Bicycle Mechanics - Is this a sucessful cutting of my carbon handlebar?

I have just cut my carbon handlebar (4cm from each side). Everything looks very fine but the problem is one side is cut about 1-2 mm longer than the other side.

Is this going to present a problem or is it ok? I mean is it going to make me lean more to the other side etc


256033

A assume you can still place your hands symetrically on the bars so, no, your aren't doomed to turn one way all the time. :)

As they say, "measure twice, cut once", but it's OK as is. Don't make the mistake of the guy who kept trimming the legs of his dining table so it wouldn' rock, and ended up with a coffee table.

Assuming you don't palm the ends, it doesn't matter if the part beyond your grip is a bit longer or shorter. Of course one of your riding buddies might show up with a ruler and start calling you a shoemaker (Italian slang for crappy mechanic). BTW- tank a minute to put a clear sealant (even nail polish is OK) on the face of the cut.

As they say, "measure twice, cut once", but it's OK as is. Don't make the mistake of the guy who kept trimming the legs of his dining table so it wouldn' rock, and ended up with a coffee table.

Assuming you don't palm the ends, it doesn't matter if the part beyond your grip is a bit longer or shorter. Of course one of your riding buddies might show up with a ruler and start calling you a shoemaker (Italian slang for crappy mechanic). BTW- tank a minute to put a clear sealant (even nail polish is OK) on the face of the cut.

i measured it twice but didnt work as it should be i guess.

By the way, i used park tool carbon specific blade. do i still have to put the sealant? i already installed ritchey wcs bar plugs :S

i measured it twice but didnt work as it should be i guess.

By the way, i used park tool carbon specific blade. do i still have to put the sealant? i already installed ritchey wcs bar plugs :S
Carbon specific blade? I didn't know they made one until you mentioned it. It seems to be just a good quality very fine tooth hacksaw blade and should have done a good, smoth job if you didn't force the saw. I've always used a high quality 32 tpi blade for cutting carbon steerers, etc. and never had a problem. FBinNY's suggestion to seal the cut ends is to assure there are no loose fibers or raw edges. I've never done it but it certainly can't hurt.

Carbon specific blade? I didn't know they made one until you mentioned it. It seems to be just a good quality very fine tooth hacksaw blade and should have done a good, smoth job if you didn't force the saw. I've always used a high quality 32 tpi blade for cutting carbon steerers, etc. and never had a problem. FBinNY's suggestion to seal the cut ends is to assure there are no loose fibers or raw edges. I've never done it but it certainly can't hurt.

Park has done a decent job capitalizing on dealers being to lazy to go to the hardware store down the street. They've added their name (and a decent markup) to a bunch of generic tools.

Actually the reason I seal CF cuts is because there are always micro channels or gaps where the matrix doesn't perfectly seal against the fiber. That allows water to enter and attack the structure over time. It used to be more of a problem in the early days of CF, I don't know if the methodology has improved, so sealing the ends might be a case of belt and suspenders, but I still do it.

I don't know,.....looks like you're going to have to "balance" the weight somewhere to account for the now HEAVY long sided handlebar on a fine tuned machine! :twitchy:


Personally, just to avoid any good natured fun poking by your riding buddies, (and for your own satisfaction) i might just sand down the long end with 120 grit, stick on sandpaper on a flat backing (piece of wood) ....followed by BOTH ends getting 400 grit followed by 800 grit sandpaper. I might finish with a slight rounding of the sharp outer/inner edges with a piece of the finer grits stuck to my finger.

Will end up smoother than a baby's behind! You mentioned having the ends covered already,....so all this presupposes you can get them off safely.....

:)

Well given that for most people one leg is like an eighth to a quarter of an inch longer than the other anyway, if you were lucky and have the correct side of the bars longer, it'll all balance itself out nicely.:rolleyes:

Personally no if it were mine I'd be mad at myself if I did that LOL
But you should be OK ride! unless it bugs you then fix it but I won't tell anyone whats under your grips :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jCr8QSGYss

A few mm? You won't even notice that visually after a week or so of riding. Resist the urge to re-trim. One time I cut a bar 3 times and it was still too short.

-G