Friction tape. It's the classic answer and for what I want it for,
nothing is better.* The same stuff only white instead of black like
the classic friction tape is also available as "hockey tape."
Image result for friction tape
Note the sheen. 3M makes something they call "friction tape" that isn't
like that and doesn't work well for this purpose, although it's quite
nice for "finishing off" the wrap, much preferable to vinyl electrical
tape. Not that the true-blue dyed in the wool RBW member would
countenance finishing off a bar wrap with vinyl electrical tape, perish
the thought...
On 04/02/2018 11:55 AM, tc wrote:
I've not double wrapped a bar before. What have you found to be a
good first layer material for double-wrapping?
Also, do you find the wrap direction of the base layer matters?
No, but it's not necessary to overlap. Just butt the edges against each
other. The goal is to provide an even surface that's firmly stuck to
the metal of the bar that will provide a non-slippery surface on which
to lay down the outer layer of bar tape.
My new (to me) SimpleOne has an inverted Albatross bar. which I've
found for my hands is too small in diameter with just a single layer
of the Brooks leather wrap that I like and want to keep on the outer
layer. I don't want another, thicker 1-layer wrap. I'm only wrapping
a 5.75" section for each grip.
I have some black Newbaums, which is nice and cheap, but didn't know
if folks have found that cotton makes for a good/bad base layer.
Leather bar wrap is especially prone to slipping.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Tom
PS. Funny -- some research on other forums didn't really turn up
anything conclusive, although one OP that evidently counts grams
(unlike me!) got grilled for "adding so much weight that he'd flip
over his handlebars during heavy braking", or as another guy
cautioned, he'd have to "shave his body to make up for the weight gain
of the additional wrap layer"!
The "weight weenies" forum, I presume?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction_tape
*Friction tape* is a type of adhesive tape
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhesive_tape> made from cloth
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Textile> impregnated with a
rubber-based adhesive <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adhesive>,
mainly used to insulate splices in electric wires and cables.
Because the adhesive is impregnated in the cloth, friction tape is
sticky on both sides. The rubber-based adhesive makes it an
electrical insulator
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulator_%28electricity%29> and
provides a degree of protection from liquids and corrosion
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corrosion>. In the past, friction
tape was widely used by electricians,^[1]
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction_tape#cite_note-1> but PVC
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride> electrical tape
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_tape> has replaced it in
most applications today. The frictional properties of the tape come
from the cloth material, which is usually made from cotton
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton>, while the fabric base
protects electrical splices against punctures and abrasion.
Other uses
Aside from its original purpose as an electrical insulating tape, a
common use for friction tape is to wrap it around the blade of a
hockey stick <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_stick> to improve
puck <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_puck> control. Another
use is to wrap it around the handle of a softball or baseball bat to
provide a better grip. *It is also useful as a base when wrapping a
**bicycle handlebar
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_handlebar>**with handlebar tape.*
*Now you're supposed to ask, "Say, why do you use a base layer when
wrapping a handlebar?" (just as you should ask yourself the same
thing). I use it primarily because it provides a surface that is sticky
on both sides, so that it adheres to the metal handlebar and offers a
sticky surface for the bar tape to adhere to. I've found that some bar
wraps will slide from the pressure of my hands and leave gaps where the
overlaps are supposed to be, especially on the ramps. A base layer of
friction tape will prevent that. It will also provide a very slight
layer of cushion and will slightly increase the diameter of the wrapped
bar, but if those are your primary reasons there are other things you
can use that are squishier and thicker.
But if your main goal is to bulk up the diameter, you might give Patrick
Moore's idea of strips of old inner tube a try.
--
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia
USA
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