Wrapping road bike handlebar tape isn’t particularly difficult, but it takes some finesse and patience to execute correctly. Whether you’ve completely worn out your current tape, or you’re just looking for an upgrade, wrapping your handlebars correctly is a useful skill to learn. There are a host of bar tape options out there, but we’re focussing on a favourite around the LTP Sports office- the Lizard Skins DSP tape.
If you’re looking to elevate your drop-bar ride experience, arguably the easiest and least expensive route is with Lizard Skins DSP tape. Softer, grippier and more comfortable than pretty much anything else on the market, this revolutionary microfiber tape will change your riding experience.
We’ve made a short video showing just how easy it is to wrap bars with DSP tape, ensuring an even, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing result.
Steps to wrapping your bars:
- Remove all old tape (one side at a time so you can use the other side for reference), and clean the bar with isopropyl alcohol.
- Peel back the rubber covering on the hoods, so the bar and hood clamp are exposed.
- Beginning with the new tape on the underside of the bar, hanging slightly over the end of the bar, wrap outwards, overlapping about half a centimeter. The overlap on the end of the bar will create a clean line when you go to install your bar-end plugs.
- Wrapping up the bar, ensure that the overlap in your tape remains consistent, and ensure that the adhesive strip on the tape sticks to the bar, not the tape.
- When you get near the bend in the bar, behind the hoods, use the supplied extra strip of tape and stick it to the hood clamp running around the bar. With this in place, wrap up around the inside of the bar, so that the tape holds the extra strip in place, and creates a comfortable padded area for your hand. Ideally, you want to ensure that no metal from the bar or hood clamp is visible. DSP tape is great in that it won’t rip if you need to unstick and reposition it.
- If everything has gone according to plan, the tape is now ready to wrap around the top of the bar, and you should find yourself wrapping backwards toward the back of the bike. Ensuring that the bar is wrapped this way will keep it from unravelling under wear.
- Wrap the tape as far up the bar as you like, and then cut the tape at an angle so that it lies perpendicular to the bar. Hold it in place with a strip of electrical tape, and use the finishing strips supplied with DSP tape to keep everything looking clean.
- Repeat the process for the other side of the bar, and you’re done!
We hope you find this video helpful! Remember to head to your local Live to Play Sports dealer and check out the full range of Lizard Skins DSP tape- a more comfortable ride is in your grasp!