9
8.9 Adjusting the tilt of the handlebars
and brake levers on road,
triathlon and cyclocross bikes
Road handlebars
With road bikes, the straight extension below
the drops should be parallel to the ground
or point slightly down towards the rear. The
tips of the brake levers should coincide with
an imaginary straight line extending forward
from the lower edge of the straight extension
below the drops. Shifting the brake levers is
a job best left to your MERIDA dealer, as it
involves retaping the handlebars afterwards.
To adjust the tilt of the handlebars, release the
Allen bolt/s on the underside or front side of
the stem. Turn the handlebars to the desired
position. Make sure the handlebars are accu-
rately centred in the stem.
Now carefully tighten the bolt/s with a torque
wrench. Try twisting the handlebars inside the
stem tube and tighten the bolt a little more, if
necessary.
8. Adjusting the bike to the rider
Note that the bolted connections of the
stem and aero handlebars have to be
tightened to the prescribed torques. You will
find the values in chapter 29.
“Recommend-
ed torques for bolted connections“
, in the
enclosed manuals or on the components.