Bicycle Mechanics - Wrastlin' with my stem!

Just bought a new stem and was wondering how to align the stem, wheel, and down-tube.

I'm just eyeballing it for now, but I still think it's slightly off. Every time I loosen the darn thing to realign, something moves. Then, when I go to tighten it, the stinking thing moves again.

:fight:

Any good tricks you guys know of?

I literally just came in from my bike workshop (a.k.a. garage) after switching stems on my bike. I've found that if I tighten everything to the point that things can still be moved but with some resistance (not flopping around), then I can align everything (by eye) and then do a final tightening up without things going out of position. The only thing I measure is the centering of my bars in the stem and the angle of the drops (parallel to the ground).

I use the Mod2 Ocular Alignment Device. I will wrap a toe strap through the front wheel and around the down tube to center the front wheel with the frame and then use the M2 OAD to center the bars with the frame and tire.
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/gifs/eyeball.jpg

^^^ :lol:

wow... they got something for everything nowadays...

hey, I was wondering... my pedals don't 'round and 'round by themselves... know any tricks for that?

:)

the toe strap thing works, it centers the tire and it keeps the fork from moving. if you loosen the stem just enough until it takes just a bit of force to move it, it is easy to make minute adjustments. if you dont have a toe strap, you can use a bungee cord and attach the hooks to your bottle cage and through front wheel, or use velcro, twine, rope whatever. as to the pedals, sorry, no help there, mine don't go around either.:D

Get it snug so that it will move a tiny amount if you bap the end of the handlebars.
Get up on the seat so that you can most easily see the needed alignment.
It helps to put a foot on a pedal.
Put it the stem into the right place.
Tighten.