50 | Cycling World
Bicycle
Maintenance 101
By Catherine Thompson,
Head Mechanic and Instructor,
Outspoken Cycles
Headset Adjustment
W
hether you’ve decided to adjust your stem
height or change to a different si e stem,
it’s always important to make sure you’ve
set your headset up properly afterwards.
Leaving it poorly adjusted not only makes your ride
feel poor, but it can also do long term damage to the
headset, frame or forks.
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Firstly, and importantly, you need to be able to correctly
assess your headset for set-up or wear. To start, check
that your steering feels free and smooth. Lift the
handlebars up and rotate left and right, checking they
run easily and smoothly from side to side.
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f you find it s not feeling right, you can make
adjustments to set it up correctly. Before making any
changes to the top bolt adjuster, it’s really important
to undo the stem bolts. If you adjust the top bolt
before loosening the stem bolts, you could really
damage your components. Make sure the stem can
move easily, independent of the forks, and that the
wheel and bolts are loose
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Next, test whether it’s too loose (or worn). Place the
bike on the ground and wrap your left hand around
the top of the headset. Pull the front brake and rock
the bike backwards and forwards. If it’s loose, you’ll
feel it wobble in your left hand as the steerer column
moves with the frame.
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