MTB handlebar adjustment (nlc)

[campbell]

Some of you bike types will know this for sure.

As the kids' bikes have become larger, fitting all 4 of our bikes across the roof rack has become a chinese puzzle.

But I saw a novel trick the other day. Someone had slackened the handlebars/headsets and swung them around 90 degrees. Not only does this let you stack the bikes closer together, I bet it knocks off a bit of wind resistance too!

Is it just a matter of slackening the headset bolt in the top of the stem?

TIA

Campbell

PS - I realise I could load the bikes interleaved with one forward, one reverse, etc, but this shears the rear mudguards due to wind resistance, as I discovered to my cost once upon a time...

[philthy]

Depends on the type of stem but I would release the allen bolts on the stem at the steerer tube end and spin the handlebars round.

[campbell]

thanks Phil, sounds like I'm on the right lines then

[GilesM]

It all depends on the type of stem and headset, have a look here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/headsets.html

If it has a threaded headset it is very easy, just undo the bolt in the top of the stem and turn the bars, you may need to give the bolt a wee hit with a soft ish hammer to get the expander nut down in the stem to release, but that's all.

It it has a threadless headset, all the trend on most bikes these days, then you can turn the stem by undoing the bolts that clamp the stem to the top of the fork steerer, but remember with threadless headsets the only thing holding the headset together are these bolts on the stem, so do it with the front wheel on the ground and don't lift the bike when the stem screws are lose, and as you straighten the bars when you take the bikes off the rack, you will need to do up the stem bolts while making sur there is no play in the headset. All very easy, a wee read of Sheldon's thoughts will definately help.

Giles

[Dominic]

Make sure you re-tighten the headset bolts correctly before you cycle!

[campbell]

Thanks both. My bike is 16 years old so almost certainly a threaded headset. The others are much newer though.

I will investigate, and experiment, carefully...!

[neil]

Are you not going to run into problems with your brake/gear cables if you try to do that? Or have I completely misunderstood what you're planning to do?

/didn't get much sleep faction

[woody]

Are you not going to run into problems with your brake/gear cables if you try to do that? Or have I completely misunderstood what you're planning to do?

/didn't get much sleep faction

It'll be fine. The bars aren't being removed, only turned 90 deg from the wheel. A doddle, even for Campbell

[Peter]

With Giles.. Easily done just slacken off the relevent bolt, turn, nip up. Same again when un packing, should take you 20 secs per bike max.

[neil]

Are you not going to run into problems with your brake/gear cables if you try to do that? Or have I completely misunderstood what you're planning to do?

/didn't get much sleep faction

It'll be fine. The bars aren't being removed, only turned 90 deg from the wheel. A doddle, even for Campbell

Ah, the pennys dropped. I was gettting my 90 and 180 degrees mixed up

[IanD]

I get 4 bikes on the BMW roof (just) by putting alternate racks the opposite way round so 2 bikes face forward, 2 face backwards.

[campbell]

LOL Neil, too right not enough sleep! I'm not trying ride the bikes backwards

Are you an engineer?...

@Ian - yes, done this before. But as mentioned above, it wrecks the crudguards of the two bikes which are loaded in reverse direction, as they act like sails and after a couple of trips the flapping about finally sheers them

[neil]

LOL Neil, too right not enough sleep! I'm not trying ride the bikes backwards

Are you an engineer?...

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