Tips for applying helitape

[welshwhit]

Hi all,

Anyone got any tips for applying helitape to on one carbon forks!?

Look nice, but many curves and turns!

Drew

[Bearbonesnorm]

Clean forks with meths first and use a hairdryer to warm the forks before you stick the tape on.

Make a paper template first.

[ianfitz]

Plus dont leave square corners. Just trim them in to a gentle curve before you stick it all on.

[welshwhit]

Cheers chaps,

Any words of wisdom for the crown area, I specifically want to tape the area where my harness will be attached...

[Ian]

If you have to tape a curved surface you have to anticipate where it will want to bunch up and cut a tapered sliver out to compensate.

I did the tapered headtube on the fat bike recently and had to cut some slits partially into the the piece of tape to get it to sit right.

[Zippy]

All the normal tips for applying vinyl/stickers etc but I found heat was particularly important. In fact so important that it didn't stick without it! I did buy some industrial/Motorsport grade super thick stuff though....

[voodoo_simon]

Never used any tape etc, but for my bar harness, I use an old inner tube, so it doesn't matter how messy it is in the awkward places

[SlowRide]

Electrical tape works well, too. it's stretchy so it contours well, the adhesive is good in cold/hot/wet and doesn't leave a residue when peeled off. Just make sure to use a couple layers if you are putting it behind a harness, it gets a lot of rub there. Taking off your logo shield from the front of the bike is also a good idea if it stands out so the bumps don't rub through the back of the harness. This can happen even with tape over it. Usually it's just a couple 2mm screws to take the logo shield off.

[welshwhit]

Cheers folks,

I used the hairdryer approach and it worked, the tape looked ok in terms of it being on, but have decided to use it just on the downtube and forks.

Like the matt black finish of the frame, and in all honesty the frame bags haven't marked the frame I have already with this finish so will just add patches by the cables I reckon,

Thanks all

Drew

[Cheeky Monkey]

I just use the silver / grey gaffa tape. Some might think it sacrilege, especially in a Ti frame, but I just can't be arsed

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've just wrapped the headtube and fork crown on my Stooge ... split innertube followed by insulation tape, looks messy but nowt's going to scratch now

[vorlich]

+1 on the duct tape.

It goes on quick and comes off quick. I just tape the bike up before any trips and remove it afterward.

It means the bike looks crap, but you'll be riding it, not looking at it.
On the plus side, your bike will look better once you take it all off again.
Heli tape is a PITA.