Originally Posted by
workingthrewit
I always hear how having the seat fore/aft too far forward can cause too much weight on hands and shoulders.
Can't this also happen from too short of a stem, alternatively?
Yes, but for different reasons. It's about torque - you can get the same number with a high force on a short lever, or a low force on a long lever. Your upper body weight creates a forward torque moving you towards the bar, and you need an equal but opposite torque resisting that to stay at the same angle. With your hands closer the lever arm is shorter, so there's more weight on them.