Using a 150mm stem , will it effect handling ?
04-28-16 | 04:15 AM
#1
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From: Ireland
Using a 150mm stem , will it effect handling ?
Hi all ,
I have a very nice steel touring bike that has been a source of frustration for me in that I like everything about it except that the top tube is too short (58cm) and therefore the reach also . I picked up the bike when I was less in the know about the particulars of my own fit as I am now .
At the moment I have a 130 mm stem with 17 degrees of rise on it to get the bars as good as i can get them in terms of height and distance from the saddle . I have seen an expensive stem on ebay which is 150mm extension and 17 degrees of rise . I have worked out that this monster of a stem would put me where I need to be in terms of reach , but would it make the steering feel strange ? does that matter ? The stem has a lot of rise so in fact it would be more like a 140 than a 150 in terms of horizontal extension .
I know the obvious thing is to get a new bike but i really like this one and if I could sort the fit it would be a keeper .
J
I have a very nice steel touring bike that has been a source of frustration for me in that I like everything about it except that the top tube is too short (58cm) and therefore the reach also . I picked up the bike when I was less in the know about the particulars of my own fit as I am now .
At the moment I have a 130 mm stem with 17 degrees of rise on it to get the bars as good as i can get them in terms of height and distance from the saddle . I have seen an expensive stem on ebay which is 150mm extension and 17 degrees of rise . I have worked out that this monster of a stem would put me where I need to be in terms of reach , but would it make the steering feel strange ? does that matter ? The stem has a lot of rise so in fact it would be more like a 140 than a 150 in terms of horizontal extension .
I know the obvious thing is to get a new bike but i really like this one and if I could sort the fit it would be a keeper .
J
04-28-16 | 04:45 AM
#2
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gopher it. It won't affect steering.
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04-28-16 | 07:08 AM
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Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Would the shorter stem with less rise work? That would also increase your reach.
04-28-16 | 08:52 AM
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From: Cabot, Arkansas
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Get too far forward and your center of balance could make it easier to go over the bars in an emergency stop.
04-28-16 | 09:28 AM
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You're talking a 17* rise stem that is 150mm long....unless you have some big body flexibility/proportionality issues, this sounds like a very wrong bike for you in fit. How big a stack of spacer do you have, or not?
04-28-16 | 09:35 AM
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I've experienced "no-hands" speed wobbles when going to longer stems but that's easily remedied by keeping your hands on the bars... 
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04-28-16 | 11:46 PM
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From: Portland OR
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Have you tried a setback seat post?
04-29-16 | 04:26 AM
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Hi , I have a 90cm stack of spacers on a quill stem steerer tube extension . Bike will definitely not be an ideal fit like this . A longer reach stem that has a lower rise will bring the bars down too low for me . If I'm not mistaken isn't saddle position fixed relative to the BB ? KOPS and all that ? So playing with seatposts would make me weak on the pedals
04-29-16 | 06:45 AM
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From: Portland OR
Bikes: 61 Bianchi Specialissima 71 Peugeot G50 7? P'geot PX10 74 Raleigh GranSport 75 P'geot UO8 78? Raleigh Team Pro 82 P'geot PSV 86 P'geot PX 91 Bridgestone MB0 92 B'stone XO1 97 Rans VRex 92 Cannondale R1000 94 B'stone MB5 97 Vitus 997
You should be asking this over in the bike fit forum.
You certainly do not have a 90cm stack of spacers. This is confusing. Show a picture of the bike.
KOPS is not a requirement. Not at all.
You certainly do not have a 90cm stack of spacers. This is confusing. Show a picture of the bike.
KOPS is not a requirement. Not at all.
04-29-16 | 09:28 AM
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From: La La Land (We love it!)
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
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