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Question on Stem Length

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Question on Stem Length

Old 02-17-09, 01:29 PM
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Question on Stem Length

Greetings,

How is the length of a stem measured? Is it center of steerer clamp to center of bar clamp, or something else? I am riding a bike whose top tube is a little too long for me, so I want to get a shorter stem, but need to know how to measure my current stem to make sure any new stem is actually significantly shorter than my current one. Thanks for your help.
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Old 02-17-09, 01:31 PM
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Yep. center-to-center.
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Old 02-17-09, 01:38 PM
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Actually, it's center to center along the side, from the handlebar center to the center of the steering tube, parallel to the extension. If you measure along the top, most modern threadless stem will be 3-5mm longer than the advertised length.
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Old 02-17-09, 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by DaveSSS
Actually, it's center to center along the side, from the handlebar center to the center of the steering tube, parallel to the extension. If you measure along the top, most modern threadless stem will be 3-5mm longer than the advertised length.
I've heard that some manufacturers measure along the top, others 90 degrees perpendicular to the vertical part of the stem. If you can't find out online how your brand is measured, I think a good next step is to bring your bike into an LBS and do the comparing live.
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Old 02-17-09, 02:06 PM
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I think a good next step is to bring your bike into an LBS and do the comparing live.
+1, especially if you go to a place like REI with a no questions asked return policy, that makes it pretty cheap to find the right fit.
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Old 02-17-09, 02:44 PM
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Take the stem off and bring it with you to your LBS. You'll get a better idea about what you need much easier than trying to hold a stem up to your bike. When you place two stems side-by-side on a counter, you can compare reach and rise accurately and easily. When you try to hold the stem up to the bike, the handlebar or steertube will get in the way. Trust me, I know from experience, and have the stems to prove it. (pssst, wanna buy a stem?)
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Old 02-17-09, 04:46 PM
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Thanks for all the responses. I'm going to try to get to my LBS on Saturday (nearest one is 70 miles away, so for me it's really a DBS, distant bike shop), and I'll bring my current stem to make some comparisons.
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Old 02-18-09, 01:07 PM
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How short of a stem are you looking for?
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Old 02-19-09, 04:35 AM
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I was thinking 70 mm.
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Old 02-19-09, 12:13 PM
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A stem takes two vectors into consideration: Height. Distance. To properly fit a stem to a rider, you need to factor both in your equation. How far out and at what height/angle is right? This is often a matter of trial & error. You also need to figure out what position you want your hands on the bars for the type of riding you'll be doing. So...

I cheated and got a Ritchey adjustable-stem. It's tight as a one-piece and it's micro-adjustable through a full range of heights.
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Old 02-19-09, 05:43 PM
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I'm glad to hear you say that, because I've been thinking about an adjustable stem. Is there any downside to one? It seems to me that for the fitting reasons you mentioned, it would make sense for adjustable stems to be more popular.
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Old 02-19-09, 06:23 PM
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Adjustable-stems got bad press as the cheapies were prevalent - and they occasionally let go. Or there slop drove people nuts. It would me. But these Ritchey models have a series of very fine metal vanes in them. So the front is connected to the back in an iron (or alloy) grip with many, many glove-like contact points. No slop.

Downside:

They are a bit difficult to adjust. You have to take it off the bicycle for this, and may need to take an instrument - like a screwdriver - and insert it through the stem and whack it with a rubber-mallet to disengage it. That's the only downside I've encountered. But that's really further testimony to it's being a solid unit. I was planning on using it as a measuring device and toss it on the market after I had my measurements. But I scrapped that plan. I had a solid and infinitely adjustable-stem. Good deal!

Happy Trails!

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