Is there a proper way to align stems?
04-05-11, 07:33 AM
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Is there a proper way to align stems?
pretty much wt the title states. i am making a few adjustments on my stem and has always wondered if pros or normal riders use a tool to align the stem or is is it all eye?
04-05-11, 07:35 AM
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I've always eye-balled it. I find that standing from the front, holding the front wheel between my legs is best. I can look straight down to align the stem with the wheel.
04-05-11, 07:39 AM
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Eyeball. I stand behind and hold the wheel still with my toes.
04-05-11, 08:00 AM
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I look at it from the front and over the top. But turning the wheel and looking at things from an angle also works well.
If all that fails, you'll certainly notice it on a ride.
If all that fails, you'll certainly notice it on a ride.
04-05-11, 08:11 AM
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In the shop we would put a ruler across the front of the fork and align it with the handlebar. For my own bike, I eyeball the stem with the wheel.
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04-05-11, 08:12 AM
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If there's not too much junk in the way, I sight down to the fork tips. As I lean back a bit, they should disappear under the bars at the same time.
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04-05-11, 10:40 AM
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Yeah. Astride the bike, I pull the cables back under the bar so they don't interfere with the view aligning the stem with the front wheel/tire.
04-05-11, 11:23 AM
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I turn the wheel 45 degrees....close one eye....then line up the front of the stem (between the bar clamp bolts) with the tire while at the same time lining up the rear stem gap (between the stem bolts that clamp the steerer tube) with the back portion of the tire.
Kinda like lining up a gun sight. Works perfect every time.
Kinda like lining up a gun sight. Works perfect every time.
04-05-11, 11:33 AM
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loosen the stem...hang the bike on the front wheel...tighten...just kidding...hey it might work...
Last edited by Sanman023; 04-05-11 at 11:37 AM. Reason: just eye ball it....
04-05-11, 12:00 PM
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I eyeball it with the tire. I used to try various tricks to be more accurate, but they only served to tell me that most handlebars are more inconsistent than such methods.
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04-05-11, 06:33 PM
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Cept I have to have mine jacked to the left a bit due to about 1 cm retraction of my left clavicle. Just makes me feel better on longer rides.
04-05-11, 07:05 PM
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I turn the wheel 45 degrees....close one eye....then line up the front of the stem (between the bar clamp bolts) with the tire while at the same time lining up the rear stem gap (between the stem bolts that clamp the steerer tube) with the back portion of the tire.
Kinda like lining up a gun sight. Works perfect every time.
Kinda like lining up a gun sight. Works perfect every time.
