Handle Bar Hight - Spacers

thescouselander
thescouselander Posts: 549
edited June 2011 in Road beginners
I have not long taken delivery of my new Giant Defy 2. I've got is set up mostly ok but I feel the handle bars are a little high - there seems to be a lot of spacers under the stem so there should be enough scope for adjustment.


The question is should I cut the steerer tube when I move the bars down or is it better to just run with the spacers on top of the stem?

Comments

  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    There's no need to cut the steerer tube apart from aesthetic reasons. You want to be sure that you're not going to raise the stem again before you make that move.
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  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    I def wouldn't cut them straight away in case you don't like the new position. If you do end up liking it then it's a choice really between better looks (cut) or possibly being easier to sell on (plenty of steerer tube). I take it you can't flip your stem either as a first option?
  • thescouselander
    thescouselander Posts: 549
    Well I moved the handle bars down 1 spacer and it doesn't look too bad (flipping the stem would have made the handle bars higher) - the spacers are a nice anodised blue finish and look quite good anyway. I guess I'll leave it as it is for now.
  • Mark Bom
    Mark Bom Posts: 184
    Hope you don't mind me jumping on this topic, rather than start a new one?

    I want to lower my stem, but if I remove one of the spacers, will there be any movement to lower the stem to make it flush?

    I don't want to have it sticking out the top and I'm reluctant to cut it.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Mark Bom wrote:
    Hope you don't mind me jumping on this topic, rather than start a new one?

    I want to lower my stem, but if I remove one of the spacers, will there be any movement to lower the stem to make it flush?

    I don't want to have it sticking out the top and I'm reluctant to cut it.

    If you remove one spacer you will have to take up the difference by either putting it on top of the stem or cutting the stem. Or you will have issues adding the preload to the headset bearings.

    see http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... et-service
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Mark Bom
    Mark Bom Posts: 184
    nicklouse wrote:
    Mark Bom wrote:
    Hope you don't mind me jumping on this topic, rather than start a new one?

    I want to lower my stem, but if I remove one of the spacers, will there be any movement to lower the stem to make it flush?

    I don't want to have it sticking out the top and I'm reluctant to cut it.

    If you remove one spacer you will have to take up the difference by either putting it on top of the stem or cutting the stem. Or you will have issues adding the preload to the headset bearings.

    see http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... et-service

    OK, cheers for that!

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