I want to raise my handle bars up just a bit maybe an inch tops. My own calculations indicate that I can achieve this goal with a 17-20 degree stem. While in a LBS discussing a fit the tech says to me if your putting on an angled stem of 20-30 degrees it means "your own the wrong bike". I just wanted to reach out to the forum for any opinions. Is it somehow "wrong" to use angled stems to get you to a position of comfort?

It depends. What is on the bike right now? And how did you come up with this calculation?

It will work fine, look less traditional, and mean spending less money at your LBS.

This.

OP, a 90mm 17* stem on a 52cm bike with the stem slammed to the headset....and a 130mm 17* stem on a 52cm bike with 5" of spacers underneath it are two different things. There's also your own fitness.

There's a 110mm 7 degree stem on the bike now I have it angled up. It's a "62cm" endurance bike. I used Visio and did a to scale drawing, laying out a 110mm 7 degree line and putting a 17 and 20 degree line intersecting at the base of the original. You can measure the rise and change in reach this way. A 110 mm 17 degree goes up about .8" and gets about .2" closer to you in reach. 20 degrees is right at the 1" mark. If I use a 120mm angled stem it actually can be just a bit further away in reach and even higher than the 110.

It's not wrong at all. Some might think it's "wrong" to take a racing style bike and make it more comfortable, less competitive, but I don't.

This is pretty useful when trying to see what changes in stem or spacer height does: Stem Comparison Tool | yojimg.net


If a stem angled that much to get you the position you want is what's needed, I wouldn't say using it is wrong, but the bike tech is right in the sense that a bike with different geometry probably would have been a better starting point.

FWIW, there are adjustable stems. They are kinda heavy, but this might be what you need.

+1

Possibly, but the same bike with a taller head tube to raise the handlebar will probably also have a longer top tube to move the handlebar farther forward. Stand over height might be affected too.

The real question is: What should the OP do now? My answer would be to install the angled stem, position the handlebars so they suit you, and to ignore the scoffers.

I dont care what you do to your bike , 'right' or 'wrong', because its not My Bike.. Suit Your self.

73 degree head tube? a threadless, 17 degree stem looks level, to the horizon, but it looks up angled just by flipping it over ..

No, it's not wrong. And it doesn't necessarily mean you're on the wrong bike. I routinely these days raise and shorten the stem to suit my, aging, preference for a more upright riding style without sacrificing the frame size and geometry I prefer.

Stems are inexpensive. Swap away and experiment to see what works best for you.

If one is that uncomfortable with low bars, raising them could make the cyclist more competitive... if that's a concern.

Do what you like. I've personally modified dozens of race bikes into upright hybrid fitness bikes. Toss the old stem & try something new. Don't let the bike snobs get you down.

There's nothing wrong with an angled stem. I never understood the obsession with a flat and slammed stem. Too many people like to pretend they're in the pro peloton I suppose. You should just go with whatever is most comfortable IMO.

Get the rear-end of your bike perfected before touching the front though (saddle position relative to the cranks). Then it's a fine balance between stem length/stem angle/spacer height. Best of luck.

Thanks much and for all the opinions here