Comfort and fitting

yeachan153
yeachan153 Posts: 401
edited January 2012 in Road buying advice
I currently have a spesh allez 16 2010 56 cm - everytime I am on the hoods it feels like it is stretching me. A new bike, or sending it back isn't an option. I am wondering if a shorter stem might be the solution.

Would a 90mm stem do the trick? Not sure what the angle is all about


Thanks

Comments

  • Wirral_paul
    Wirral_paul Posts: 2,476
    90mm seems very short on a 56cm bike. How far back is your saddle? The fore / aft adjustment should be set before varying the stem length. This really needs doing properly by someone who knows what they are doing.

    This shows how it should be done.
    http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bikefit.html

    I was too far forward which put pressure on the front of my knee. 8mm further back and the bike felt loads better at a pro bike fit session
  • yeachan153
    yeachan153 Posts: 401
    Unless I'm mistaken the allez has a 110mm stem- when on hoods I always have to slide forwards on the saddle (which already is pushed forward) and even then I feel slightly stretched. Definitaly should have gone for a 54cm, but given the circumstanced I am unsure if a 100mm stem (decrease of 1cm from stock) will solve this!
  • adwt2004
    adwt2004 Posts: 93
    There's no harm in getting one and giving it a go. But do the saddle fitting first. I need to do a saddle fitting on mine too and then I'll go by feel and control with regards to the stem. I think this video is quite useful and intend to follow it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAl_5e7bIHk
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    a 90 mm stem should make the difference, it will feel a bit twitchy at start, but then you will get used to it.

    Before everything, try and flip the stem, so that it goes upwards, this way you should be a bit less stretched
    left the forum March 2023
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    yeachan153 wrote:
    Would a 90mm stem do the trick? Not sure what the angle is all about

    Hi there

    I was in a similar position about 18 months ago. Test rode both a 56 and 58cm Spesh Secteur Elite ( same geometry as the Allez) and opted for the 58 because I felt the 56 was a bit to "cramped" in the kleg department. After about a month I got to feel that I was a bit stretched when riding on the hoods so I swapped the 110mm stem for a 90mm.

    Result - much more comfortable and no real changes to the handling characteristics of the bike. Try the stem swap - they're not too expensive and esay to do yourself.
  • yeachan153
    yeachan153 Posts: 401
    Thanks for all your input. I switched the stem upside down and pulled the handlebars up. It fits me much better- although I hope it isn't too hard to ride against a headwind with the change :)

    New stem = solution!
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBC ... cname=Road


    Is your lower back getting sore by any chance?

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