Handlebar/Fork alignment, short cuts?
11-05-09 | 10:10 PM
#1
Thread Starter
n00b
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 301
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From: SGV
Bikes: Mercier Kilo TT - Grapesoda
Handlebar/Fork alignment, short cuts?
I think I'm just OCD or stupid but I spent a good 20 minutes trying to align my handlebars with my fork after playing around with the stem height. I even busted out my t-square to make sure its all lined up. There's got to be an easier/efficient way to do this other than eye-balling it. How do you guys do it?
11-05-09 | 11:02 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: RI
11-06-09 | 12:48 AM
#5
Hella Raw
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 820
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From: San Francisco, CA
Haha, I did the exact same thing yesterday for my new Thomson stem. Then I tightened it, looked at if from another angle, and was like that's not straight, so I redid it, twice! Took me like half an hour making minute adjustments over and over...
11-06-09 | 01:38 AM
#6
Low car diet
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,407
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From: Corvallis, OR, USA
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
If it's not straight, it will become apparent upon riding, even if you thought it was good and straight using a T-square, etc. If it looks/feels straight while riding, it is straight (enough).
11-06-09 | 01:43 AM
#8
Bicyclerider4life
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,076
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From: Florida and Idaho
Bikes: Huffy Beach Cruisers, Miami Sun Trike, Vertical PK7, KHS Montana Summit, Giant Cypress DX, Schwinn OCC Stingray
I just eyeball it
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11-06-09 | 03:23 AM
#11
I just wanna ride
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,155
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From: Chico Califo
Bikes: 2013 BMC Impec
just use a string. Mark it's middle, run it through the wheel and touch the ends to your bars. If one side doesn't reach or your mark isn't in the center of the wheel, adjust it. Shouldn't take more than a minute
11-06-09 | 05:32 AM
#14
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
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Plumb bob on a string and steel ruler here. Use the ruler to perfectly center the bar then use the plumb bob (you can gain a bit of space by using the ruler on the stem as an outcrop) and plumb bob to straight down the middle of the tire (doink with stem as required). Perfection.
11-06-09 | 05:45 AM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
That's my suggestion too.
When I was working in a shop when customers would complain of handlebar alignment I'd have them straddle the bike and tell me when it was straight. Then I'd tighten the handle the handlebar in that position. I don't know if it was any better, but at least they couldn't blame me.
When I was working in a shop when customers would complain of handlebar alignment I'd have them straddle the bike and tell me when it was straight. Then I'd tighten the handle the handlebar in that position. I don't know if it was any better, but at least they couldn't blame me.
