ivan_yulaev
03-12-05, 04:29 PM
I have been wondering, what is the proper way to make sure the stem is aligned to the fork and tyre? Is there any special trick, or is it just by eye?
Bicycle Mechanics - Stem Alignment
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sydney
03-12-05, 04:36 PM
I have been wondering, what is the proper way to make sure the stem is aligned to the fork and tyre? Is there any special trick, or is it just by eye?Eye.And yours might be different than mine.
shabbasuraj
03-12-05, 05:53 PM
In your eye. Guy.
Sheldon Brown
03-12-05, 06:02 PM
I have been wondering, what is the proper way to make sure the stem is aligned to the fork and tyre? Is there any special trick, or is it just by eye?
I stand in front of the bike and hold the front wheel betwixt my knees. I find it helpful to set the wheel at roughly 45 degrees from the frame, rather than in line with it. You want to align the handlebars with the fork and the wheel, and if the frame is close to lining up with those, the frame can confuse you.
Close one eye and sight with the other eye directly in the plane of the front wheel.
Sheldon "Going Straight" Brown
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| When anyone asks me how I can best describe my experience |
| in nearly 40 years at sea, I merely say, "uneventful." |
| Of course, there have been many gales and storms and fog |
| and the like. But in all my experience, I have never been |
| in any accident of any sort worth speaking about. I have |
| never seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea. |
| I never saw a wreck and never have been wrecked, nor was I |
| ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster |
| of any sort. --E. J. Smith, Captain, RMS Titanic |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
I stand in front of the bike and hold the front wheel betwixt my knees. I find it helpful to set the wheel at roughly 45 degrees from the frame, rather than in line with it. You want to align the handlebars with the fork and the wheel, and if the frame is close to lining up with those, the frame can confuse you.
Close one eye and sight with the other eye directly in the plane of the front wheel.
Sheldon "Going Straight" Brown
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| When anyone asks me how I can best describe my experience |
| in nearly 40 years at sea, I merely say, "uneventful." |
| Of course, there have been many gales and storms and fog |
| and the like. But in all my experience, I have never been |
| in any accident of any sort worth speaking about. I have |
| never seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea. |
| I never saw a wreck and never have been wrecked, nor was I |
| ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster |
| of any sort. --E. J. Smith, Captain, RMS Titanic |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
roadfix
03-12-05, 06:52 PM
I use my left eye only.
BostonFixed
03-12-05, 09:05 PM
I alternate from right to left eyes, so one doesn't get tired.
Retro Grouch
03-13-05, 03:08 AM
I have the customer sit on the seat. I move the stem back and forth until they are satisfied that it's straight, then I tighten it down. Works every time!
bikejack
03-13-05, 07:20 PM
Stand over the top tube and align the bars with the front axle, they're the only two things that have to line-up.
andrello
03-23-05, 08:28 AM
I have been wondering, what is the proper way to make sure the stem is aligned to the fork and tyre? Is there any special trick, or is it just by eye?
Get laser line level. I got one from the drugstore for $15. It use it to line up my saddle as well. I put it on the seat and it casts a line along the top tube that intersects the center of the headset cap bolt, continues along the stem and along the center of my front tire. Eyeballing cannot be as precise. You can also use it for a lot of other things.
Get laser line level. I got one from the drugstore for $15. It use it to line up my saddle as well. I put it on the seat and it casts a line along the top tube that intersects the center of the headset cap bolt, continues along the stem and along the center of my front tire. Eyeballing cannot be as precise. You can also use it for a lot of other things.
Applehead57
03-23-05, 09:19 AM
[QUOTE=Sheldon Brown]I stand in front of the bike and hold the front wheel betwixt my knees. I find it helpful to set the wheel at roughly 45 degrees from the frame, rather than in line with it. You want to align the handlebars with the fork and the wheel, and if the frame is close to lining up with those, the frame can confuse you.
Close one eye and sight with the other eye directly in the plane of the front wheel.
Sheldon "Going Straight" Brown
Whoa, da big guy appears. Lov ya bum!
Close one eye and sight with the other eye directly in the plane of the front wheel.
Sheldon "Going Straight" Brown
Whoa, da big guy appears. Lov ya bum!
SJK
03-23-05, 09:33 AM
I like the laser idea. I have always just eyed it.