How to Adjust Bicycle Handlebar Height

By Jerry Goodwin

It seems odd to me that much of the design changes of the bicycle over the years can be attributed to bicycle racing. It seems odd for the simple matter that most cyclists do not race. In the bike club I belong to we now have over 100 members of which probably 20 are racers. Some of us old guys go to the Golden Olympics, but most of us wouldn't have a ghost of a chance in a Cat 3 race.

There lies a problem though in that what is fast which is what a racer needs of course is not always the most comfortable for the distance rider or the weekend athlete. Many more of today's cyclists are distance riders or weekend warriors than are "racers"

So while the bicycle racer will aim for the flat back with the belly on the top tube and leaning forward as far as possible to get the best aerodynamics from himself and his ride, the much more common recreational rider will opt for a more upright position on the bike.

Long distance riders that spend many hours in the saddle but with much less speed than the racer will opt for a higher handlebar height. Sometimes getting a better fit for the rider and the type of riding involves not just an adjustment but also a parts replacement.

You may find that what came with the bike is not what fits you and that you need a longer handlebar stem to raise the handlebars or bring them closer to the saddle, possibly both.

Older bikes used a conical expander nut with a split shaft that expanded against the inside of the steerer. Newer bikes use a slightly different system that does almost exactly the same thing. Basically if you loosen the bolt that is on the top of the stem you should be able to move the stem up or down which will increase the height of the handlebars.

Be extremely careful when raising the bar that you do NOT raise them too high. Most stems have a minimum insertion mark. Make sure that your stem is inserted at least that far in. If the bar still feels to low, go to your nearest bike shop and pick up a longer stem with the same diameter. If there is no mark then make sure your stem is inserted at least 2" or 50 mm inside the fork.

If you don't insert it far enough and it either slips out or breaks off due to pressure on the handlebars, don't say you weren't warned. I have found that most bikes come with the handlebars set at the maximum height, so if you want to raise the bars, you are probably going to have to find a longer stem.

Some bikes come with what is known as a threadless fork/headset. These threadless forks usually come with long steerers which can be cut to size for different bikes. When you buy a new fork, just leave the steerer full length even if you have a smaller frame and you will have room to make your stem high enough without any bike modifications, special tools or anything like that.

About the Author: Jerry Goodwin is an avid cyclist, Medical Technologist, Personal Trainer and bicycle mechanic. Jerry and his wife Ruth have operate BMG Cycling and Fitness in Moultrie Georgia. Jerry is a member of the Pecan City Pedalers,he races his bicycle in the Georgia Golden Olympics and races BMX with his grandsons at Chehaw BMX track in Albany Georgia Check out http://www.thebicyclenut.com for more information. ------------------------------------------------------ For more on Bicycle Adjustments, see www.bestbikeguide.com.