Handlebars

[Pat262]

Just been setting up my new road bike and I have set my handlebars straight in line with my front wheel etc..
When I try it out my handle bars are not tight enough and dont stay in line with my front wheel when turning, they keep going out of line.
I am new to all this so do I need to tighten it up at the stem with a big spanner or do something else. Hope you can help and thanks.

 

[mcshroom]

That sounds like the stem is loose. What bike is it?

There's two different sorts of stem. On older and cheaper bikes you get a quill stem, which has a big nut in the top. This needs to be tight enough to hold the bars from slipping round.

On most new bikes you get an ahead stem, which will have a couple of hex-bolts on the back of it. Make sure they are as tight as possible (if it's a carbon steerer, check the maximum torque rating before you damage it though.

 

[Brommyboy]

A quill stem has a wedge nut to fix it. This is tightened by the Allen bolt at the top!

 

[monnet]

If it's an Ahead style headset then you need to tighten the hex at the top just up to the point where it starts tightening (about 1/8 turn after the point where it stops spinning loosely and starts to 'bite'). The bolts at the back of the stem should be nipped down tight (preferably with a torque wrench to around 5nM., although check the stem for the exact tension).