Bicycle Mechanics - How many degrees does this stem look like?

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wfofromthegetgo
07-21-05, 09:43 PM
I think I want to get a shorter stem but when I look at all the short stems, they seem to all have a 10 degree rise. The Haro website says I have a 10deg rise on my stem but it doesn't look it:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/wherermykeys/v1.jpg

does that seem like 10 degrees to you guys? It look like way more to me. I'd measure it but I don't have a protractor :) I don't think I want to change my stem to a shorter one if its going to lower my bars...

one more quick question...where do you take stem measurements from? center of headset to center of bars?

thanks

MudPie
07-21-05, 10:03 PM
It could be 10 degrees. The angle of the fork exaggerates the angle. I believe the angle of the stem is measure from a line perpendicular to the steerer tube. From the picture, if you measure the angle from the horizon to the stem, it'll be more than 10 degrees. However, you'd need to subtract the angle of the head tube to get the true angle of the stem.

Another way to determine the angle is by trigonometry (sin, cos...). You can make linear measurements with a ruler and find the angle.
wfofromthegetgo
07-21-05, 10:08 PM
the only thing is, when you look at the other V series bikes on the website, they all are supposed to have 10 degree stems but when you compare mine to the rest of them, they all look like their stems are at a shallower angle.

as for the trigonometry, i'm gonna have to google the formula or something cos I haven't used trig in about 10 years! I've completely forgotten!

wfofromthegetgo
07-21-05, 10:28 PM
ok according to my trigonometry calculations, I have a 24 degree rise on my stem which seem to look right. i guess this would be a high rise stem? I'm just getting back into MTBing as an adult now so I'm totally out of it. I also seem to have bars that have a high bend in them. If I were to keep the same bar angle but get a shorter stem with less of a rise, will I have less or more of a reach to the bar?
juicemouse
07-22-05, 01:11 AM
ok according to my trigonometry calculations, I have a 24 degree rise on my stem which seem to look right. i guess this would be a high rise stem? I'm just getting back into MTBing as an adult now so I'm totally out of it. I also seem to have bars that have a high bend in them. If I were to keep the same bar angle but get a shorter stem with less of a rise, will I have less or more of a reach to the bar?

That's about the same dimension I get by measuring it on the screen with a protractor. Yeah, that's a high rise stem (not that there's anything wrong with that ;)). Shorter stem with less rise would probably keep your reach about the same, but would obviously get your upper body down a little lower.