Handlebar/Fork alignment, short cuts?
#1
n00b
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SGV
Posts: 301
Bikes: Mercier Kilo TT - Grapesoda
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Handlebar/Fork alignment, short cuts?
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?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: RI
Posts: 415
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#5
Hella Raw
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 820
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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...
#6
Low car diet
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Corvallis, OR, USA
Posts: 2,407
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
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).
#7
Gentlemen.
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Chico, CA
Posts: 1,516
Bikes: S-Works e5 Aerotech with 2009 Veloce and a Fulcrum 5s
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Pro tip: make sure to close one eye and then sight it in.
#8
Bicyclerider4life
I just eyeball it
__________________
"Whenever I see an adult riding a bicycle, I know there is hope for mankind." (H. G. Wells)
"Whenever I see an adult riding a bicycle, I know there is hope for mankind." (H. G. Wells)
#11
I just wanna ride
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Chico Califo
Posts: 1,155
Bikes: 2013 BMC Impec
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 741
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 643 Times
in
364 Posts
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.
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.