I’ve got a road bike that I’m slapping some clip-on aerobars on as well as a fast-forward seat post. It’s certainly not a professional fit, but I’m gonna do what I can to give myself a more aero position without sacrificing too much power.
Question is, I can tell that with the clip-on aerobars the whole handle-bar section of the bike seems too high. I’ve heard people throw around terms like headset, spacer, etc… but I’m not really certain about what is what. It looks like there are a few extra donuts around the base of my handlebar rig. Are those spacers? Can I take them out safely to help lower the front of my bike. Any other suggestions for do-it-yourself fittings?
It looks like there are a few extra donuts around the base of my handlebar rig. Are those spacers? Can I take them out safely to help lower the front of my bike.
Yes, if you have a threadless headset, those spacers can come out. Not “out” completely – you move them from under the stem to on top of the stem and re-tighten everything. That will lower your bars by the thickness of the spacers. For more lowering, you’ll need to get a more radically slanted stem and install it upside down (so it points down).
Before doing any of this, make sure you know how to properly set up and tighten the various parts of a threadless headset. No insults intended here at all – it’s just that your question leads me to think you’ve never done it before. Once you know the basics, it’s a piece of cake and you’ll have no worries. Just do some reading or have someone show you how to do it.