Handlebar wrapping can be one of those bike building tasks you either love or hate. When it is done badly it will make the best build look terrible. When it is done well it will be the crowning glory. So for this post, I did a video to show my method and theory.
Brake Cables
Before I could wrap the bars of SB5422, I needed to cut and fit the brake cables. I’m not going to dwell on the cabling process today, I’ve covered it so many times. If you want to read a couple of posts on the topic have a read HERE (SB4059) and HERE (SB1861).
Brake Lever Setup
Set the brake levers to a baseline, and then adjust from there to a comfortable rider position by sitting on the bike. Again, my post on SB1861 looks at this.
Cabling
I have accumulated so many cable ferrules, both old and new, over the years. Many new sets of cables come with ferrules that I’ll probably never use on one of my bikes, but they get stored away regardless. Some of the metal ferrules that do come on my bikes are kept in case there is a certain odd size I need. So don’t throw these away, find a way of storing and organising them so they are at hand if needed.
I only used four tools for this task.
A good set of cable cutters are a must so I use Park Tool CN-10 cutters. I have a set of these at work and home and they work so well. They are used so many times per day at work and they never miss a cut. The small ‘pick’ is used to open up any liner that may be inside the cable housing. A Campagnolo 8mm T handle tool is used to secure the cable to the brake caliper. It is also used to attach the brake lever to the bar. The 13mm Campagnolo Cone Spanner is used to centralise the brake caliper.
Don’t be afraid to nibble away at the cable outer until you are absolutely happy with both lengths and how they fit and look together.
Handlebar Wrapping
Ambrosio Bike Ribbon
This is my goto tape, my preferred wrapping. It is easy to wrap, looks great and above all, it is comfortable.
Wrapping Explanation and Demonstration
Handlebar End Caps
Just like cable ferrules, I’ve collected an amount of handlebar end caps. I had originally thought to go with either chrome or white. But I found some simple black end caps that suited the scheme of this bike.
Handlebar Wrapping – The Final Result
I couldn’t be happier with the result of the wrap. It is clean, even, well fitted and has just the right amount of finishing tape.
SB5422 Complete
When I get a little more time, I will write about both of these bikes, SB5422 and my other SBDU 753/50th Anniversary Bike, SB6398. I’m pleased with how this bike has come back together. I’ve kept how the bike was, but successfully managed to add a few subtle upgrades to test how much I could push the weight down.
More Posts About SB5422
When you do bar tape you start from the bottom drops and work your way to the top, that way the overlaps are in the correct orientation for handling and wear.