I mean, come on – you really expect me to solve your problem through a blog? 🙂 Consult with a professional for a solution to your unique problem. This is meant to be a guide to help you identify some of the mistakes that may be present on your bike and give you a starting point to solve them. If you are not certain about anything, consult with an experienced, professional mechanic.Īnd this article is by no means a substitute for a bike fitting or visit to the mechanic. Any longer, nearly 99% of bolts on bicycles are metric. This is implied any time I say to tighten the bolts. Always use a torque wrench set to manufacturer’s recommendations when tightening bolts – especially on carbon fiber and lightweight aluminum. Preferably you will have the bike set in an indoor trainer for these steps for easy adjustment and self-evaluation. So, how do you set up your handlebars for maximum effectiveness? I’ll start with road drop-style bars and the move to flat and riser mountain-style bars.įirst, some guidelines: Always use caution and NEVER do this while riding the bike. Sure, there are other ways to control the bike by shifting weight and changing position on the bike – but when you really think about it most of these maneuvers require some sort of interaction with the bars too. Almost every control command braking, shifting, and steering, must go through the bars in one way or another. This is the control center of your bicycle. So, let’s start at the front of the bike – and with an important contact point: the handlebar. If you have a suggestion or something you’d like to see covered: leave a comment and let me know. I don’t know how many parts there will be – this will just sort of evolve. I’ll be focusing on mechanical mistakes as well as those that may effect comfort, handling, or safety. I’m going to give this a stab here and see how it goes.

I’ve been thinking about a series of posts about common mistakes that most everyone (even some shops) makes on bicycles.

This is the first in a series on common mistakes on your bike…

Adjust murray bike handlebars