what do you use for handlebar shims
#1
Myrtle Beach Crab
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Newport RI
Posts: 824
Bikes: enough one would think, but thinking isn't my strong point
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 271 Post(s)
Liked 541 Times
in
214 Posts
what do you use for handlebar shims
going to use 25.4 bars with a 25.8 clamp on my stem.. what do folks use for a shim? a strip cut from a beer can? (which of course means that i'm going to get the right beer for riding karma..) shim strip material that might be available somewhere?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland, USA
Posts: 2,434
Bikes: Drysdale/Gitane/Zeus/Masi/Falcon/Palo Alto/Raleigh/Legnano
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 983 Post(s)
Liked 632 Times
in
403 Posts
Not for bikes but I once bought (and still have most of) an assortment pack of brass shim stock from the local auto-parts store; I see Amazon sells something similar, using a search for "brass shim stock". That said, aluminum is lighter than brass I presume once shimming, one loses the effectiveness of any knurling on the center of the bars, to a degree.
__________________
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
Larry:1958 Drysdale, 1961 Gitane Gran Sport, 1974 Zeus track, 1988 Masi Gran Corsa, 1974 Falcon, 1980 Palo Alto, 1973 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1974 Legnano. Susan: 1976 Windsor Profesional.
#3
Pedal to the medal
Whatever you use, just remember to double the thickness when doing calculations, eg a 1mm shim will add 2mm of thickness, as you're wrapping the shim around the bar. Might be elementary engineering for some, yet it is a helpful reminder.
#4
Myrtle Beach Crab
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Newport RI
Posts: 824
Bikes: enough one would think, but thinking isn't my strong point
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 271 Post(s)
Liked 541 Times
in
214 Posts
Not for bikes but I once bought (and still have most of) an assortment pack of brass shim stock from the local auto-parts store; I see Amazon sells something similar, using a search for "brass shim stock". That said, aluminum is lighter than brass I presume once shimming, one loses the effectiveness of any knurling on the center of the bars, to a degree.
Likes For cocoabeachcrab:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
beer cans are win win; great for shimming but first you have to drink the beer.
Likes For bikemig:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,536
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 930 Post(s)
Liked 1,291 Times
in
487 Posts
I messed around with beer cans and thin stock sheet metal but it can be difficult to get the exact thickness you need. For the correct fit, go here: https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...p_shims_-_8466
#7
Myrtle Beach Crab
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Newport RI
Posts: 824
Bikes: enough one would think, but thinking isn't my strong point
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 271 Post(s)
Liked 541 Times
in
214 Posts
I messed around with beer cans and thin stock sheet metal but it can be difficult to get the exact thickness you need. For the correct fit, go here: https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...p_shims_-_8466
#8
Myrtle Beach Crab
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Newport RI
Posts: 824
Bikes: enough one would think, but thinking isn't my strong point
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 271 Post(s)
Liked 541 Times
in
214 Posts
... which brings up another question... what brands of beer would be good candidates for shims? and i don't really care about the shim part, but i'm seeing a new reason to drink some some beer that begs to be exploited!
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
Posts: 9,579
Bikes: '65 Frejus TDF, '73 Bottecchia Giro d'Italia, '83 Colnago Superissimo, '84 Trek 610, '84 Trek 760, '88 Pinarello Veneto, '88 De Rosa Pro, '89 Pinarello Montello, '94 Burley Duet, 97 Specialized RockHopper, 2010 Langster, Tern Link D8
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1607 Post(s)
Liked 2,216 Times
in
1,103 Posts
I tried that but couldn't get the clamp tight enough. this was using a 26 in a 36.4 clamp. Just tightening it down was enough.
__________________
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
Bikes don't stand alone. They are two tired.
#13
2k miles from the midwest
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,964
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times
in
446 Posts
I can't drink anymore, so I have to substitute a fizzy water can.
Likes For cocoabeachcrab:
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,038
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4511 Post(s)
Liked 6,378 Times
in
3,667 Posts
#18
Cheerfully low end
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,977
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 646 Post(s)
Liked 1,044 Times
in
667 Posts
I’ve used 12 mil (0.3mm) stainless steel flat stock 1” wide for shimming 26.0 clamp to 25.4 bars. At the moment, both bikes have stems with 25.4 mm clamps so no shins are needed.
Otto
Otto
#19
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Pinocchio was made of wood, and he became a real boy.
Likes For Phil_gretz:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
#23
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,328
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 885 Post(s)
Liked 990 Times
in
522 Posts
If you use any drink can heat the shim to remove the plastic inner liner.
#24
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,446 Times
in
1,557 Posts
Likes For thumpism:
#25
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Ftw: