Whether your mini-me wants to bike to school or you want to enjoy some family time exploring some local nature trails – learning how to ride a bike is a rite of passage. Besides being a great way to stay active and keep fit, exploring by bike is one of the most exciting and fun ways to get around, especially when you’re a kid!
Still, we’re sure that you’ll agree with us when we say that safety always comes first, which is why it’s important to make sure that your kid’s bike is set up correctly – and that goes for ensuring that the handlebars are positioned at the optimum height, too.
The only question is, how do you do it correctly?
If you’re currently asking yourself this question, then rest assured that you have clicked on the right article! To help ensure that you are able to raise the handlebars on your child’s bike safely and correctly, we are going to be providing you with some helpful instructions below that will ensure you’re able to do it correctly. Ready? Let’s jump right in.
How To Raise The Handlebars On A Child’s Bike
The handlebar is one of the most important parts of any bicycle. It controls the height and angle of the seat, which affects where your feet are placed when riding.
The distance between the front wheel and handlebars also affects the steering of the bike – so it’s important to make sure that you are adjusting the ones on your child’s bike correctly.
In addition, the handlebars can also affect the speed of the bike as well as its stability. So, if you want to raise the handlebars, read on for some helpful instructions that will ensure you’re able to do it correctly:
Ensure That The Bike Has Been Properly Assembled
Before you can raise the handlebars on any bike, you need to make sure that the bike has been assembled correctly. This means that all the parts should be securely fastened together and there shouldn’t be any loose pieces lying around.
If you feel like there might be something missing from the bike, then you should take it back to the shop where you bought it so they can check if anything is missing.
Check The Seat Post Length
Next, you need to measure the length of the seat post. Make sure that it’s as close to the ground as possible without touching the pedals. It needs to be at least 20 cm shorter than the total length of the frame.
If you get confused while carrying out this step, we recommend that you take a closer look at the owner’s manual that you would have gotten upon purchasing, as this will provide you with all the relevant information to do this properly.
Measure The Top Tube Length
Once you’ve measured the other two lengths, you now need to measure the length from the bottom bracket to the top of the saddle. Again, make sure that it’s as short as possible without hitting the pedals.
Even though this might seem like a tedious step to need to carry out, making sure that you do will help to make sure that the rest of the bike’s components are in alignment with the handlebars once you go ahead and raise them.
Raise The Handlebars
Once you have carried out the above steps, you will then need to raise the handlebars. In order to do this properly, you’re going to need to loosen the bolts by holding them down. Then, once you have done this, lift the bars until they reach the correct position.
Finally, tighten the bolts again to make sure that the adjusted handlebars are firmly and safely set in place.
Adjust The Brakes
After raising the handlebars, you also need to adjust the brakes. First, you need to find out whether the brake levers are attached to the handlebar stem or not. If they are, then you just need to move them forward or backwards until they reach the desired position.
If they aren’t attached to the stem, then you need to unscrew the nuts that hold them in place. Once you’ve done that, you can move the lever forwards or backwards until it reaches the desired position.
Tighten The Handlebar Clamp
After you have adjusted the handlebars and brakes, you should then go ahead and tighten the handlebar clamps. To do this, simply turn the screws clockwise until they click into place. This can be a little tricky to get right at first, so take your time if you find that the screws are a little stubborn.
Take A Test Ride
Last but certainly not least, the only thing that you’ll need to do after you have raised the handlebars is to go ahead and take a test ride!
After you’ve raised the handlebars, you should test ride the bike before letting your kid use it. If everything looks good, then you can let him/her start riding.
Wrapping Up
There we have it! Thank you for taking the time to read through this guide. Hopefully, now that you have taken the time to read through this article, you now have a much greater understanding of how to go ahead and properly raise the handlebars on your child’s bike.
As a side note, please keep in mind that all the instructions that we have provided you with should be taken as general guidance.
Bikes vary from model to model, so to make sure that you are raising the handlebars on your child’s particular bike model – you should be sure to refer to the owner’s manual that would have been included in the box upon purchasing. In this guide, you’ll be able to find all the relevant instructions specific to the model of bike that you own.
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