Originally Posted by
hokiefyd
Pedantics for sure (what else is BF good for, right?), but I think the definition of a bike's
reach is independent of stem length. I think most define it as the horizontal distance between the center of the crank to the top point of the head tube, where the steer tube exits through the upper headset bearing.
From:
https://road.cc/content/feature/what...portant-266968
Using that definition, you can't change a bike's reach by changing the stem's length. Conversationally, though, I think we all know the intent here...to change the distance from the saddle to the end of the stem.
Is there a well-defined metric for that? Something like "effective reach"? Some sort of horizontal measurement from the end of the stem, where the bar mounts, rearward to where it'd intersect the seat post?
After reading your post, I was wondering what it's called when you lengthen or shorten the stem length. I did know that reach vis a vis frame geometry is as you describe. So I looked it up. (to add ammo to my pedantry stock
)
I guess what it's called, and what I was talking about, and what the OP was trying to do -s to change "handlebar reach"? Oh well.