Stem length

rockmonkeysc

I have decided that I need a longer stem to make me feel a bit more stable when riding out of the saddle over rough ground.
At the moment my bike has a 90mm stem which feels comfortable when in the saddle, how much extra length would I need to feel any difference? If I changed to a 110mm or 120mm stem would it feel much different when I'm out of the saddle?

Chunkers1980

No you wouldn't - remember bars have a profile too, you can twist and clamp them through 5/10 degree and you'd move that 10mm anyhow.

The further a stem moves the bars over the front pivot (headtube) the less feeling is transmitted back to the rider.....

rockmonkeysc

I have only got a low rise bar, maybe a 110mm stem combined with a higher rise bar would be a better combination. My new bike has a 15mm shorter TT than my old one so I was hoping that an extra 20mm on the stem would make it feel similar.

Chunkers1980

That could be ok.

I just tried 40mm difference fully in the stem and it was not great - try it and see what you think if you've not got to buy stuff -just the effort of changing, don't buy stuff unless you're sure... Think I'm scaling back on my stem by 20mm but that 's only cos I've tried everything I can, and it comes back to losing feeling the further you go from the pivot...

rockmonkeysc

I will try a 20mm longer stem & see how I go. Merlin have got Easton EA50 stems for £16, could probably sell it for that on Ebay if it doesn't work for me. I could try bars after that, maybe an extra 1/2" rise.

dan shard

Saw a bloke on a really long stem once at Degla...thought to myself, thats a long stem!

Got half way round and he was in a crumpled head on the floor with....a snapped stem

BlueAdvocate

I recently reduced the stem on my Rockhopper from 90 down to 60 and it definitely felt tighter and more controllable on the singletrack - which is what I would expect.

Long stems feel "wafty (yes not a word but I like it)" to me like a big tiller on a rudder.

At weekend I was testing a couple of full suss bikes, one had a longish stem and it just didn't feel right. Now that may be as much about my positioning on the bike and the geometry as whole rather than it being it being bar distance from headtube.

So personally I would be looking at reducing stem length but it is about personal preference and what feels right for you.

However the longer stem is meant to be better for climbing (short stems get twitchy) so its also about balancing your needs and preferences.

Article here may be of use again its an opinion (the link below should have a link the stem article)

http://betterride.net/.../another-thing ... e-control/