adjustable stem

tommy_tommy

This year I bought a 2009 specialized allez. The frame has a sportive geometry and quite a high front tube. I was only intending to ride sprotives so thought this would suit my needs. However, I have entered a few road races as training and found I could not get low enough even on the drops. I took all the spacers but the bars still feel too high.

I am thinking of getting an adjustable stem to drop the bars further.

Does anyone use an adjustable stem? Is this likely to affect the handing if the stem is nagled downwards?.

alfablue

I wouldn't want a conventional adjustable stem (heavy, ugly) but Specialized do stems with a shim that adjusts them between 0 degrees and 24 degrees + or - (or 0 and 16 degrees - there are two models). This will give you plenty of options. I got mine for £10 on eBay, list price probably around £25. I think mine was marketed as an mtb stem (because I was after a shorter one than the road models) but that's fine, reasonably light. Getting a longer stem may also give you a more stretched position.

Bikeradar review here.

Remember you can flip the stem which will make it lower (or higher, if it is already in the low position).

N0bodyOfTheGoat

The Oval R710 stem has a range from +40 (slope up) to -20 degrees (down). Used one on my Felt while my back was recovering from a bad lumbar region muscle sprain, was very happy with it,