Stem angle/length advice please

skywalker482

Hi all I ride a 52cm Genesis Equilibrium and as she is a small frame I need the seatpost quiet high and want to bring the bars up a bit higher to match, the reach for me is spot on with standard 100mm stem but I get neck ache over distance due to the race style angle I'm at and I want to raise the bars.

My question is this, to upgrade my stem to a steeper angle (I think the oe stem is a 6 degree rise) to bring my bars up a cm or two would I need to go longer to keep the reach the same???

I have seen a very nice Thompson X2 stem at a 10 degree or 17degree rise but would I have to buy a 110/120 to keep the reach or would I go shorter??? :?

skywalker482

Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 3:32 pm

crankycrank

Try this. http://www.brightspoke.com/t/bike-stem-calculator.html Use the "compare two stems" option to match your current stem. Keep in mind that raising the level of your bars may require you to use a shorter stem to maintain the same comfort (or maybe not). It's still a little bit of trial and error.

Wirral_paul

Can you flip your stem over to raise the height or would that lower the bars instead??

sungod

as above, try flipping the stem if it's currently giving a drop

if you really want extra height, get something like a cinelli pista stem and flip it, really stiff stem, cheap

bobgfish

I would suggest to pay someone for a a decent bike fit. They can then determine what length and what angle you need. A comment from my bike fit a year or so ago when I complained of lower back pain was..."Most people raise the handlebars for this but it is better to lower them"...Obvlsuly we are not all built the same. Get a professional to assess and recommend.

MichaelW

Try and adjustable stem. It is almost impossible to define the bar position by formula, much easier to experiment for yourself.
Is your frame just the wrong size for your chosen position?