Is my stem too long?

ashleymp777

Ok, so when I racing yesterday two things occured:

1) I kept losing the front end and crashing / not keeping on the track path, the front end felt really light; and

2) My lower back was killing me.

So, and as you'll probably guessed by now, do you think my stem is too long? It's 185mm with 0 degree rise.

I'm 5 11, and the frame size is 18".

Any help/comments (though not about my bad riding ;-)) would be appreciated!

Anonymous

A long stem isn't going to make the front end wash out. Quite the contrary in fact.

BlackSpur

185mm - are you sure!? Is that centre to centre or end to end - should be c to c.

ashleymp777

Well spotted! Sorry, I'm still knackered from yesterday - it's 120mm long!

BlackSpur

That's still long. A shorter stem will not necessarily solve your problems, however, as it will put your weight further back, hence the front end will feel lighter. Having your weight further back is better for descending - it you were loosing control downhill then a shorter stem may help. Back pain could be down to a number of things, and being over-stretched could be one of them! A shorter, raised stem could help.
Try and borrow a shorter stem with a little rise and see how you get on with it. Alternatively you could get a 2nd hand one of ebay and sell on if it's no good, or just buy a dirt cheap one from CRC to experiment with.

ashleymp777

Mmm, the cheap stem from CRC is a very good idea! Think I'll try that, I cant bare another race like that, ever!

What length stems do people run who have a similar bike to mine?!

Bike Bloke

I used to have a 130mm stem on my scott racing ht, coupled with forks that had too much travel and the front end would lift if i didnt really dig my elbows in on climbs, plus it was a fair old stretch even for me with monkey arms.

I went to a 100mm stem, and put the forks @ the proper travel for the bike and now it's perfect, no more lift, brilliant handling, plus the reach allows for a little more maneuverability. Does look pretty aggressive though (pic in sig).

breezer

I was always a bit sceptical about the magazines saying what difference swapping to a shorter stem made but they are right. I had a 100mm on my Turner 5 spot and it was fine most of the time although noticably a bit slow on the really twisty stuff. I changed it for a 70mm of the same rise, 6 deg, it felt awful at first but once I got used to it which took about an hour, its totally transformed the bike. Its more comfortable to ride due to being a bit more upright but the difference it made on the twisty stuff was obscene! Deffinately worth buying a cheapo £15 one new or a decent unmarked 2nd hand one to try out

stevieboy

Re the back ache pretty much everyone i've spoken to following the race has it. The course wasn't very back friendly. I've never had as bad a back as I do right now, but no past race has done that to me before - so in my case set up isn't the issue.

Sandstoner

Agree with breezer. After all the mags kept banging on about it I swapped out a 130mm on my old Marin East Peak with a 90 and put some wider bars on. Did the same with my 5-spot.
As he says, felt v strange for a few hours, then just felt more comfy. Also had a 1" set back seatpost on the Turner which I replaced with a standard to stop the front lifting on climbs.
One thing I think makes a lot of difference to my back, which is a bit knackered anyway, is the tilt of the saddle. Oddly, just the tiniest adjustment here can alter the angle of your hips/back on the bike with some noticeable effects. I have mine just slightly nose-down from flat. Works for me. Also puts more weight over the front as my back isn't arching as much. One to play with.....and it's free.

breezer

Yes small changes can make a big difference. On my Inbred I was getting aching wrist, rotated the bars back about 10 degrees or so, no pain...

glen4

Ashley
the stem on my 18" stumpy expert HT is 105mm long, like you i'm 5'11", mine is at +8' rise and I run a S Works riser bar too. Bike still climbs well, never lifts the front, and handles fine

passout

I'd go with a 90mm stem.

Where are my stabilisers?

I too am looking to get a shorter stem but am confused on the measurement side :oops: When you say centre to centre, do you mean from the headset bolt area to the centre of the bar hole? Or from the inside edge of the headset hole to the inside edge of the bar hole? :oops:
I've probably confused things now :shock:

Andy B

Hope this helps...



http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/fix/?id=position

Where are my stabilisers?

Yeah, great thanks, think I get the idea now

ashleymp777

Mmm, I think I might try a 100mm stem - gonna get a cheepy from CRC or somewhere like that.

glen4

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/specialized-stump ... .m14.l1318

Might be worth a punt, just to try it.

supersonic

Trying to see how that is adjustable, unless it has a rotatable shim.

Wiggle did have Truvitiv XR stems for a tenner. A bit heavy, but good value.

glen4

supersonic wrote:

Trying to see how that is adjustable, unless it has a rotatable shim.

quote]

It is indeed a rotatable shim, works well, allows you to try a varirty of heights/drops