Bike Transport!

[equus123]

Hi all,

I'm getting a hard-case bike carrier for xmas and I'm going to use it to bring my bike with me on a trip to FL to visit my parents. The bike carrier is great because it's a larger size (which is fine) and you only need to take the stem (w/ bars), seatpost, pedals, and wheels off.

Here is my question...for removing and re-installing the stem. I know this is a little bit of a tricky procedure and I don't want to screw anything up. I have the Zinn book for bike maintenance but the descriptions are too lengthy and so involved that I get confused by the end.

For anybody who knows what they're doing, can you please offer help? What is the correct sequence to 1) remove a stem, 2) what you do with the cap and screw during transport, 3) and then re-install the stem. I know a little big of grease is involved - I'll get a small tube/jug for travelling?

Thank you! I appreciate it. Everything I've read is too confusing and the stem/bearings area is too important to go with a trial and error!!

[DebW]

Do you have a threaded headset and quill stem, or a threadless headset where you can remove the handlebars without removing the stem? In either case, removing the stem or handlebars is not difficult. Figuring out how to pack the bars without disconnecting all the cables can be a little challenging.

[Pedal Wench]

I agree (of course) with Deb. Try to keep the stem on and just remove the handle bars. The stem really shouldn't have to come off.

[DebW]

If it's a quill stem, then the stem comes off without any impact on the adjustment of the headset. If it's a threadless headset, you should be able to remove the handlebars and leave the stem in place, again without touching the headset adjustment. Are there 4 bolts and a removable section that attach the handlebars to the stem? If so, just undo those 4 bolts. Then you find a way to pack the handlebars close to the top of the fork where all the cables can reach. Sometimes you can loop the bars over the top tube or around one of the wheels.

[Brandi]

Do you have a threaded headset and quill stem, or a threadless headset where you can remove the handlebars without removing the stem? In either case, removing the stem or handlebars is not difficult. Figuring out how to pack the bars without disconnecting all the cables can be a little challenging.

Don't remove the cables, just bubble wrap the handle bar's with cables still attached then zip tie to top tube. if there is enough play in your cables. And I agree it depends on what kind of stem?

[Eden]

If you have any carbon parts - bar-stem-seatpost invest in a torque wrench. You don't want accidentally crank down on the anything too hard (most carbon parts I've seen reccommend 5nm) Even if you don't have any carbon parts its a handy thing to have so that you aren't overtightening.

[equus123]

Great replies. Thank you all very much for your feedback and help. *hugs*

I have a threadless headset.
Aluminum Ritchey stem.


Carbon bars.
I do not have a torque wrench but have thought about getting one.

That's great advice to just take the bars off. I only hadn't thought of that because I have to have my bars at an exact rotation/angle or else I'm miserable. But I'll just measure from the ground to the tops of the shifters to get an exact spot. But it certainly makes this much easier if I only have to worry about one thing (bar angle) instead of several!

The case is coming in tomorrow so I'll be able to see what room I have to work with and play with different places to have the bars during transport.

Thank you!!

[equus123]

I've been looking around online at the case that is to be given to me. I actually found a nice *real* picture on craigslist.com. After all of my questions yesterday I don't even have to touch the front end!