I've recently developed elbow pain (left only) with my new road bike (bought Aug. '05) due to the ever increasing weekly mileage. On the advice of others on this forum I flipped the stem "up" to hopefully correct my reach to the bars. Most agreed not to adjust the seat forward but rather to flip the stem. I think my arms were a little to straight and I was locking my elbows.

My configuration and measurements:
33yrs old, 167lbs, 5'7" (already lost over 40lbs.), medium build
53cm Scattante CFR (stock except for new seat)
73 degree head angle, 43mm fork rake
42cm handlebar
100mm SCG R2 6061 Alloy 31.8mm OS +/- 7 deg

I'm going to ride the current configuration (stem up, 3 small spacers) for a while longer and evaluate to make sure the pain goes away. I really like the more agressive look of the stem "down" and lower. I was thinking of replacing the stem with something like a 90mm and different rise.

Here is the question. What effect would going to a +/- 5 or +/- 6 degree 90mm stem have in both the flipped "up/down" orientation compared to the current +/- 7 degree stem?

This chart chart shows lengths and angles. I printed it and drew in the 2 or 3 stems I was considering.

Great chart... once I figured out the angles on there it is really helping. Like I figured there isn't a huge difference between 5 and 6 degrees. Actually the 5 and 6 degree in the flipped "up" position will be lower than now and not look as bad and in the "down" position actually be slightly higher than the 7 deg. stem. The 1 cm shorter will probably make a difference though in the right direction for either case.