Hi,

I have just bought my first road bike 'Dawes Giro 300'. I've set the saddle height, but how do I adjust the handlebar height?! I must be stupid

I don't like just posting links, but this video sums it up better than I could with words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SuTx...eature=related

And also read the Park Tool guide on setting the headset bearings preload (when the guy in the video re-installs the top cap, he just "tightens" it without really explaining the aims)...

https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...eadset-service ("Headset Adjustment - Threadless Type" 2/3rd down the page)

Thanks for the reply.

It appears my bike has no room for handlebar height adjustment with the stem already at the highest position. There are two small spacers below the stem, but this doesn't help me raise the height.

Is it typical for a road bike to have no adjustment here? I raised the seat a few inches, which is now a few inches above the handlebar height. I know the frame size is about right, becuase if I stand over the frame flat footed there is about 1 inch gap between the frame and me.

most stems are angled. is your stem currently pointing up or down? if down, you can flip it (going against collective BF wisdom) so that it points upward, which will raise the bars a little. this will require removing the handlebars from and reattaching them to the stem, which isn't very complicated.


1. it's not unusual. i think many shops set up their bikes in a relatively relaxed position and many people end up moving the bars down from there. if you're finding that the bars are in their highest position and are still too low with the saddle at the correct height, then the frame may be either too small or too aggressive for you.

EDIT: the solution to this without buying a new bike would be to buy a new fork with a longer steerer tube. this would give you a higher possible handlebar position.

2. standover height is not necessarily the best determinant of correct frame size.
3. most people do have their saddles higher than their handlebars, but if it's really "a few inches" higher, that might be too much. depends on your flexibility and comfort.

climber7 thankyou for the help, much appreciated :-)

The stem is pointed down slightly, so I could flip it around. It would mean the stem writing would be upside down. I measured the height difference between the saddle and the stem and it's about 3 inches. It's only when the saddle is at the lowest height that it's about equal to the handlebars.

I went out for a longer ride this afternoon and I seem to be getting more used to the position. Today is the first time I've ridden a road bike, my previous bikes were all MTBs. The different position and firm jarring ride were immediately obvious, but so was the speed! This is a cheap, relatively heavy road bike (25lb), but it sure flies compared to what I'm used to.