Thread: why
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Old 09-02-11 | 12:44 PM
  #28  
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carleton
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Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Atlanta, GA
Originally Posted by testertips
aren't there more short track / road stems - 50mm ish? is this an engineering / safety issue? i don't understand.
Using risers on road/track frames amounts to nothing more than a hack. The engineers that desinged these frames (or the frames that current frames are based on) did not have risers in mind.

The only bikes that are designed to be used with risers are MOUNTAIN BIKES...and maybe a few city bikes.




Modern fixed gear bikes are pretty much franken-bikes with:
- Track frames
- Track wheels
- BMX or antiquated track pedals
- Antiquated toe straps or velcro straps that serve no other cycling market (except a handful of track sprinters).
- MTB riser bars
- BMX/MTB stems
- All to be ridden as commuter bikes

So that's why.

Originally Posted by tFUnK
Anything less than 80mm is pretty ridiculous.
+1

Originally Posted by calv
I'd think up to 70mm is acceptable if you have bullhorns or something.
Time Trial bikes use shorter stems because riders are on their forearms in aerobars. That's the only exception.

Originally Posted by Lilcphoto
To me, if you need a stem that short, than you need a frame that's one size smaller... but that is just my thoughts.
EXACTLY.

Last edited by carleton; 09-02-11 at 12:52 PM.
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