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Cures for Loose Handlebars

How would you keep your handle bars from loosening from wear?

Steve Jones's Answer:

	Steve Jones The author of four mountain-biking books, Steve Jones has logged thousands of miles of trails and backroads. Meet Steve Answer Archive Biking Forums

David,

It doesn't matter if you're a road rider or a mountain-bike rider, about the only thing you want to keep loose while biking is your body. Everything else needs to be tightened and secured. That goes double for your handlebar. If you suffer from sloppy play in this area, you can find yourself misjudging turns and having accidents.

As it so often happens with the questions I receive, there are more places than one to look for possible answers. In your case, I would have to say that in all my years I have never had a handlebar loosen from wear. Yes, I have had one or two become bent as a result of a stupendous crash, but never from just plain wearing out.

But then maybe that's what you mean. If your handlebar ever does become loose after wrecking, it's possible it wasn't secure in the clamp holding it to the headset in the first place. Check to see if you can re-tighten the binder bolt on the clamp. If necessary, use one of the liquid applications designed to keep the bolt from loosening. If that doesn't do it, it may be time to replace the handlebar, the clamp, or the headset. If you're really unlucky you might have to replace all three.

You also may mean that your handlebar grips keep coming loose. If they are new, you may have bought some too big for your particular style of handlebar. But since we're discussing things loosening from wear, that probably isn't the problem. The grips do occasionally wear out. If that's the case, loosen up on your wallet and head to your favorite bike shop for a replacement set.

But what I suspect has happened is that the headset has worked loose. You'll need to re-tighten the bolt that runs through the cap to the starnut after making sure the handlebar is aligned perpendicularly with the front tire. Usually this is accomplished with a 5mm Allen wrench. If that doesn't take care of the problem, take your ride to your local wrench and have it looked at.