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Do you have sissy-boy hands? Get blisters every race and are unable
to hang onto the bars? Well, I used to. Until a friend taught
me how to tape my hands before a race. Haven't had a blister
since. Here's how.
You'll need Johnson & Johnson waterproof adhesive tape (the white stuff)
in both 1/2" and 1" widths, and Dr. Scholl's
moleskin. You can get both at any drug store.
Make sure your hands are very clean and dry. First, cut the moleskin to cover the areas where you get blisters. I get them on my palm at the base of my two middle fingers on both hands, so I cut a small rectangle about 1 1/2" x 3/4" to cover that area on both hands. Of course the size of your hands and affected areas will influence this.
Next you'll need the 1/2" width tape. Cut an
approximately 5" strip and loop it around the back (non-palm side) of your finger, then overlap over the moleskin. If you've done this correctly, the tape will form an "x" on the palm of your hand. Follow this procedure for both your ring and middle finger on each hand. You should now have 4 "x's".
Now it's time for the 1" width tape. Open your palm and
stretch your fingers toward the back of your hand, making the skin on your palm taut. Starting between the ring and middle finger knuckles on the back of your hand (NOT the finger knuckles; the 3rd knuckle down from the fingertips) wrap the 1" tape around your hand. Make sure the tape is pressed cleanly, firmly and smoothly on the palm; this is not critical on the
back of your hand. Wrap the tape 3 times around your
hand, overlapping the tape approximately
2/3 each time around, and end about halfway across the back of the hand. If you've done this correctly you should have tape running from the base of your fingers down
close to the base of the webbing between your index finger and thumb. Now flex and
release your hand into and out of a fist, making note of where you
feel the tape making undue pressure. For me, 
this is on the sides of each hand at top and bottom. Take a pair of scissors, slide them under the tape and cut a slit (1/2" or 3/4" or so) in each area you feel undue pressure.
Repeat procedure on opposite hand and you're done taping! It'll feel a little tight and uncomfortable the first time you get on the bike, but after a minute or so you won't even notice it. The key is releasing the pressure points in the tape. I'd recommend riding in a non-race situation with the tape to give it a try first. I wear the underwear liners for both extra protection and to keep the tape good and secure. I like the ones sold directly from Underwear rather than the ones distributed by Moose as they are thinner. Then I put baby powder on my palms (keeps them drier; it's the sweat and friction that's causing the blisters in the first place), and then my gloves. The key element when selecting gloves is to find a pair that doesn't bunch much (preferably not at all) at the base of your fingers.
