ideal “throttle” from drops to tops by changing the direction your tape exists the figure-eight.

[@richardggeorge]

Watch park tool bar tape wrapping video. The final method shown is the best which reverses the wrap direction above the shifters. Search "How to wrap handlebars for road bikes"

[@chiefrocker12]

I have no idea why I enjoyed this, aside from my next scissor acquisition. (May be it was therapeutic hearing the tape rotation direction.....yada yada )

[@zrsgamboa]

Figure of eight for me... and wrap just as described in the video. Oh, don't throw away the short bit of wrap that comes in the box... instead you could use it on the drops under the wrap, to give some extra padding when riding in the drops.

[@TomiB506]

The guy likes his job thumps up.

[@RonHei]

How many times did your mother tell you to wash your hands before eating? It’s the same reason they do multiple videos of wrapping bar tape. Takes a while to sink in for some. Great vid and still different than the others. Thanx!

[@DanCave]

also, if you wrap the tape so that the adhesive strip partly overlaps onto the bar and half onto the last loop of bar tape, it stops the tape from slipping.

[@ErnstBolder]

that last straight cut is the hardest part of the Job. The isolation tape is to cover it , when it sucks

[@dalezapple2493]

Had hoped to see a demo...

[@Deadbuck73]

I don’t wrap mine... the guy at the schwinn shop did it years ago... he clearly started at the top and there’s no electric tape involved... I’ve put on thousands of miles training and many races... other than a little dirt the tape has held up just fine...

[@richardupyurass2379]

you wrap inside to outside on the bottom then change the direction at the lever and go the opposite for the top

[@EdsonOchoa]

So... what about aero bars? I have the 3T aeronova, and I was not able to get it nice from the bottom to the top 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Methodical2]

I did mine top to bottom.

[@LUCYDIAMONDBOXER1]

Hmm title should really be "Listen to Team SKY mechanics opinion on bar tape" was expecting a practical demo

[@mediumrick7667]

Oh heck, there's a million videos out there on the practical points. It's nice to hear some opinions from the pros on occasion.

[@samuelwragg8615]

Ive always wrapped top to bottom with no issues

[@Hardi26]

2 layers. First layer is 3mm 'pro sport control' something, second layer is 3mm silicone bar tape(don't remember brand or name). I'm wrapping throttling on drops way, with figure 8. At beginning, I use more overlap, then smoothly lessen it, because I want to get kind of droplet like look.. bar will get thicker at bar end and then a round finish perfected with a belling end cap(the one that expand inside bar while screw on obviously). It's difficult to achieve what I want, and so that both ends would look same.. I got only one nice. The first layer I did cut pretty short in angle like they usually do.. cut it short because second layer tape would be too short to wrap 2 layers everywhere.. Second layer(silicone tape) I did not cut at all.. Leaved square end like it was, (can't waste it, it's expensive). Stretched it just so while wrapping, that it ends just below handlebar, flush with brake shifter cables. I finish with thin tesa textile tape(5125) and then usual electrical tape on top of that. That textile tape is good non stretchable and it has different clue that won't leave sticky clue to bar tape. It won't stick too hard, but.. clue is pretty easy to remove from surface also.. Kinda becomes rubber like, like the clue you use to fix your inner tube I think. And then the electrical tape on top of that, because textile tape tends to start curl on edges. And hot wire to little melt the finishing tape, so that it won't get undone. Melting works also with that tesa textile tape too.. I have used just only textile tape for finishing too. It blends well with that black "sport control tape" from pro. In that case I put one single lap of tape so that it would be slightly over edge. And then stick that edge under the bar tape. (May need to use some protective layer between bar, and tape, not to scratch the bar. The waxed paper, that was on the sticky side of bar tape may work.) And then some wrap(not over edge) more tesa textile tape to finish. Will look a bit different like that.. You get pored of same electrical tape look right? ^_^

[@acidtop]

Hardi Erstu fuck me, yawn!

[@abcd969696]

Most Jonish video ever

[@brannmacfinnchad9056]

That was actually interesting.

[@MortenJonassen]

How about wrapping the Canyon Grail cockpit?? This seems like an almost impossible job.

[@pballasiotes]

Golden info

[@kenny2PWRR]

Great vid cannings

[@ssaunders2k]

Do they ever double-wrap, cross-wrap, or do anything special e.g. for the cobbles? Are any of their riders picky about their bar-tape, and want it wrapped different from everyone else?

[@liviusandulescu8500]

Hello John! Great Show! Wanted to ask if you can do a show about monstercross, the do and don't about riding and building a monstercross bike. I am both a roadie and a mountain biker and I realized that for my local terrain that sort of bike would be the best of both worlds as the forest trails are too close for a car ride but too far to push on a mtb without going on the drops and gaining some roadie speed instead of limping at 15 km/h on a mtb. #askgcntech

[@gcntech]

How do you wrap your bars? Do you use the same directions as Ian from Team Sky? 👇

[@zokibjelotomic2]

From bottom to top, on the right side start clockwise, figure 8 like Si did on old video , and top towards rider ;) Simple

[@KidFury27]

The scissor length tip was brilliant. It also ensures you make the start of the cut at the right point so the end tip of the tape will wrap correctly under the bar to hide the end point for a smooth tape off. Love it.

[@brunocyclist]

I love wrapping handlebars. Great zen moment with my bike. I wrap from top to bottom, starting with a rearward turn, using figure of 8. Top to bottom because I think electrical tape looks horrible. Never had a problem with unravelling or upcurling tape. Never thought of using reflective tape though. Sounds cool, might give that a try next time.

[@hughbriz]

I wrap mine like Ian because I have found the tops unravelling on long rides when done the other way Also have a handy pair of wallpaper shears for trimming the ends. My figure-of-eights are still poor though and I use the small bits if provided

[@indiebikes]

I always wrap bottom to top, inside to outside with figure of 8 around the levers, then make sure the electrical tape is wrapped once just inside the edge then tight just outside the edge and you get a nice little shrunk effect and no electrical tape on the bars. But each to their own as long as the tape stays in place.

[@CaptainMurdoc1]

The mic wasn’t on right?

[@cliffcox7643]

This video raises the BAR (tape) on how to put on tape.

[@cccpkingu]

Boo

[@Archi2g]

great tips, thanks for the video

[@cliffordromina3527]

The advantage of wrapping your own bar tape is that you know exactly how you want it to be and how to do it.. I double wrap my handlebar. The direction doesn't change throughout the bar, because i tend to twist it inward on the tops and the drops..

[@dirtyred2000]

figure of 8 is good if your tape has a pattern otherwise it won't be consistent

[@thejustintung]

The active noise reduction is the real MVP here.

[@MrWiggypig]

wrapping your own bars is as complex as putting air in your tyres, good video, I like the explanation, I really don't need a demo, I think I've got it thanks.

[@The_BenD]

Anyone ever use heat shrink tubing instead of electrical tape to secure the top end of bar tape? Was considering doing it but thought I'd check for advice first :)

[@Is_this_4_reelOU812]

Heat shrink tubing seems more trouble than it is worth. I love silicone tape and it is the only way I finish off the wrapping. In colors between clear and black it is a great alternative to gooey electrical tape. As you wrap the silicone tape, it just needs to be stretched about 50% and it will stick to itself.

[@CharlieCarbsandCycling]

didn't talk about wrapping top of bars to be more aero- will have to make another video haha

[@YAMA-SAN-639]

New Dogma f10!!

[@JasCar1967]

t-rex arm....love it lol

[@sAmiZZle82]

Would've been nice for him to show us how he does it