Stem size, less than 100mm too small?
08-23-12, 02:50 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Stem size, less than 100mm too small?
I have had two 80 mm on my bikes, the fit is good but the handling is too twitchey for group rides and my knees can hit the bars when standing. Right now I put back on the 120 on my 56 but the reach is too far and makes it hard to get around corners. I do like how it helps the bike track straiter which helps me maintain a higher average speed of 19.5 over 40 miles. But it makes me slower in the hills. If I put the 80mm on I can only average 18.8 mph over 40miles of rolling terrian same course becuase the bike is all over the road. If I am climbing a cat 5 climb though I can usually stay in one or two bigger cogs while using the 80 mm stem. But can descend faster on the longer stem of 120mm though as I can get flatter body profile. I am thinking if I get a 100mm I will get the best of both worlds.
08-23-12, 03:02 PM
#4
L-I-V-I-N
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Stafford, OR
Posts: 4,796
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Yes, 100mm will feel somewhere in between 80mm and 120mm. This isn't rocket science folks...
__________________
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
08-23-12, 03:16 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Maybe.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
08-23-12, 03:21 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
jus shange da stemz be4 n afters u clim da hilz
uze ur 120 nm stemz ifn ur onda flatt grownd, butt putda 80 onn 4 wen u goez ups da hil
uze ur 120 nm stemz ifn ur onda flatt grownd, butt putda 80 onn 4 wen u goez ups da hil
08-23-12, 03:26 PM
#8
Tour De French Fries
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 1,251
Bikes: 2010 Cervelo R3 SL & 2013 Airborne Goblin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My girlfriend said it's not the size of your stem, it's how you use it
08-23-12, 03:29 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 13,447
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4236 Post(s)
Liked 2,949 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Nah, you've got it all wrong. To get the optimum characteristics, you've got to go with a 140 mm stem. Either that or a 60. I forget.
__________________
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
08-23-12, 03:29 PM
#10
Jet Jockey
It's proportionally relative to the frame and rider.
Plus, I think you're attributing too many things to your stem length changes.
Plus, I think you're attributing too many things to your stem length changes.
__________________
Good night...and good luck
Good night...and good luck
08-23-12, 04:05 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
08-23-12, 04:10 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 8,550
Bikes: Wilier Izoard XP (Record);Cinelli Xperience (Force);Specialized Allez (Rival);Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Centaur); Colnago AC-R Disc;Colnago V1r Limited Edition;De Rosa King 3 Limited(Force 22);DeRosa Merak(Red):Pinarello Dogma 65.1 Hydro(Di2)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
145 Posts
That's a definite maybe!
08-23-12, 04:40 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,138
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 67 Post(s)
Liked 83 Times
in
44 Posts
This is full of win. He has an internet fit component, an average speed component, and a massive difference in speed based on something kinda out there component. It is a 41 bonanza, and I for one am grateful.
08-23-12, 05:05 PM
#14
Live to ride ride to live
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 4,896
Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I wasn't sure when I bought my bike if I should go with a 58cm frame and a 12cm stem or a 60cm frame and a 10cm stem. I went with the 60cm bike and the 10cm stem thinking that it would be less twitchy. I am fine with what I bought so I must have made the right choice.
08-23-12, 05:32 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
I was going to suggest lollapalooza.
08-23-12, 06:00 PM
#20
Maximus
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,846
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
08-23-12, 06:01 PM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
08-23-12, 06:41 PM
#23
Recusant Iconoclast
08-23-12, 07:26 PM
#24
Tour De French Fries
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 1,251
Bikes: 2010 Cervelo R3 SL & 2013 Airborne Goblin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
08-23-12, 07:34 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Southington, CT
Posts: 429
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just put in a 120 today and I was pretty happy with it till I read this thread. Now I'm considering going stemless to make life simpler.