Aligning handlebars

[stephenmarklay]

How to you guys align your stem so that it is straight. I hate after deciding it is straight, head out on a ride to find it if off a bit. I can’t stop thinking about it :)

[Cicli]

I get it close and ride around the neighborhood. Fiddle with it till it looks right while riding.

[rwsaunders]

https://youtu.be/7HR4w-TAL-w

These folks have some great technical videos complete with British humor.

[otis]

I get it close and ride around the neighborhood. Fiddle with it till it looks right while riding.

This is the best way. If the bike frame has even minor alignment issues, what looks dead nuts on the stand will not be when going down the road.

But you just have to get it to where it looks right to you while riding it. Or it will drive you nuts...

[Matthew]

Same as above for me. Get it close, hop on and see what it looks like from the saddle.

[Hindmost]

Carry a wrench in your pocket during the first ride.

[Veloo]

If you're a tool junkie (like me) you get one of these:

http://www.tune.de/en/produkt/spurtreu-2

[BdaGhisallo]

If you're a tool junkie (like me) you get one of these:

http://www.tune.de/en/produkt/spurtreu-2

Got one of these. Great addition to my toolbox.

[dgauthier]

I always, always avoid drinking until the stem is installed and on straight.

Seriously, you have to ensure you're looking at the frame straight before you can line up the stem straight, which means I first ensure the top of the front tire appears centered over the front hub. Only then can I center the stem. I've never had it look wrong later on the road.

[Black Dog]

Use a long straight edge like a 2 foot or longer level. Hold it against the side wall of the tire so it makes contact in two places about a foot apart. Adjust the position of the level so that the end makes contact with the front of the stem when you rotate the front wheel. Notice where it makes contact and then move the level to the other side of the tire and repeat. When the stem is straight the level will make contact at a point equidistant to the centre of the stem.

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac209/BlackDogryka/IMG_5091_zpsdnfhvxor.jpg (http://s900.photobucket.com/user/BlackDogryka/media/IMG_5091_zpsdnfhvxor.jpg.html)

http://i900.photobucket.com/albums/ac209/BlackDogryka/IMG_5090_zpssrcgwpfw.jpg (http://s900.photobucket.com/user/BlackDogryka/media/IMG_5090_zpssrcgwpfw.jpg.html)

[stephenmarklay]

If you're a tool junkie (like me) you get one of these:

http://www.tune.de/en/produkt/spurtreu-2

This is so funny since this morning I was already scheming to build something like this. I even looked up patents and then found this.

I already had a laser pointer that I used before I posted.

I am going to build a one off version as it just drives me crazy. The Tune was near $100 which is likely why I have not heard of it before now.

[PacNW2Ford]

I line up the bars with the tips of the front dropouts. This usually gets it pretty close, then you can make small adjustments on the first ride.

[ahumblecycler]

This is so funny since this morning I was already scheming to build something like this. I even looked up patents and then found this.

I already had a laser pointer that I used before I posted.

I am going to build a one off version as it just drives me crazy. The Tune was near $100 which is likely why I have not heard of it before now.

Feel free to make two ... I really could use one.

Besides not drinking, I also do not wear sunglasses to ensure no distortion. I am terrible at this unfortunately always read these threads for tips.

[Bentley]

Feel free to make two ... I really could use one.

Besides not drinking, I also do not wear sunglasses to ensure no distortion. I am terrible at this unfortunately always read these threads for tips.

Make 3, or maybe we ought to work on a group buy.....

[Clancy]

[QUOTE=Black Dog;2183453]Use a long straight edge like a 2 foot or longer level. Hold it against the side wall of the tire so it makes contact in two places about a foot apart. Adjust the position of the level so that the end makes contact with the front of the stem when you rotate the front wheel. Notice where it makes contact and then move the level to the other side of the tire and repeat. When the stem is straight the level will make contact at a point equidistant to the centre of the stem.

Brilliant

[Veloo]

https://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/richard-ayoade-brilliant.gif


[QUOTE=Black Dog;2183453]Use a long straight edge like a 2 foot or longer level. Hold it against the side wall of the tire so it makes contact in two places about a foot apart. Adjust the position of the level so that the end makes contact with the front of the stem when you rotate the front wheel. Notice where it makes contact and then move the level to the other side of the tire and repeat. When the stem is straight the level will make contact at a point equidistant to the centre of the stem.

Brilliant

[stephenmarklay]

Make 3, or maybe we ought to work on a group buy.....


It would be neat to make. There appears to be a patent issued. I am not sure how Tune does theirs working around it. I am not smart on patent law.

[MikeD]

[QUOTE=Black Dog;2183453]Use a long straight edge like a 2 foot or longer level. Hold it against the side wall of the tire so it makes contact in two places about a foot apart. Adjust the position of the level so that the end makes contact with the front of the stem when you rotate the front wheel. Notice where it makes contact and then move the level to the other side of the tire and repeat. When the stem is straight the level will make contact at a point equidistant to the centre of the stem.



Brilliant



This assumes the wheel is aligned perfectly in the dropouts, which it may not be.

I just eyeball down from the front center of the stem to the center of the hub.

[spinarelli]

wow, I didn't know this existed but I would have bet money on someone making one. Only in cycling there is a tool for every possible need, probably in the big wooden campagnolo box.

1 I just eyeball it from the front,
2 then eyeball it standing on the bike.
Adjust as needed.
3 take the bike for a spin and see how it looks/feels.
It never fails. You should tell if the bars are not on straight right away.

If you're a tool junkie (like me) you get one of these:

http://www.tune.de/en/produkt/spurtreu-2

[hobbanero]

I eyeball it over standing over the front wheel, and then double check it by standing behind the bike and lining up the saddle nose stem and tire. From this vantage point, you can see small discrepancies more easily. You can also line up the middle of the hub and top tube and see if the tire is pointing straight ahead, but with disc brakes it is hard to figure out where the middle of the hub is.

[Jeff N.]

I just keep futzing with it until it's acceptable. It can drive ya crazy though.