I think the bar tape on my road bike is on its last legs. I have probably gotten over a year and a half out of it but a good roll of bar tape is on the expensive side. I have tried wrapping the bars in electrical tape and that wasn't very comfortable. Are there any cheaper alternatives to bar tape? A roll of wrap for a tennis racket/hockey stick has come to my mind.
A leather jacket from goodwill plus a pair of scissors.
It's $10-15. I wouldn't spend a lot of time looking for a cheaper option. Hockey tape is a bad plan, it's designed to be sticky and replaced often. Great for grabbing a stick with gloves, not so much for a road bike.
I don't know how many miles you put in, but could it be an application issue? Get a tech to show you how to do it. It's been a long time since I worked in a bike shop, but I remember there being a real technique. I haven't had to rewrap a bar in years.
I wouldn't use anything thats not bar tape. I think I went with Bontrager last time(I think, I don't ride my schwinn much though)
Yeah I would revisit your wrapping technique. Otherwise, maybe tennis racket tape?
Nashbar has bar tape for $6. Don't get white or a light color and don't lean your bike up against brick walls and you should have no problems.
if you want long lasting but comfortable stuff I've read of people rapping with cork and then putting cloth bar tapeover it with several coats of shilac... last well and super cheap from what I've been told, can be removed and re installed as needed etc etc.
but honestly at $15 for good stuff its cheap and easy enough to swap good stuff...
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