The stock handlebar grip that came with my bike is having some sticking issues. As in, it isn’t. We kind of rewrapped it in the hopes that it would last a little longer, but to no avail.
And actually, we didn’t try very hard. Truth be told, the white grip my bike came with was getting grimy. So when Dan found pink handlebar wrap for me the other day that matches the detailing on my bike, I decided it was time to replace it altogether.
If you have straight handlebars, this will be much easier for you. However, I have drop handlebars (ie: they curve down into a c-shape), so it requires a little extra work.
Step 1. Remove the end caps. They should pop right off once you get a good grip on them.
Step 2. Peel back the hoods. The hoods are the rubber cover on the top of the brake levers. Fold back the rubber as far as it will go so that you can tape under the hoods.
Step 3. Remove the current tape. You may have to cut one of the ends to get it started, but after that it should come off easily.
Step 4. Time to wrap! Get out your new grip. It should have some adhesive with a peel-away strip on the back. Rather than peeling all of the backing off at once, pull back only a little at a time… this will save the tape from sticking to you or itself!
Start at the end where the cap was. Leave part of the tape hanging over the edge so that it can be tucked in and pinned by the cap later.
Wrap in the direction that your hands wrap around the handlebars while riding so that your hands naturally tighten, rather than loosen, the wrap. So on the left-side, you should wrap in a clockwise direction, but the wrap should be counterclockwise on the right side! Make sense?
As you wrap, pull tight and allow the tape to overlap with itself a little bit (about 1/3 of the tape should overlap).
Remember, I have drop handlebars, so there is that awkward point where the handlebars curl under. Wrap as close to the hoods as possible, then pull up over the corner to the top of the bars.
Wrap the rest of the bars, still pulling tight and overlapping as you go. I wrapped over the brake cable because that is how it was originally wrapped. If you do this, make sure you push the cable to the front of the handlebars so that it isn’t right under your hands while you ride!
Step 5. Tape it. When you get to the end, use a piece of electrical tape to secure the end of the wrapping. Your grip probably comes with some tape but if not, any electrical tape will do.
Step 6. Replace the end cap, tucking in the overlapping end.
Step 7. My grip came with an additional short piece of wrap to wrap underneath the curve of the handlebars. If you have the same, simply add it to the open space on the underside of the curve, then replace the hood.
Step 8. If you haven’t already, fold the hoods back down.
Step 9. Repeat on the other side!
Doesn’t it look so pretty and clean now? Hooray!
I love that your handlebars are PINK!!!!!
Totally loving the pink!!
So awesome – this pink is perfect!
It’s so prettyyyyyyy!!
Awwww, we’re bike twins! I got the same pink wrap for my last triathlon and it really helped…when I was lagging in the middle of my ride, I got inspired by the bright pink when I looked down and starting mashing those pedals!
Awww, yay! Loving the pink.
Digging the pink! This is a great tutorial:) I’m always fumbling.
OMG!! I’m so glad I saw this post!! I need to rewrap my handlebars AND I totally want hot pink tape. I’ll be checking this out again sometime this week
Love the bright color! Have been searching everywhere for something other than baby pink. What brand is the tape?!
I’m so sorry, I can’t remember– we just found it at the local bike shop… sorry!