Stem length advice ?

iantw
iantw Posts: 13
edited September 2010 in Road buying advice
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.

Comments

  • sonny73
    sonny73 Posts: 2,203
    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
    Canny Jock Posts: 1,051
    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...