by Brad Quartuccio

Single bolt stem clamps common with older quill-type systems can make bar swaps challenging, and not just because you have to unwrap or remove the controls of half the bar to make the change. Beyond that, the clamp itself can be very hard to actually impossible for a curve in a given drop or riser handlebar to fit through. Sometimes a little bit of room can be a lot of help for a tricky bend or just to avoid scratching the finish of a classy bar.

By fully removing the clamp bolt, turning it around and tightening it against a penny you can open up the clamp a hair to allow a stubborn bar to fit through. Obviously you don’t want to open it more than a full turn or so, and this should not be used to truly force a bar to fit, only to gently nudge it along.