Poque is right; the hand positions on a straight bar are pretty limiting, but I kinda like 'em...Stem length is arbitrary within a range...a 95 and a 110 mm stem is gonna handle about the same, but a 70 and a 145 will feel wildly different. I think that the longer stem gives a greater lever arm and amplifies the motion of the handlebars. Longer stem = quicker steering, when the difference is significant. I think...I think I need to draw a free body diagram to get this straight...hold on...