How to Adjust Angle Handlebars for Comfort on a Bicycle
Riding a bicycle can become a pretty uncomfortable experience if too much pressure is being exerted on the wrists. If you find yourself in such a situation, you may want to change the position of your handlebars. However, you can adjust the handlebar unless you loosen up the stem clamp that is holding it in place. Fortunately, all you need is a wrench and a bit of time on your hands to loosen up the clamp, adjust the handlebars and tighten it up again. If you are unable to get the handlebar at the right angle in the first attempt, do not give up trying. It will hardly take you two-to-three tries to position it to your liking.
Instructions
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1
The first thing that you need to do is to locate the stem clam bolts on the bicycle. The stem holds the handlebars in place and is a part on the bicycle that rests on top of the fork. In order to secure the steam clamp and hold the handlebars in place, the bicycle manufacturer screws the clamp onto the stem using bolts. You will not have much trouble locating the stem clamp bolts once you identify the clamp, especially if you are familiar with bicycles and their basic design.
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2
Grab a wrench and use it to loosen the stem bolts. Do not unscrew them completely. You just need to loosen them enough to move the handlebars up and down. If the stem clamp has been secured through Allen-style bolts, you will need an Allen wrench. However, you may be required to use a wrench of different size depending on the type of bolts that are used to secure the stem on your bicycle. Remember, rotating the bolts counter-clockwise will loosen them, while rotating them clockwise will tighten them. You have the option of releasing the clamp completely, though there is hardly any need to do this, since you can adjust the stem just by loosening it enough.
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3
Once you have loosened the clamp, adjust your handlebars as desired. Positioning them at an extreme angle in either angle is not advised, as it will make your wrists uncomfortable and cause you to put too much pressure on them while riding the bike or squeezing the brakes. While making the adjustments, get on your bike and grab the handlebar as you normally would to ensure that your wrists remain comfortable. Try to keep them as straight as possible.
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4
After you are satisfied with the position of the handlebar, use the wrench to tighten the clamp bolts again. This time, turn the bolts clockwise to tighten them.
