Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Ridiculously stupid question

If a stem is 120mm or 60mm lets say that means thats how deep the stem goes into the steering tube right? It's just now my gardin frame has a columbus steering tube that has structural rifling in it and I need to be extremely size conscious.

It usually refers to the opposite - how far the stem extends forward to hold the bars

In that case dose anyone know who makes stems that are short in there depth. The salsa stem dose not look to bad but it's kinda pricey for me.

Most quills are short enough to enable you to get your stem down low. Are you trying to drop the stem lower as far as it'll go?? Exactly what are you trying to do?

Most quills are short enough to enable you to get your stem down low. Are you trying to drop the stem lower as far as it'll go?? Exactly what are you trying to do?

See columbus steering tubes have rifling to add strength to the tube (so I'm told). So about halfway down the tube the rifling starts and because this is a time trial frame the tube is extra short so I have very little room to work with.

See columbus steering tubes have rifling to add strength to the tube (so I'm told). So about halfway down the tube the rifling starts and because this is a time trial frame the tube is extra short so I have very little room to work with.

Now I get it......basically, it's the combination of the extra short head tube and the rifling that's causing you this trouble.
If you're handy, you can always shorten the quill by chopping it and use a shorter stem bolt. I've done this a couple of times over the years. A compound miter saw with metal cut-off blade will do the job.

You got it man. I was actually starting to think of modifying a stem, but I have a feeling whatever I end up doing will work out in the end.