Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - handlebar slippage

i have a set of el toro bullhorns on my beater that wont stay in position. i junked my previous stem from trying to tighten too much and wound up stripping it. luckily i have spare bikes laying around... anyway, i have the new stem on now and i tightened it slowly and tightly but i still am getting slippage into a downward postion that gets uncomfortable after a while. are there any tricks to keeping the handlebars in place? or am i just not tightening enough? should i put some tape or something around the middle of the tube?

i have a set of el toro bullhorns on my beater that wont stay in position. i junked my previous stem from trying to tighten too much and wound up stripping it. luckily i have spare bikes laying around... anyway, i have the new stem on now and i tightened it slowly and tightly but i still am getting slippage into a downward postion that gets uncomfortable after a while. are there any tricks to keeping the handlebars in place? or am i just not tightening enough? should i put some tape or something around the middle of the tube?

Does the stem has only one bolt clamping the bar? Usually two bolt stems have no problem gripping the bar. You may try to roughen up the inside surface of the stem by filing grooves etc. I don't suggest this on the bar though, since it could affect the strength. Your best bet is to use a good stem and tighten the bolts. I know Nitto stem does not strip easily (even though it has only one bolt). Get a dual bolt stem if you can, and your problem should disappear.

Are you sure they are the right size?

If I was 165, this is how I would approach this problem.

1. open cold beer while staring at bike (make sure its an aluminum can).
2. drink beer.
3. get nasty stares from neighbors.
4. give neighbors the bird.
5. after consuming said beer, cut a small shim, like, the width of your stem.
6. insert beer can shim into stem.
7. tighten stem.
8. enjoy new bike.

how was that?

If I was 165, this is how I would approach this problem.

1. open cold beer while staring at bike (make sure its an aluminum can).
2. drink beer.
3. get nasty stares from neighbors.
4. give neighbors the bird.
5. after consuming said beer, cut a small shim, like, the width of your stem.
6. insert beer can shim into stem.
7. tighten stem.
8. enjoy new bike.

how was that?

hmm... maybe ill try using some aluminum foil with some folds in it here and there for grip. that might just work

The shim on my bike with 5mm wall alu riser bars (no bulge or clamp grooves) is thin alu tubing cut into to halves. they are LONGER than the clamp on the stem.
To use the same and have them the same size as the clamp causes the bars to be able to be flexed side to side (bad torsion.) Possible sheering. Moreso if alu mounted in steel, and if mtb and subjected to CRUSHING FORCES OF THE FIERCEST RIDERS ON EARTH!

I advise something wider than the clamp 3-5mm wider each side. And not soft metal.
2mm wall hardend alu pipe cut lengthwise. ( I guess if there's space?)

Jef.

IMO>>all that jazz, don't rip my head off, just playing safety guy. :rolleyes:

Crustedfish's reply speaks of both great wisdom and reminds me of Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. AL foil might work, but it would likely be a total pain to get a folded piece sufficiently compressed and rigid enough to get in there properly.

Crustedfish's reply speaks of both great wisdom and reminds me of Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. my thoughts exactly. i love that book.

I have Al foil between my stem and bar on my fixed right now. It took me a while to wiggle it in but was worth it. It has been on for about a year now with no problems.