Bicycle Mechanics - Cutting the steerertube.

I’m thinking of cutting down my steerertube today. I figure it should be fairly straightforward.

Anyone have any last minute suggestions or helpful hints?

Do you have the guide tool? Not required, but it makes it almost impossible to get an uneven cut. Don't forget you'll probably need to move the star-fangled nut down, as after the slice it may not be far enough into the tube (about 15mm as I recall). If you don't have the additional tool that sets the height of the nut, find a bolt the same size as the top cap bolt, screw it in and hammer on that.

Good guide here: http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_forksize.shtml

And here's the bit about the nut:

http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/tns.shtml

And most important: Measure twice - Cut once!

Thanks for the reply. :)

No, I don't have any of the tools I'm suppose to have. I'm just going to use a hacksaw and cut the tube on the bench. I don't see how cutting a straight line is hard to do in regards to cutting essentially just a pipe. I'll just use some electrical tape to guide me along and if I mess up the angle, I can always fix it with a file. I've already pounded the star-nut down as far as it needs to go with using a hammer and the original star-nut bolt. It only had to go down a few millimeters.

I’m thinking of cutting down my steerertube today. I figure it should be fairly straightforward.

Anyone have any last minute suggestions or helpful hints?

Cutting it to keep all those spacers underneath or cutting it to drop down your stem? If the latter, you may want to move some spacers over top and ride some to evaluate where you really want your stem height to be before breaking out your saw. Just go slow and take your time to ensure a good cut. Oh yeah, about the measure twice thing? Without a doubt!

I'm cutting it down to get rid of the spacers on top. I figure I can always cut it again if I need to go shorter. I've been riding around experimenting with different spacer/stem heights and this one is as low as I can go and still be comfortable. I just got the bike last month (first real road bike) and it took me a few hundred miles to get comfortable to how low it is now.

Check out the picture of the same bike I have from the Cervelo website. They cut that sucker all the way down. :eek:

I'm cutting it down to get rid of the spacers on top. I figure I can always cut it again if I need to go shorter. I've been riding around experimenting with different spacer/stem heights and this one is as low as I can go and still be comfortable. I just got the bike last month (first real road bike) and it took me a few hundred miles to get comfortable to how low it is now.

Good plan. You'll go lower in time. Good luck with the trim job.

Be... careful.

Is a pipe cutter a bad idea?

Is a pipe cutter a bad idea?Maybe for CF. And if you use it on steel or aluminum then there is still cleanup to remove the burr. A hacksaw and hose clamp or tape for a guide works .

Maybe for CF. And if you use it on steel or aluminum then there is still cleanup to remove the burr. A hacksaw and hose clamp or tape for a guide works .

Ahh yes, a hose clamp. Good idea. :)

Ahh yes, a hose clamp. Good idea. :)

I've cut down several steel and aluminum steerers recently using a hacksaw, hose clamp and table vise. Measure twice, then go and measure again. Think about it, take a break and then measure one more time.

Go grab some PVC pipe and practice a couple times till you feel confident.

To be quite honest, you can be a bit uneven on the cut (how straight is straight?). You leave a bit of a gap between the tube and the top of the stem during assembly and the damn things hidden from view.

Wow, I have to say that was super easy. It only took about 3 minutes with a hacksaw (cutting time) and walhla...a shorter tube. Oh, and now my bike weighs 16 grams less. :p