Stem length advice ?

iantw

I need to raise the handle bars on my bike, due to physical discomfort and I am considering an adjustable stem, as this will raise the bars, should it be the same length as the current fixed stem or shorter?
thanks in advance.

sonny73

This depends on if your current discomfort is purely to do with reach and if your current stem is set up for a + or - degree angle. If it is on a + and you feel stretched then maybe a shorter one will be suitable.
Either way this is a good note from http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/help/bike-stems

What's the best length for a Cycle Stem?
Look at your current stem size, stack and length. Then consider your ride preferences: longer stems are best for hill climbing but you won't have as good control. Short stems offer a better ride in general but the trade off is hill climbing - you'll need to get out of the saddle! Also remember that a longer reach stem will mean you are stretched out over long periods and may cause back ache so all these things need to be taken into account when buying a stem.

Also I was kinldy shown this link by a forum memeber a week or so ago when I asked about angles and measurments of stem set up: http://alex.phred.org/stemchart/Default.aspx

Canny Jock

I was suffering from pain in my upper back/shoulders on longer rides, so went for a shorter, higher stem. It made no difference, or if anything made it worse.

In the end I went for a proper bike fitting, they ended up fitting a longer, lower stem and the actual problem was my riding position. Feels a little weird but definitely more comfortable on longer rides than before.

It's worth doing even if you are an experienced rider, by the time you've bought a few stems you could have paid for the fitting...