Digital Gee

I adjusted my handlebars by moving them up a bit in front, by the brifters, so that the bars are more parallel to the ground, rather than pointed slightly down in front. I think this is what TWL called "flipping" the bars? Anyway...

Took a fifteen mile test ride in the new position, and didn't notice any difference.

Just sayin.

Tom Bombadil

Usually "flipping the bars" means taking them entirely off the bike and flipping them over, so that in your case the drops would be on top. Although I guess some might refer to rolling them up a bit as a "flip" but I've never heard it called that.

Some handlebars are sold as being "flippable" such as albatross bars.

Some stems are flippable too, like a mountain bike threadless stem that can be installed with a +10 or -10 degree angle.

jim p

Just call me Fred. I had been wanting my bars higher for riding on the hoods and I had extended the quil as high as it would go. So I decide to rotate the top of the bars past parellel with the ground. This makes it impossible to brake from the drops but it make the ride much more comfortable for me. The drops are pointing toward the bottom of the back wheel which puts the drops further away making the reach longer and the slope of the drops is not so bad that my hands want to slide off. So everything is great except for not being able to brake from the drops. Almost all the pictures that I see of handlebars have the tops either level or sloping downward. For my comfort this did not work.

CrossChain

I think the term most commonly used is "flipping the stem", which means you remove the bars and turn the stem extension over so you either increase or decrease the "rise" or angle of the stem-- thereby getting higher or lower position handlebars. Those of us with traditional one-piece quill stems don't flip, we loosen the expander bolt and pull up or push down depending.

Perhaps "rotating" the bars describes what you did DG......

To raise the hoods significantly, it seems better to remove the bar tape enough to loosen the hoods and slide them up the bars then retighten. Personally, I marvel at the angle some people have on their hoods-- how they brake with their wrists at that angle or safely ride the drops is a mystery.

Digital Gee

Actually, I know what the term flipping means with regard to handlebars. I was just joshin' with TWL. Rotating my bars is a more accurate term. Actually, it was quite rewarding on a personal level to accomplish this maneuver without apparent damage to the bike or my ego. Just loosened four screws with my trusty allen wrench, rotate, and tighten. Even I was able to complete this assignment without incident. I half expected the handlebars to go completely loose somewhere out on the ride!

Road Fan

Well, Deeg, you probably know that it is important to get that attachment pretty tight just to keep them from slipping due to bumps and heavy braking. I'm nut just a Fred but a dweeb, since I try to always use a torque wrench on 'bar clamps. I've had them slip, and I've had bolts snap, neither one is really good news far from home!

CrossChain

OK........I got sucked in and sounded windbaggish. But, please, DG, don't totally rotate your bars upside down pointing forward. There are some select neighborhoods around here where that sort of thing is considered stylish and trendy...........anyone with normal bars is considered OCP and shot at.

Digital Gee

I think my platform pedals keep me well away from being considered fashionable!

Road Fan

I'm looking for some Argyle cycling socks that match my frame, then I can be OCP and Freddish at the same time.

Digital Gee

Wow. That would be fabulous!!!

Road Fan

especially with carbon fiber straps to hold them up!

Tom Bombadil

BRAVO! BRAVO!

Just one small, er, tiny step on the way to being a wrench.

SSP

I brushed my teeth this morning.

This afternoon, I'll be washing clothes.

Digital Gee

I wash clothes on Mondays. Maybe I should create a poll?

maddmaxx 

Every Monday?

Digital Gee

Every other Monday.

CrossChain

Wear wool.....then you only wash every third Monday.

SSP

Hope you got the torque settings correct when you re-tightened your handlebar binder bolts. Too tight, and you risk damaging the bars. Too loose, and you risk damaging your face (imagine the bars rolling forward when you hit a pothole going 20+ mph ).

Per the Park Tools website:

Stems with 1 or 2 binder bolts:
Shimano: 174-260 in-lbs
Control Tech: 120-144 in-lbs

Models with 4 binder bolts
Control Tech® 120-144 in-lbs
Deda magnesium 71 in-lbs
Thomson® 48 in-lbs
FSA® OS-115 carbon 78 in-lbs
Time® Monolink 53 in-lbs

Digital Gee

OMG. All I did was tighten them. I have no idea how hard. I have four binder bolts. You have me worried A LOT now. Gulp.

Should i take it to the LBS to check?

George

I wouldn't, just start at the upper left and snug it down, then go to the bottom right and do the same, then across and up, until they are all pretty tight and you wont have any problems. You don't have to do it in that order, but you get the idea.

SSP

Is your model of stem listed? If so, find somebody who will let you borrow a torque wrench...preferably one designed for in-lbs*. Then, just back off each bolt, and re-tighten to the appropriate torque setting.

Or, if your stem is not listed, I'd recommend Googling it - you should be able to find the specs on the manufacturer's website.

Or, if you tightened them "very firm", but not "crazy tight", then you're probably OK as is.


* Note: if you borrow a torque wrench, be careful not to confuse in-lbs with ft-lbs. If you use the in-lbs specs, with a ft-lb torque wrench, you'll probably end up crushing the bars, or snapping off the binder bolts, or both.

I just recently picked up a nice in-lb torque wrench at Sears for $60 (they had models from $30-$120 or so). But, I have those sexy carbon fiber bars, and getting the torque setting right on them is more critical than with aluminum bars.

BluesDawg

Oh fercryinoutloud

Digital Gee

I'll check it again. I rode 27 or so miles today, and nothing fell off. Including me.

Big Paulie

That's a cheap shot, surfer-dude...

Digital Gee

Well, it's true, and I passed a mall, as well.