Originally Posted by
sstorkel
Trail is certainly one key part of the handling equation. But it's not the only part...
The position and width of the handlebars also has an impact. If you make the stem on your bike 6" or 12" long, you haven't changed the trail but I guarantee it's going handle differently!
Yes, I said that - shortening a stem will quicken the handling. What it won't do is seriously reduce the bike's ability to stay upright, because this is based on trail length (and fork angle.)
The good news is that your body compensates for minor differences in stem length without any problem.
Exactly. Cannondale used to make a racer that had a longer top tube and an ultra short stem - 45mm instead of the 120mm typical of bikes with the same angles. No one had a handling problem with the bike.