This is purely an aesthetic thread, since the merits of using a short stem are discussed at length (pun intended) in other threads.

I am going to try a 60mm stem on my Univega Gran Premio because the reach feels a bit long, despite the frame fitting me well in other respects. I understand how this might change handling, feel etc., and I want to experience it for myself as I experiment with fit. But, I have this nagging anxiety that it's going to look silly. Help put my mind at ease?

TIA

This is the only pic I have of it, but I have a 60mm Technomic on my 78 Trek TX 700

I put a stubby 80mm black hi-rise Soma stem on my Bianchi hybrid, after putting the 100mm one on another bike. I rode it with that setup once about 4 months ago, and I disliked the look of it and the feel of it so much, I quit riding the bike completely, and have not been back on it since then.

Filed under "con."

Is it possible to get shorter than an old Raleigh stem? Maybe if you turned one around.

This is a 60 on a fixed wheel. Wanted to keep my head up in traffic. It looked fine imo.

On my 1962 Huffy/Raleigh:
DSC_8176 by 2cam16, on Flickr

Nice bikes, everyone, thanks!

I like how that looks.

This is the shortest stem I have on all of my bikes.



Closeup



Oh, and this one was pretty short too.

I have long legs and a short torso, so I used to have 60 mm stems on my bikes. Now that I am older, I like to sit up a little higher.

Not a C&V, just a 2008 Globe Carmel. Shortest quill stem I've ever seen. Strongest too. It's basically a massive metal fist, four bolts clamping a handlebar with the strength of Iron Man's fist.


The quill stem is very long, which is perfect for a comfort hybrid with upright ride. But it can't be lowered enough to put the riser bar at saddle height. The head tube is tapered inward, preventing the quill stem from seating securely when slammed. So it needs a flat bar, arced bar or flipped albatross or North Roads bar for a lower position. However an albatross or North Roads bar would reduce the reach too much for me on this frame.


It was superficially comfortable at first in 2015 when I'd resumed cycling after 30 years away from bicycling, and 14 years after a car wreck busted up my back and neck. At the time even a flat bar hybrid with handlebars at saddle height was unbearably painful. Took another year of conditioning to get into that kind of shape. And two years of conditioning to get my body ready for a drop bar road bike -- and that's still uncomfortable beyond 20-30 miles.


This riser bar and lack of reach is no longer comfortable to me. It's okay for short rides on flat terrain, but a real chore on climbs. It works better with the flat steel bar swiped from my '92 Univega. For awhile I rode the Univega with the riser bar from the Globe. But the Univega will soon get a flipped albatross or similar bar, just a wee bit lower and a little less reach, as a compromise for days when my neck can't handle the road bike but I want a more aero profile than the flat bar hybrid can offer.


I also tried flipping the riser bar on the Globe but the angle is horrible for my wrists. That angle is okay with albatross or North Roads bars, upright or flipped, but awful for riser bars with the elbows outward.


This quill stem might solve a niche problem with a frame with an uncomfortably long top tube, for someone who wants to reduce the reach but also prefers a flat bar slightly above saddle height. I haven't tried it yet on the Univega Via Carisma, which already has a fairly short mountain bike type quill stem.

Apologies for the saddle... this is an as-found pic. But you'll dig the stem!

I have a long torso with short legs for my height plus a short neck. I like to ride in a more upright position so I can look through my glasses not over them.

I ride 54cm to 57cm bikes but the ones that fit me best are 55cmm-56cm with 53cm-56cm top tubes. BITD when I had neck problems and I used 65mm-70mm stems.

These days I ride 80mm stems on some of my bikes, especially the ones with shorter top tubes. I still use 70mm stems on bikes with longer top tubes - 57cm and longer.

When I built my off road trekking bike in 1992 I was having neck problem. I had Salsa make me a special short reach, high rise stem - last bike pictured.

The last picture shows two 70cm Cinelli 1a stems with different quill lengths.

Flicker album that I put together showing some of my bikes with short stems.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/282672...57626832237811

First pic is my Prelude as found, with a 60mm stem.

Last pic is an 80mm stem...though it's not a quill.

Don't have any better photos atm.

Thanks for the info and pix. I may try that on my road bike. The bike fits, technically, but the 110mm stem feels uncomfortable on my bum neck. I tried all summer to get adjusted to it -- including exercises to improve flexibility and strength -- and to adjust the bike to me. But it just isn't working out. The stem always feels a little too long, although the stability and tracking are good.

Bikes with really long stems look wrong to me. I see a too small bike. I see the increased flex. I see the hands too far away from the steering axis. I see the sweep-to-steer motion instead of the pivot-to-steer motion.

My 2 cents.

I have been on both sides on this issue.

My 1971 Nishiki Competition had a disproportionately short top tube , so I resorted to a very long-reach stem, even though the frame was technically a bit tall for me.

In contrast, my 1980 Peugeot PKN-10 Competition had a disproportionately long top tube, so I resorted to the shortest-reach stem I could find. In that case, you would have been correct with the "frame too large" comment.

1984 Nishiki - Fresh off my workbench (75mm quill)

Basso w/ 3ttt Podium 80mm

[IMG]DSC_1943 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_1942 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

Colnago w/ Cinelli 1A 80mm

[IMG]011 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]DSC_1678 by carrera247, on Flickr[/IMG]