Originally Posted by
Camilo
Just as a matter of jargon, you're not adjusting the top tube length, you are adjusting the reach. The bike's top tube can't be adjusted.
Are you talking about
quill stems, like this? If so, you need to remove the handlebar tape and brake levers and thread the bar through the stem's bar clamp.
Watch this video. It will tell you everything you need to know about this
Bing Videos
Originally Posted by
dedhed
I guess only the OP can clarify, which might be difficult because he is confused about terminology.
Yeah, of course quill stems can vary in terms of what you call "length" which I guess is the length of the insertion (aka height) and also the extension length. Other (more?) common ways of referring to these are "length" for the extension and "height" (not length) for how tall it is. Nitto makes some very tall stems, up to 225 of insertion length as well as a variety of extension lengths, e.g. 80, 90, 100, etc. mm.
Blah, blah, blah... But regardless.
He said
I am adjusting the top tube length on a couple of bikes by installing different stems. The bikes came with short stem.
Since he referred to adjusting the "top tube length" and stems being "short", I thought he was obviously referring to adjusting the reach by adjusting the extension length of the stem. From your comment and link, I think you're thinking he's referring to the insertion length/height of the stems, not the extension length? I doubt that based on his original statement.
But I could be wrong in understanding both the OP and your comment. So, please excuse me if I am.
Again, only the OP knows what he's hoping to do and what he is talking about vis a vis the stem and "top tube length", I hope he clarifies and the posts have helped him get the bars into the new stem.