Handlebar Adjustment (Probably a Dumb Question)

CheddarTrek

Hey guys,

So I've only recently started riding seriously again, and I find that my bike doesn't seem as comfortable as it used to be. Or else I've forgotten what it felt like to ride, but either way I did a bit of reading and it sounds like my handlebars are too low.

I have a Trek 4300. I don't recall which year model it was, but it's Orange/Silver and my best guess on a date would be 2005/2006.

So my question is -- Is it possible for me to adjust the handlebars? If so, how do I do that?

I tried loosening the... bolt thingy on the top... and pulling, but it didn't seem to work. I debated just trying to pull harder, but I thought it'd be best to ask if it's even possible. I think I heard somewhere that for some bikes you have to purchase a new... tube... or something to make the bars higher, but for some you don't.

I've enjoyed riding for years now, even if I haven't ridden much in the last 2 years, but I was never much of a bike mechanic beyond changing my seat height. I've never even fixed a chain, so yeah.

Thanks in advance for any help. Or if anyone has a link to basic bike maintenance and how things go together that might be fun to read.

Cheers!

nicklouse

what do you want to do?
raise them?
lower them?
rotate them?

read parktools about threadless aheadsets.

CheddarTrek

I want to raise them. They're too low by a bit. Not drastic, but enough to notice.

Parktools? I'll go google that -- thanks.

Edit: Ah ha, it's in your signature.

nicklouse

there is a link in my sig.

new stem needed.

CheddarTrek

Thanks. I guess I should find a bike shop somewhere to buy a stem then. I'm not confident of my ability to purchase/install one myself. A bit irritating that a bike costing that much doesn't come with any ability to adjust something like that.

nicklouse

you can lower it. most bikes no dont allow any/much adjustment. which is why it is always best to get things sorted at point of sale.

CheddarTrek

It would have been -- but I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was 19. First one I had was a Schwinn from Wal-Mart that got stolen and didn't fit me at all. The Trek 4300 was the first bike I ever purchased at a bike shop, and since I had no idea at all what I was looking for... well, I just had to go with their suggestions. When they asked me if it fit properly not much I could say other than that I thought so -- it took this long for me to figure out the handlebars were too low when I finally got tired of having certain kinds of pain and google'd it. hah. Next time I'll know to sort it out at point of sale though!

cooldad

You will need a stem with some rise, alternatively some riser bars. Or a combination of both.
Old quill stems were adjustable, new threadless are not really, you are limited by the fork steerer length.

CheddarTrek

Thanks guys! Great info/site/forum.