WRAPPING AROUND THE BRAKE LEVERS

Start the lever wraps by getting the tape as close to the lever body as you can.  It will probably be necessary to make an effort or two to get this initial wrap in the correct spot.  Don't go getting all fancy with figure eight wraps around the levers or anything like that when using stretchy bar tape.  The big trick when wrapping levers is to keep the tape really tight without breaking it.  It is also important to pick the best coverage path.  As you pull the tape, watch the thin edges for signs of stress.  Tearing will begin at these thin edges and the edge's appearance, under stretch pressure, will help you know when you have reached the limit of the tapes structural integrity.  Try to get as close to the limit as you can.

Begin covering the lever support body by splitting the tape evenly over the handlebar brake lever body joint.  Ensure that you pull the tape as tight as you can get it without breaking the tape.  Ensure that there are no leading or trailing edge gaps.  Continue the wrap around the lever support body and drop down to the handlebar, once again evenly splitting the difference between lever body and handlebar surface.

Notice that there is an open space just under the lever mount.  I purposely left the patch piece out so that this deficiency would be obvious.  Before beginning the lever wraps, install the patch pieces supplied in the handlebar tape kit.

Check your work very carefully at this point in the procedure.  Once again, ensure that there are no edge gaps as you try to mould the tape around the lever bodies.  It will be difficult to achieve this without considerable stretch to the tape.  However, with care and full attention to what you are doing, it will work out just fine.  Once you are satisfied that the tape is secure around the lever, continue on to wrap the top of the handlebars, following the same process as when dealing with the drop portion of the bars.  Try to keep your wraps evenly spaced and tight as you go.

When all is said and done, with patches, wraps and hoods in place, the end result should look neat and orderly.  There will be no handlebar visible and the tape will be nice and tight.

Moving on towards the center of the bicycle, the tops of the bars are taped next.  There is no special tricks or concerns, until the point of tape termination is reached.  The tape application needs to be finished off neatly, if at all possible. 

NEXT - WRAPPING THE HANDLEBAR TOPS