Set the Angle of Your Bicycle Handlebars
If you see people riding bikes all hunched over for miles and miles, only to get a sore back later on, don't laugh. "Somebody needs to teach these people how to comfortably adjust the angle of those handlebars" Here are some steps to help you adjust the handle bars on your bike.
Steps
- Check the handle bar assembly on your bike so you can find the right tools to adjust them. Usually the clamp is tightened with a standard type wrench or socket, either {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} or 14mm, but some are tightened with an allen wrench.
- Loosen the clamp bolt enough it will allow the handlebars to swivel forward or backward, then find the most comfortable position for you.
- Check the throat clamp on the handlebar to see what you will need to loosen and tighten it. Many bikes now have a lever handle attached to loosen or tighten it built onto the assembly, but it may require a similar wrench as mentioned above.
- Loosen the clamp, and pull the handlebars up, or slide them down until they are at a comfortable level, then tighten them securely.
- Ride the bike a little and determine if more adjustments are needed.
Tips
- You may find some trial and error is needed to get your handlebars in the best position for you.
Warnings
- The only warning, of course, is to realize we're tinkering with the integrity of the bike when we loosen and tighten nuts, bolts, and everything in between. Make sure when you tighten the stem to the handlebars, you tighten them fully. Why? Because when you simply ride off a curb, the force of you coming down on your handlebars might be enough to rotate your handlebars forward, throwing you over the front.
Things You'll Need
- Adjustable Wrench
- Appropriate selection of allen wrenches
- Your bike
