TABLE OF CONTENTS


Overview

A step-by-step guide to installing or re-wrapping the handlebar tape on a Stages SB20 smart bike.  

  • Estimated time required: 30 minutes

Tools required

  • Scissors
  • Box Knife or razor blade
  • Electrical tape

Replacement parts required

  • Stages handlebar tape (971-0144) or any type of road handlebar tape. 

Replacement instructions

Remove existing bar tape

  1. Pull back the brake hood from the bar tape to expose the covered area.
  2. At the top of the tape or center of the handlebar, remove decorative finishing tape and set aside if necessary.

  3. Remove the electrical tape and discard.
  4. Unwrap bar tape to expose the Hood/Shifter assembly and sprint shift buttons.
    If desired, the sprint shift buttons can be moved to the tops of bars or another preferred location before re-wrapping the bars. 


    Pay careful attention to the direction/pattern of the bar tape wrap at the brake hood and handlebar interface. You will need to repeat this orientation when finishing the installation.


Installing the new bar tape

  1. To begin, make sure there isn’t any excessive material/residue left over from the original tape if wrapping an existing handlebar.
  2. At one end of the bar tape, peel a portion of the protective mask off the back of the tape.  This will reveal the adhesive strip on the back of the tape. You will need to continuously remove the paper mask as you wrap the handlebar.
  3. Begin the wrap by starting at the bottom of the handlebar.  Align the end of the tape on the underside of the handlebar perpendicular to the bar. Ensure the cut end of the tape is pointing to the inside and there is approximately 3-5 mm of the bar tape extending off the edge of the handlebar.
  4. Wrap one rotation (outside to inside) to cover the end of the tape from which point you want to start corkscrewing or angling the tape up the handlebar.  The aim is to overlap the leading edge of the previous wrap with the trailing edge of the bar tape by about 5 - 10 mm.  This distance will need to be adjusted as the shape of the bar changes and the subsequent position of the tape adjusts.
    Note: It is important to keep the bar tape slightly taught as you wrap it.  This will ensure a smooth and lasting surface area over the course of use.  
  5. Overlay tape around the sprint shift buttons.
    1. As you wrap up the ‘drop section’ (below the brake hood) of the handlebar, take care to wrap evenly above and below the shift buttons. Make sure not to wrap over the top of the individual buttons, as this may cause malfunction of the system.
  6. Wrapping the brake hood section of the handlebar. 
    1. Once you have wrapped up to the underside of the brake hood, pause at the front of the handlebar with the tape just below the underside (about 5 mm).
    2. From this point, wrap around the outside of the bar to behind the bar in an upward direction.  
    3. Continue up the inside of the handlebar and cross over the brake hood, coming back to the outside and the back of the handlebar.

    4. Then continue back to the front underneath the brake hood to the outside of the handlebars.  Make sure this last wrap underneath the brake hood is up against the junction between the hood and the handlebar.
    5. Once back to the outside of the handlebar,  wrap the tape back up and behind the bar as before, but directly vertical to come up over and back to the outside of the handlebar.
    6. Then continue along the handlebar, wrapping inside to outside, making the same overlapping layers as you did on the lower portion of the handlebar.  
  7. Adjust and trim bar tape. 
    1. As you near the attachment point of the handlebar, pause about 2 inches from the clamp. You will notice the bar tape is wrapping at an angle to the bar. 
    2. In order to finish the tape with a straight edge 90 degrees to the handlebar, it is required to cut the bar tape perpendicular to the handlebar.


      Note: It is typical to wrap and unwrap as you progress in order to achieve a smooth and adequate layering of the bar tape.  In the event you run out of tape before the center of the handle bar, you will need to unwrap a portion of the tape and re-wrap the overlaying pattern to adequately extend the reach of the bar tape.
  8. Apply finishing tape
    1. Once you have achieved a smooth and consistent wrap, cut the end of the tape at a long, shallow angle so it ends squarely on the bars. 
    2. Cut a length of electrical tape about twice the circumference of the bar.
    3. Make sure to wrap the electrical tape in the same direction as the bar tape and align the edges evenly.
    4. Next, use the finish tape provided in the kit or the original outer tape.  Cover the electrical tape in a similar fashion, making a point to finish with the end of the tape on the underside of the handlebar.  This will ensure the adhesion and longevity of the tape over the course of use.
    5. Lastly, install the bar end plug into the end of the handlebar. Fold the extended edges of the bar tape in and then insert the cap. This will provide a nice smooth finish to the bar tape and ensure the plug stays in place throughout the use of the bike.

  9. Reposition the brake hood. 
    1. Unfurl the brake hood back into position. Reposition the edges as necessary.


Ride and have fun!