Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Handlebar/Fork alignment, short cuts?

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feetpower
11-05-09, 09:10 PM
I think I'm just OCD or stupid but I spent a good 20 minutes trying to align my handlebars with my fork after playing around with the stem height. I even busted out my t-square to make sure its all lined up. There's got to be an easier/efficient way to do this other than eye-balling it. How do you guys do it?

xxguitarist
11-05-09, 10:02 PM
eye-balling it

Then again, i've been known to set a mill's vise to 1/1000th of an inch from parallel across its 8'' width without adjustments/measuring/etc. I can also usually sight things that are more than a degree off or more than 1/16'' off-center.
mrvile
11-05-09, 11:11 PM
I mean eye-balling it isn't THAT hard...

alexgate
11-05-09, 11:33 PM
I just eye ball it.
spcialzdspksman
11-05-09, 11:48 PM
Haha, I did the exact same thing yesterday for my new Thomson stem. Then I tightened it, looked at if from another angle, and was like that's not straight, so I redid it, twice! Took me like half an hour making minute adjustments over and over...
JiveTurkey
11-06-09, 12:38 AM
If it's not straight, it will become apparent upon riding, even if you thought it was good and straight using a T-square, etc. If it looks/feels straight while riding, it is straight (enough).
ADSR
11-06-09, 12:41 AM
Pro tip: make sure to close one eye and then sight it in.
bicyclridr4life
11-06-09, 12:43 AM
I just eyeball it
the_don
11-06-09, 01:28 AM
http://www.april-fools.ws/images/stories/gross-eyeball-trick.jpg
the_don
11-06-09, 01:29 AM
http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Leaott/files/2007/07/eyeball.jpg

I couldn't decide which was more gross, so I did both of them!
stryper
11-06-09, 02:23 AM
just use a string. Mark it's middle, run it through the wheel and touch the ends to your bars. If one side doesn't reach or your mark isn't in the center of the wheel, adjust it. Shouldn't take more than a minute
Astronomical
11-06-09, 02:39 AM
use your dick.
the_don
11-06-09, 03:58 AM
What if it is as bent as M. Carl???

I bet no-one saw the Mary Whitehouse Experience in the 90's....
oldfixguy
11-06-09, 04:32 AM
Plumb bob on a string and steel ruler here. Use the ruler to perfectly center the bar then use the plumb bob (you can gain a bit of space by using the ruler on the stem as an outcrop) and plumb bob to straight down the middle of the tire (doink with stem as required). Perfection.
Retro Grouch
11-06-09, 04:45 AM
Pro tip: make sure to close one eye and then sight it in.

That's my suggestion too.

When I was working in a shop when customers would complain of handlebar alignment I'd have them straddle the bike and tell me when it was straight. Then I'd tighten the handle the handlebar in that position. I don't know if it was any better, but at least they couldn't blame me.