How to Raise the Handlebars on a Bicycle

For those that do more than the occasional leisure ride, bicycle performance is an important issue. Serious cyclists and mountain bikers are always looking to make adjustments to their bike setup to maximize this performance. The needs for each type of cycling are often different, and this applies to handlebar height also. Learn how to adjust the handlebar height so that you can fit it to your personal riding style.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

8mm Allen wrench

Step 1

Secure the bike in a repair stand or have a helper hold the bike in place for you. Look at the top of the stem of the bike, which is the piece that connects the handlebars to the steerer tube.

Step 2

Find the bolt that is in the center of the vertical part of the stem. You can identify it because it will have a hex bolt fitting.

Step 3

Insert the Allen wrench into the hex fitting and turn it counterclockwise. Loosen the bolt a few turns until you are able to move the stem up and down within the steerer.

Step 4

Lift up on the stem and raise the handlebars to your preferred height.

Step 5

Insert the Allen wrench into the bolt again and tighten the bolt securely by turning it clockwise.

Tips & Warnings

Do not raise the handlebars past the point marked for minimum insertion that most manufacturers put on the stem, or your handlebars could come off while riding. Leave at least 2 inches of stem inside the steerer tube or fork. Should you need your handlebars higher than this mark would allow, you will need to buy a longer stem.

Article Written By Anthony Smith

Anthony Smith began writing for Demand Studios in May of 2009 and has since written over 1400 articles for them. He also writes for "The College Baseball Newsletter." He attended the University of New Mexico, and has more than 25 years of experience in the business world.

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