Bending handle bars

[stuvy]

I want to flare out the lower of a set of drop aluminium cycle handle bars.

what would be the best way to do it,

clamp in a vice then bend them out?

heat?

if there prone to cracking don’t worry as a new set is only £15

I have 3 of them and thought I’d try before ordering a new set

 

[Hopefuldave]

Anneal the ally first, rub ordinary soap on near where you're heating and heat until it turns black, then dunk in cold water - a tip taught me by Wally who was the UK team's cycle mechanic at the 1952 Olympics*... The ally will re-harden naturally over a day or two.

Dave H. (the other one)

*And ran my local serious bike shop in the early 70s, Campagnolo dealer etc.

 

[Shox Dr]

Be careful they aren’t extruded. They can snap like twigs if stressed

 

[stuvy]

Iv had a fiddle with my handle bars and don’t think I need to spread them just yet... once my new levers and shifters turn up I will make a decision as to what I plan on doing with the bike

 

[Shox Dr]

I regularly had to straighten the bars on my MX bike, they dont mind a few tweeks, but you never know when they are going to snap, so I soon stopped doing it

 

[Mick Annick]

Anneal the ally first, rub ordinary soap on near where you're heating and heat until it turns black, then dunk in cold water - a tip taught me by Wally who was the UK team's cycle mechanic at the 1952 Olympics*... The ally will re-harden naturally over a day or two.

Dave H. (the other one)

*And ran my local serious bike shop in the early 70s, Campagnolo dealer etc.

Interesting, my wife’s grandfather was from Camberwell and coached some of the Olympic riders around that time

 

[stuvy]

I regularly had to straighten the bars on my MX bike, they dont mind a few tweeks, but you never know when they are going to snap, so I soon stopped doing it

was only saying to @Ashley Burton aboutbmy crash when I broke my carbon handlebars a few years back