Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 19,288
Likes: 5,382
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
The two ways that I usually use are
1- try to line up the stem's extension with the tire. Variations on this are when you sight down and use the side of the stem and side of the tire or the stem's bar clamp over the tire's center.
2- Use the bars and drop outs to look down on. Sometimes the back side of the bars and or the axle work better.
When I have customers who are especially sensitive to this I sometimes present the bike to them with a not yet tightened fully stem. I ask them to set the alignment then I do the clamping.
BTW just like some people need seats that are slightly off line so do some need bars that are not centered and/or aligned. Andy
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AndrewRStewart