Road Cycling - How long is your stem?

Ok, the deal is, im riding a 54cm when im fitted for a 56cm

so im getting a new longer stem to compensate for the shorter top tube... i figure a 2cm difference in seat tube usually means approx 1cm difference in top tube


however, i dont know the length of a 'standard' road bike... what's the most common length... 100mm?

I started with a 120mm stem but found it was a bit too long so I dropped back to a 90mm stem. I had just started riding road bikes then and wasn't really used to the new position. Now I'm thinking of going to a 100mm or 110mm. I've heard that 110mm is the stem length one should shoot for with a properly fitting frame. However, as in all things cycling, this is a rule-of-thumb and YMMV.

I wouldn't say there is a "standard" length of stem, it depends on how you like to be positioned. Personally I ride a 54cm trek (measured centre to top) which means on most others I am a 52 cm frame. I have a 100mm stem, but I am being fitted onto a new bike at the moment and am going back in a week or so to try a 110. It just depends on how far forward you are so that you can cycle comfortably with relaxed and slightly bent arms.

I ride a 60Cm Optimo Cannondale R3000. I have a 130mm Deda Newton stem on the bike. Originally, the bike came with a 3T 110mm stem. Waaaaayyyy too short.

Remember, we are not all proportioned the same. Some have long legs, some long torsos. I put a 16 year old girl who was 6'3", triathlete on a 63cm bike with a 110mm stem because she was all legs. Conversely, put a guy 6'2" on a 58 (both of these were center to center measurements) with a 140mm stem, as he was all torso. At 6'2" most might have gone with the 60, but there would have been about 2 inches of seatpost showing, whereas the 58 was a better height fit and we just extended the top out with the stem. In this case, we were also limited by which manufacturers bike we could show the guy due to some making shorter toptubes.

It just depends.

80mm 5deg stem.

I had a 120mm stem installed first.. then I replaced it with the 80mm so I am not so stretched out..

I figure, I can put it back(120mm), when my fitness level is higher.. ;)

I am debating getting a shorter stem too. I have a 120mm and I can get another one from the bike company for cost $20 till the end of this month. And I wonder if I get a 110 will I really notice much of a difference or should I get a 100 and then will I notice too dramatic a difference? The frame has a 62cm with a 58.5 TT.

redfooj you said,
"i figure a 2cm difference in seat tube usually means approx 1cm difference in top tube"

Do you meen a 2cm difference in stem length?

My stem is 196mm, but the one on my bike is only 135.

My stem is 196mm ....... :eek:

Let's see....196mm divided by....carry the 1....damn metric system.

Hey, how do I convert that into feet?

55/Rad

Let's see....196mm divided by....carry the 1....damn metric system.

Hey, how do I convert that into feet?

55/Rad

my conversion says he is above average...maybe he is exagerating.

My bike stem is 90mm on a 57 cm Klein

Ok, the deal is, im riding a 54cm when im fitted for a 56cm

so im getting a new longer stem to compensate for the shorter top tube... i figure a 2cm difference in seat tube usually means approx 1cm difference in top tube


however, i dont know the length of a 'standard' road bike... what's the most common length... 100mm?

Several years ago, I read somewhere that Eddy Mercx uses 110mm stems on every bike he sells regardless of size. If true, I guess that would be a standard.

Incidentally, that's what I have on my own road bikes.

Let's see....196mm divided by....carry the 1....damn metric system.

Hey, how do I convert that into feet?
FEET??? You must be kidding. :roflmao:



I think my stem is shorter that the stem on my bike. :cry:

I couldn't resist buying a bike on ebay that is really too big for me so I moved the saddle as far forward as it will go, dropped it down a couple cms and bought a 90 Cinelli XA and all is well.

I think my stem is shorter that the stem on my bike.

I hope your not a downhiller!!!

I couldn't resist buying a bike on ebay that is really too big for me so I moved the saddle as far forward as it will go...
How does that affect the knee to pedal axle position?

