Originally Posted by
PedallingATX
having too many spacers makes you liable to break your steerer tube, though. I forget what the number is, but there is an ideal range of spacers. I don't know if steerer tubes actually ever break in reality, but I know i've read that you shouldn't have more than Xmm of spacers...
You are no more likely to break the steerer tube with a lot of spacers than a quill stem that is raised the same amount, probably less because the steerer tube has a larger section than the stem. Furthermore, the steerer tube on the Surly is steel, whereas a quill stem will be aluminum. The only real impact will be added flexibility, which may actually be a good thing on a touring rig, since it will soften the ride at the bars. Now, if that were a track racing bike that is used on a velodrome, then certainly you'd want the stiffest connection possible with the minimum number of spacers.
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