Road Cycling - Stem Length Question

I purchased a bike that may have too long of a reach.. to be honest, I should have gotten the 56cm over the 58cm. My stem length is 110, and I'm thinking about a 100 or a 90.
As it is now, I SOMETIMES get a sore lower back... and on more casual/upright rides, my left elbow can hurt. This doesn't happen on fast rides as my elbows are always bent. Any suggestions?
I've put about 2500 miles on this bike this year, so it's probably not that big of a deal.

Lower back ache can be caused by several things, including too long of a reach. Another common cause - it was for me - was the bars being too low in relation to the seat. If you have an upright stem that is flopped in the lower position, try switching it over.

55/Rad

If you spend a lot of time "on the hoods", you can simply slide
them up the bars -- that's what I've done. I did it when it was unfashionable, which didn't bother me, but now most of the pros do it: http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2002/features/probikes/?id=CSC :)

Yeah, but when I ride on the hoods in a non agressive position... the hub is bedind the bars by about 2 CM. If I'm in an agressive position on the hoods, it blocks the hub.
I HAVE been riding this way all yeah...

As for bar height, it's too high, which is part of my problem. My frame may be too large, as my seat is about 1cm above the bars... I wanted a more aero position, but at this stretched out position, flipping the stem to a more agreesive position wouldn't be good.

I should probably bite the bullet and just get a fitting.

have you tired this fit calculator?

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR&sex=M&units=cm

It does sound like your frame is too large. After 2500 miles I would be carefull about changing stem length more then 10mm. Does your elbow hurt because sometimes you lock it straight and hyper extend it? if so you need a new stem provided of course that your seat fore/aft position is correct...

Have you checked www.wrenchscience.com to determine frame dimensions, stem length, saddle height, etc.?

Have you checked www.wrenchscience.com to determine frame dimensions, stem length, saddle height, etc.?That stuff is nothing but a place to start. Everyone has to fine tue to their own parameters.