Procedure

Loosen and slide brake hoods up the bar

, exposing the area where the lever clamps.

Start at the bottom of the drop

, on the inside of the bar end. Leave about 1 cm of tape overhanging the end of the bar.

Wrap upward

with the tape angled so it overlaps itself by about 1/3 to 1/2 of its width on each turn.

Maintain consistent tension

— firm but not stretching the tape thin.

As you reach the brake lever

, wrap closely around the lever clamp: - Use a small pre-cut piece of tape (often included) on the lever clamp to fill the gap behind the lever, OR - Wrap a figure-8 around the lever clamp body to cover any exposed bar.

Continue wrapping up the bar tops

, ending where you want it to terminate (typically a few cm before the stem clamp).

Cut the tape at an angle

so the end forms a clean diagonal that lies flat.

Wrap finishing tape

tightly around the cut end (3–4 wraps).

Tuck the overhang at the bar end inside the bar

, then push in the bar end plug to lock it in place.

Slide the brake hoods back down

over their clamps.

Repeat on the other side

, mirroring the wrap direction (so both sides feel the same when you grip them). > Wrap direction is a recommendation, not a universal rule. The goal is to wrap so normal hand pressure tends to tighten the tape rather than roll the edge loose. Mirror the method left-to-right so both sides feel consistent. ---

Procedure #

Loosen and slide brake hoods up the bar, exposing the area where the lever clamps.
Start at the bottom of the drop, on the inside of the bar end. Leave about 1 cm of tape overhanging the end of the bar.
Wrap upward with the tape angled so it overlaps itself by about 1/3 to 1/2 of its width on each turn.
Maintain consistent tension — firm but not stretching the tape thin.
As you reach the brake lever, wrap closely around the lever clamp:
- Use a small pre-cut piece of tape (often included) on the lever clamp to fill the gap behind the lever, OR
- Wrap a figure-8 around the lever clamp body to cover any exposed bar.
Continue wrapping up the bar tops, ending where you want it to terminate (typically a few cm before the stem clamp).
Cut the tape at an angle so the end forms a clean diagonal that lies flat.
Wrap finishing tape tightly around the cut end (3–4 wraps).
Tuck the overhang at the bar end inside the bar, then push in the bar end plug to lock it in place.
Slide the brake hoods back down over their clamps.
Repeat on the other side, mirroring the wrap direction (so both sides feel the same when you grip them).

Wrap direction is a recommendation, not a universal rule. The goal is to wrap so normal hand pressure tends to tighten the tape rather than roll the edge loose. Mirror the method left-to-right so both sides feel consistent.

Bar Tape Wrapping (Drop Bars)

Tools