robncircus

Sorry for the long title. Here's the scoop. I'm a mere 5'4 and due to that I ride smaller bikes than most. Currently I ride a size small Giant TCR with a Ritchey WCS 100mm stem. My seat height is correct however I've only got about a 1" drop from saddle to bars. FWIW I don't use any spacers. I'm looking to increase the drop a bit without moving to a smaller frame (I've tried the XS and it's just not right). I was thinking of maybe a Thompson stem that has a +/- 10 degree angle or something similar. I believe the Ritchey is +/- 6 degrees. How big of a difference is 4 degrees?

Thanks for any insight.

Rob

pdedes

-17

robncircus

11 degrees might be a bit drastic. I was thinking more like 2-4.

gpelpel

-4 degrees will move the handlebar roughly 6 mm lower.

MrCrassic 

A little drop can make a significant difference, as it increases shoulder drop as well. Try it out and see if it works for you.

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urbanknight

Yeah, it's not a big difference. If you think you need to go lower, find a -17 stem. That's what I did, not because I have to ride small frame, but because I have to ride one size up due to some odd proportions.

Before you decide if you need to go lower, put your bike next to a mirror and get in the drops. If you can get your bike relatively flat with bent elbows, you probably don't need to go any lower.

edit: fwiw the switch from a -6 stem to a -17 stem made for about a 3/4 inch extra drop. Enough to feel, enough to get my back lower, but not too much to cause back aches (for me).

DScott

I think the change will be quite small, if I'm reading this chart right: https://www.habcycles.com/fitting.html

The difference in reach you get by flipping a 10 cm stem by 5 deg. looks to be about 2mm, moving the bars closer. Probably offsets the drop you'll get moving the bars lower. I'm guessing the change will fine.

Only way to know is to give it a try. I wonder if you could borrow a stem from friends or your LBS to try it out?

Val23708

is there any way you can try this position before you buy it? i'm 5'6" and have less than a full inch of drop from my saddle to tops. when i get in the drops i'm right on the edge of kneeing myself in the chest every pedal stroke. Is there a specific reason why you want to increase the drop, aside from aesthetics?

umd

Get a -17 and if it is too low put a spacer back on.

ctrlmike

A little drop will make a HUGE difference on long rides (40+ miles), esp. in the beginning. You could get the Specialized comp stem. It's in between a fully adjustable and a fixed one, it has a very clever system of twistable inner shims that let you set the angle. It costs about $40 so it's worth a shot. I think it only comes in aluminum, though.

robncircus

thanks for the help everyone. I'll go to the local shop and check out a few. Maybe I can get them to let me do a test ride before laying down some dough. Wost case scenario I'll get one from Performance and return it if it's not the right thing for me.

Yeppers. When I am in the drops I don't get my back as flat as I'd like. I am comfy right now and will likely use the stem on my current bike for my "climbing" bike (just my way of justifying another bike). However, I feel I am flexible enough to get a bit lower. FWIW I cam from Keirin bikes and always had a significant drop so it's been a matter of time before I wanted that again. If it doesn't work I figure no harm done.

Thanks for the suggestions all.

Rob

Randochap

Depends how far you ride.