So it happened. After years of riding, I had my first accident…. On my new to me Trek Domane SL5. Leisurely ride with family and this kid on one of little, Frankenstein’s monster looking, low to the ground e-bikes jumps off the sidewalk, going the wrong direction, and directly into my path.
Luckily no one was hurt, but my bike is a little bent out of shape. Rides fine though.
Considering taking it to a shop to get it adjusted (no frame damage, wheel damage, or any other damage of any kind that I can see.
Pictures say it all, it looks like the stem has turned but hoping someone here can help me save a few bucks. Is it as simple as unscrewing the handle and adjusting or am I SOL?
by mylstogo
7 Comments
Slacken screws, line up and retighten 👍
> Is it as simple as unscrewing the handle and adjusting?
Yes.
yeah i would just straighten the stem and ride it to see how it feels
just losen the side bolts and should be lose enought to put it straight without force, if it still stuck you can lose the preload on the top as well but shouldn’t be necesary
[tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3hm1SR1SYY)
If its a carbon fork, be careful how much you tighten the stem bolts after aligning it
Only loosen the screws on the sides. The top screw is to tension the headset bearings and will not prevent you from correcting the steering.
It’s something with the SL5’s. I was on mine, coming through town after a ride, on the way home. Stopped at a light, a couple cars back. Light went green, everything in front of me started to move. I put in a pedal stroke, lifted my ground foot, clipped in, and the van in front of me slammed on the brakes. I grabbed two fists of brakes and fell straight over the side, still clipped in. Only time I’ve fallen over on the road. (I’ve eaten it so many times on the MTB) But, the SL5 didn’t show any damage.
This is one of those “do as I say, not as I do” posts.
Everyone in here knows they’d put the wheel between their knees and straighten it out and hop back on. Which is what I would have done lol.
Everyone in here also knows that the correct answer is to loosen the stem and then go find a torque wrench.