How to wrap a handlebar - Trek Bikes (IN)

Getting a proper wrap on a road bike handlebar is a true test of any bike mechanic’s skills, and it’s one of those simple projects that can puzzle even the savviest DIYer. It’s true that it takes some finesse and practice, but getting a perfect bar tape wrap is easier than you might imagine – as long as you have the right instructions.

Here, Trek-Segafredo Service Course Manager, Kenneth Van de Wiele, gives you the tips, tricks and insider knowledge you need to get a perfectly wrapped road bike handlebar every time you change your bar tape.

All you need to get started is a roll of Bontrager bar tape, some black electrical tape, and scissors.

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Leave about 1/3 of the width of the tape off the edge. You’ll be able to fold this excess material into the bar with the bar plug when you’ve finished.

You want to wrap the bar so your hands will tighten the tape while you’re riding. That means circling your handlebar in bar tape from the outside of the bar, downwards towards your frame.

You want the wrap to be tight, but not so tight that you rip the bar tape as you’re wrapping. The key is keeping enough tension on the tape that it won’t unravel as you’re riding.

You can use the small piece of adhesive bar tape in the box to cover the outside of your shifter, or you can use Kenneth’s looping method, which is a bit cleaner. Check out the video at 1:15.

Cut your bar tape at an angle so the final wrap lies parallel to your stem. Cut the pointed tip off the tape, then secure it with electrical tape, wrapping from the front of your bike to the rear.

Set the bar-end plugs in place and wrap the included Bontrager finishing strips over your electrical tape.

The wide world of bar tape

Swapping out your bar tape is the perfect way to put some signature style on your bike, and it’s also a great way to dial in the way you feel on your bike. Bontrager handlebar tape is available in multiple textures and thicknesses, and each lends a different quality to your ride.

Bontrager handlebar tape

Browse Bontrager’s wide offering of handlebar tape to find the right colour, texture and thickness for the way you ride.

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30-Day Unconditional Guarantee

You should love the feel of every part of your ride, including your bar tape. That’s why all Bontrager gear is backed by the Unconditional Bontrager Guarantee. Ride it and love it. If you don’t, we’ll take it back.

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