I am debating getting a shorter stem too. I have a 120mm and I can get another one from the bike company for cost $20 till the end of this month. And I wonder if I get a 110 will I really notice much of a difference or should I get a 100 and then will I notice too dramatic a difference? The frame has a 62cm with a 58.5 TT.

redfooj you said,
"i figure a 2cm difference in seat tube usually means approx 1cm difference in top tube"

Do you meen a 2cm difference in stem length?

no, i was just looking at a bunch of generic geometries from fuji and trek and cannondale and etc... the difference in top tube length between the 2 sizes are usually 1cm... so i figured i'd lengthen my stem by that same distance for compensation.

the thing is it has a 70mm on it right now..which i think might already be too short. so if i get a 80mm, it will still be too short.

i had a 120mm 73* on order, but its out of stock, so i was contemplating getting a different length...

Let's see....196mm divided by....carry the 1....damn metric system.

Hey, how do I convert that into feet?

55/Rad

7.71654 inches
0.64304 feet
2.07176e-17 light years.

(don't you just love the internet?)
Marty

7.71654 inches
0.64304 feet
2.07176e-17 light years.

(don't you just love the internet?)


And to make it look really impressive, convert to angstroms. ;)

196 Millimeters equals 1.96e+09 Angstrom

Marty

1,960,000,000 Angtroms. WOW thats big.

I think my stem is shorter than the stem on my bike. :cry:I know how that goes..... You, like me, must be part or all Oriental.... :p

I use an 8cm stem with a 54.5 top tube. Its on the short side, but I ride in a touring style.
110may be the "standard size, just as a size 9 shoe is, but that doesn't make it right for everyone. The only guide I have seen for matching stem-length to TT length, over the whole range of sizes (small women to tall guy) is in the book Touring Bikes by Tony Oliver. He used a proportional formula, and kept the steering geometry sweet. If you swap a 12cm for a 6cm in a medium frame, the steering respone will get noticably more sensitive.

mmm 'bout 7 inches.. oh wait wrong stem :) hahah

I was going to post a pithy reply to that totally loaded question but I see my fellow gutterminds have already gone there. DAMN!

In the imortal words of Abraham Lincoln "just long enough to reach the ground"

Ok, the deal is, im riding a 54cm when im fitted for a 56cm

so im getting a new longer stem to compensate for the shorter top tube... i figure a 2cm difference in seat tube usually means approx 1cm difference in top tube


however, i dont know the length of a 'standard' road bike... what's the most common length... 100mm?
All guys lie about their STEM LENGTH

Yeah but remember, stem size really does matter--at least according to all the damn spam I get on the topic!

Dam-n-it this is a serious diiscussion :p

I think I am gonna go from a 120 to a 100 tomorrow. I can get the thing for cost so what the hey. Does anyone think I will notice too much of a difference in steering and or hand positioning? Would a 110 be not noticable but a 100 be way too noticable?

Holy smokes. I put the 100mm stem on and I now have a new bike that fits perfectly. 2cm made all the difference in the world!

no, i was just looking at a bunch of generic geometries from fuji and trek and cannondale and etc... the difference in top tube length between the 2 sizes are usually 1cm... so i figured i'd lengthen my stem by that same distance for compensation.

TT Length is a measurement that does not stand by itself. Set back from bottom bracked as determined by the seat angle can make a centimeter or so difference in total TT Length. So, be careful when comparing TT cm's.

Holy smokes. I put the 100mm stem on and I now have a new bike that fits perfectly. 2cm made all the difference in the world!

That's what she said too! :p
No way to resist... :D

My stem is 196mm, but the one on my bike is only 135.

!!! I'm not sure sure about the exact length but my wife seems to be pleased! (At least that's what she tells me)

How short can you go while maintaining good steering response? I personally prefer quicker steering. I am currently riding a 110mm (reversed to get bars slightly higher) and the bike came with a 120mm (58cm compact Cervelo Soloist 105) and I am currently using all of my saddle rail. I would like to maintain current bar height (with reversed stem) but want to get colser to the saddle - I have been informed that an adjustable MTB stem is the goer, but I am worried I may end up with an equivalent stem length of under 80mm (considering total length, angle proportional to steerer etc) I have used 80mm stems before with no issues (in fact I really liked the steering response) comments on the matter would be good!

Cheers,
Brendon

PS you guys are sick.....just cause you're married! ........

My stem is 196mm, but the one on my bike is only 135.
Is that standard or oversize?