Originally Posted by
mrrabbit
1. Place bars on table top.
2. Clamp bars at the plug-end to table holding bars upright such that plug-ends are parallel with table.
3. Adjust levers such that with the levers in resting position - the tips just touch the table.
4. Secure levers making sure that the tips still just touch the table.
Install bars on bike - adjust angle to suit you. Everyone is different in this regard - but usually there's a common happy medium in the middle such that the lower drops are angled somewhat down and the uppers are angled slightly downward.
=8-)
+1.
The generally accepted rule for vertical brifter positioning is to have the tips of the levers even with the bottom of the flats (plug ends), and sitting the bar on a table after putting the brifter on bu before tightening is the easiest way I have found to do this. I usually just set the horizontal position of the levers (the inward/outward angle) by feel, and there is some room for adjustment of a few degrees in or out after you get the bars taped so you can just set them as close to perfectly foraward as possible and worry about the fine adjustment later.
ANd the angle of the bar after it is installed on the bike is also set by feel. Set the bars with the flats angled up toward the front by about 10 degrees to start and adjust to your preference. THere really is no right or wrong, but if you start in the ballpark of 'normal' you will get an idea of how most people have their bars and you can modify this to however you want.