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Tool for keeping the front tire from swiveling right and left?

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Tool for keeping the front tire from swiveling right and left?

Old 09-17-11, 07:38 PM
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Tool for keeping the front tire from swiveling right and left?

I am interested and curious if there is something out there for this situation....

When I have my bikes up on the mechanics rack the front tire of course swings left and right easily and honestly gets in the way sometimes. Is there a tool or a locking mechanism out there that locks the front up so it can't move when its up on the rack ONLY

Is there something out there that takes care of this frustration? I looked on Park Tool website and did not see anything for this.
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Old 09-17-11, 07:47 PM
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Park Tool Handlebar Holder #HBH-2, it's under Repair Stand Accessories. I have one and it works great. Amazon carries it for $15.87
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Old 09-17-11, 08:01 PM
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It states it only works on Parks repair stands...which I dont have one, I have a Feedback
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Old 09-17-11, 08:08 PM
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I just use a small bungee cord that is just long enough when stretched to go around the downtube and thru the wheel.
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Old 09-17-11, 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by dinkjs
I am interested and curious if there is something out there for this situation....

When I have my bikes up on the mechanics rack the front tire of course swings left and right easily and honestly gets in the way sometimes. Is there a tool or a locking mechanism out there that locks the front up so it can't move when its up on the rack ONLY

Is there something out there that takes care of this frustration? I looked on Park Tool website and did not see anything for this.
I hear your pain! I built a custom bike and wasn't careful when putting it together and the ends of the handlebars dinged the cherry pink powdercoat on my top tube pretty badly. Had to resort to a sticker to hide it.

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Old 09-17-11, 08:34 PM
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I use the same Velcro strap I use to keep my right pants cuff out of the chainring to immobilize the front wheel to the downtube. On some of my older bikes with the now-unobtainable FlickStand that works fine too.
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Old 09-17-11, 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by dinkjs
It states it only works on Parks repair stands...which I dont have one, I have a Feedback
Yeah, that compatibility note is a load of BS, the HBH-2 works with any repair stand and even without one, it is a completely separate device, attaching not to the stand but to the bike itself.

With that said, I just use a toe strap that I had lying around. Bungee cords, string, a belt, rope, etc. all work when wrapped around the front wheel and the downtube at the point at which they are closest. Good luck!

Cheers
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Old 09-17-11, 09:02 PM
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Either strap the wheel to the downtube as suggested or angle the front of the bike down while in the stand. No blue tool required.
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Old 09-17-11, 09:03 PM
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if you have a toptube on your bike this will work, doesn't matter which stand you use unless the TT is vertical and it falls off

HBH-2



I generally use a small bungee cord or a stout rubberband


the Park site doesn't say it only works on the Park repair stand but they are not going to put " Use this to hold the front wheel steady while the bike is in your Bontrager or BlackBurn workstand"

from the park site;

Item # HBH-2

Handlebar Holder

The Handlebar Holder is designed to prevent the handlebars and front wheel from rotating when a bike is mounted in a Park Tool Repair Stand. Updated to fit handlebars up to 32mm and oversized top tubes up to 50mm, the HBH-2 works on almost any road or mountain bike.
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Old 09-17-11, 09:16 PM
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I just took a bit 1/4" rod and bent my own version of the HBH 2. It works on most of the bikes I have tried it on, but not on some step through frames.

Shown here along with the chain whip that I threw together the same day.
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Old 09-17-11, 10:13 PM
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I use toe straps, And strap rim to down tube
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Old 09-17-11, 11:07 PM
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As others have pointed out there are tools made for the job, or you can simply improvise tying of the front wheel to the down tube.

Or if you want to have the wheel free to spin, you can run a string from one side of the handlebar twice around the seatpost and back to the other. This stabilizes the bar without affecting anything you'd normally adjust.

But, by far the simplest way to keep the handlebars from turning is to let gravity do it for you. If you put the bike in the repair stand tilted so the front end is lower, the front wheel will swing straight all by itself. No tools, to ties, nothing for you to do or think about.
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Old 09-17-11, 11:38 PM
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Nuther toe strap user here. Wrap around front wheel and down tube. Done and done.
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Old 09-18-11, 12:13 AM
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Wrap rubber band around valve stem, around down tube, back around valve stem. Cost: $0.00. Available at a junk drawer near you.
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Old 09-18-11, 06:23 AM
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Originally Posted by FBinNY
But, by far the simplest way to keep the handlebars from turning is to let gravity do it for you. If you put the bike in the repair stand tilted so the front end is lower, the front wheel will swing straight all by itself. No tools, to ties, nothing for you to do or think about.
+1 Though it took way too long for me to figure this out for myself. My Ah-ha moment came when I hung my bike by the saddle nose and the front hung lower. Followed closely by a face-palm moment for not figuring it out sooner.
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Old 09-18-11, 06:41 AM
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Yes, hanging the bike at an angle with the front wheel lower than the rear will keep the front wheel straight. But in some cases, such as when installing/fabricating racks I wanted the wheel to stay straight when the front and rear axles were level with each other. Once the bike is level in the stand, a level, plumb bob and even a square can come in handy for bicycle work. With an angle finder and a tape measure you can even determine the geometry of the frame.

Using gravity or the handlebar holder type of tool rather than bungees toe straps, or rubber bands allows the front wheel to spin freely for brake adjustment. The handlebar holder even makes it possible to remove the front wheel all together and still hold the forks in line. If I do not need the wheel to spin freely I generally use a short bit of 1/4" rope to secure the wheel to the down tube (that's also what I use when hauling a bike in the back of my truck). Having options is always a good thing.
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Old 09-18-11, 06:58 AM
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Originally Posted by caloso


Wrap rubber band around valve stem, around down tube, back around valve stem. Cost: $0.00. Available at a junk drawer near you.

I would not say the cost is 0.00 but then again I use alot of rubberbands and since I never get any with my purchases I have to buy a bag every few years. they make great light weight kickstand well more like a flickstand really



it keeps the bike rigid when leaning against something.
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Old 09-18-11, 07:14 AM
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You don't like the adjustable one feedback sells?

https://feedbacksports.com/shop/Flop-...Holder-P9.aspx
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Old 09-18-11, 07:24 AM
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the Park is cheaper and simpler to use, a rubberband or toestrap cheaper still
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Old 09-18-11, 08:40 AM
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+1 for cheap!
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