Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,560
Likes: 44
From: Milledgeville, Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
Adjustable stems are OK if you are trying to figure out where you want the bars located. They allow you to try different things. But once you know what you want, it is cleaner to get a stem with the correct length and rise to give you the desired location. Stems come in a wide variety of lengths and angles. Just look at where the bars are located now and where you want them to be. Figure out what stem length and angle it will take to get you there. Buy it and install it. If the LBS won't help with that, you are at the wrong LBS.