To size up or size down.
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To size up or size down.
I prefer a 55 cm and i typically encounter bikes in 54 cm and 56 cm. I prefer a 55 with a 100mm stem. I can ride a 54 cm with a 110mm stem. Will a 56 cm with a 90 mm stem be too twitchy?
The bike will have a medium-long wheelbase so i'm wondering if that will make a shorter stem less noticeable.
My only experience with a 56 was a lemond that had a 56.5 top tube and a steep head tube angle. It was too big.
I'm considering a bike with a 56 cm top tube and more relaxed geometry. I know it will take a lot of tweaking before it gets dialed in and probably some long rides.
I wouldn't consider it if it were a rare bike that i've been wanting at a good price.
Thanks.
The bike will have a medium-long wheelbase so i'm wondering if that will make a shorter stem less noticeable.
My only experience with a 56 was a lemond that had a 56.5 top tube and a steep head tube angle. It was too big.
I'm considering a bike with a 56 cm top tube and more relaxed geometry. I know it will take a lot of tweaking before it gets dialed in and probably some long rides.
I wouldn't consider it if it were a rare bike that i've been wanting at a good price.
Thanks.
#2
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I ride non-racing geometry bikes with 60mm reach stems with the hoods a cm or two below the saddle top. None of my bikes feel "twitchy" because of this setup. For whatever reason, I don't care for my hands to be in front of the front axle.
I'm assuming we're talking about bikes with drop bars.
I'm assuming we're talking about bikes with drop bars.
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Last edited by ColonelJLloyd; 06-02-11 at 01:49 PM.
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I prefer a 55 cm and i typically encounter bikes in 54 cm and 56 cm. I prefer a 55 with a 100mm stem. I can ride a 54 cm with a 110mm stem. Will a 56 cm with a 90 mm stem be too twitchy?
Part of the problem is that a bike that's a "56" might have a top tube length anywhere between about 53 and 56 cm. You experience this with that LeMond with the 56.5 top tube. That is unusually long for a 56, but it goes to show ya that a 56 and a 56 and a 56 aren't necessarily all the same.
I'm an advocate of figuring out what top tube length fits you best and finding a frame that has it and let the chips fall where they may in regards to the seat tube.
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I'm gonna assume you're talking about seat tube length above.
Part of the problem is that a bike that's a "56" might have a top tube length anywhere between about 53 and 56 cm. You experience this with that LeMond with the 56.5 top tube. That is unusually long for a 56, but it goes to show ya that a 56 and a 56 and a 56 aren't necessarily all the same.
I'm an advocate of figuring out what top tube length fits you best and finding a frame that has it and let the chips fall where they may in regards to the seat tube.
Part of the problem is that a bike that's a "56" might have a top tube length anywhere between about 53 and 56 cm. You experience this with that LeMond with the 56.5 top tube. That is unusually long for a 56, but it goes to show ya that a 56 and a 56 and a 56 aren't necessarily all the same.
I'm an advocate of figuring out what top tube length fits you best and finding a frame that has it and let the chips fall where they may in regards to the seat tube.
And I don't think a 90mm stem will be too twitchy. As stated earlier, it's a 1 cm difference that you will certainly adjust to it.
#8
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I prefer a 60mm stem. I've got long legs for my size, which equals a shorter torso, so a shorter stem is in order since a lot of bikes that fit me in the seat tube have too long of a top tube. I've never found any of my bikes to be too twitchy. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to tell much of a difference from a 90mm stem in terms of twitch. It seems like going from 90mm to 120mm makes a bigger difference than 90mm to 60mm. If the frame is a pretty relaxed geometry anyway, I really don't think you'll have any issue.
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do you ride very fast and aggressive or more of a commuter / around town rider? my race bike is on the slightly small side, my touring bike is on the slightly larger size for me. and i have an all arounder bike right in the middle size wise.
geometry does play a big role in fit. a slack frame 56 fits different than an upright 56. only way to tell is giving it a good ride.
geometry does play a big role in fit. a slack frame 56 fits different than an upright 56. only way to tell is giving it a good ride.
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If this is a go-fast bike for which you'll have a more aggressive fit and position on the bike, size down.
If this is a casual rider for which you might like a slightly more upright position, size up.
+1, any stem 90-130mm is going to a) look fine and b) ride fine.
Much longer or shorter and I think you start to be able to discern a difference. EDIT: Difference in the handling.
My aesthetic sensibilities say that a quill stem should rise no more than 1X its reach, nor less than 0.5X its reach. But that's just me.
If this is a casual rider for which you might like a slightly more upright position, size up.
+1, any stem 90-130mm is going to a) look fine and b) ride fine.
Much longer or shorter and I think you start to be able to discern a difference. EDIT: Difference in the handling.
My aesthetic sensibilities say that a quill stem should rise no more than 1X its reach, nor less than 0.5X its reach. But that's just me.
Last edited by khatfull; 06-02-11 at 03:08 PM.
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The bike might not be more "twitchy" but I guarantee if you plop the handlebars right on top of the steerer you'll have a completely different experience as opposed to a 100mm stem. The shorter the stem the more closely coupled your arms are to the steer tube and the less you have to move your arms to get a given steering input.
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The bike might not be more "twitchy" but I guarantee if you plop the handlebars right on top of the steerer you'll have a completely different experience as opposed to a 100mm stem. The shorter the stem the more closely coupled your arms are to the steer tube and the less you have to move your arms to get a given steering input.
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Let's face it, there's a reason we have stems and handlebars in front of the steer tubes...it has to do with handling and the length of the stem DOES have an effect on handling. Not as much as rake perhaps, but some...and extremes in the length of the stem can be felt.
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Actually sure it would, longer moment of inertia with a longer stem...that would make the bike more stable riding no hands. The mass of the handlebars provides a damping force to input, and the farther away that mass is from the rotation the more stable the system.
Let's face it, there's a reason we have stems and handlebars in front of the steer tubes...it has to do with handling and the length of the stem DOES have an effect on handling. Not as much as rake perhaps, but some...and extremes in the length of the stem can be felt.
Let's face it, there's a reason we have stems and handlebars in front of the steer tubes...it has to do with handling and the length of the stem DOES have an effect on handling. Not as much as rake perhaps, but some...and extremes in the length of the stem can be felt.
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I prefer a 55 cm and i typically encounter bikes in 54 cm and 56 cm. I prefer a 55 with a 100mm stem. I can ride a 54 cm with a 110mm stem. Will a 56 cm with a 90 mm stem be too twitchy?
The bike will have a medium-long wheelbase so i'm wondering if that will make a shorter stem less noticeable.
My only experience with a 56 was a lemond that had a 56.5 top tube and a steep head tube angle. It was too big.
I'm considering a bike with a 56 cm top tube and more relaxed geometry. I know it will take a lot of tweaking before it gets dialed in and probably some long rides.
I wouldn't consider it if it were a rare bike that i've been wanting at a good price.
Thanks.
The bike will have a medium-long wheelbase so i'm wondering if that will make a shorter stem less noticeable.
My only experience with a 56 was a lemond that had a 56.5 top tube and a steep head tube angle. It was too big.
I'm considering a bike with a 56 cm top tube and more relaxed geometry. I know it will take a lot of tweaking before it gets dialed in and probably some long rides.
I wouldn't consider it if it were a rare bike that i've been wanting at a good price.
Thanks.
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