Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Measuring stems?

Old 08-14-17, 08:58 PM
  #1  
jefnvk
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jefnvk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,214

Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama

Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3639 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times in 51 Posts
Measuring stems?



From what I understand, stems are measured centre of handlebar to centre of stem. Is this correct?

I went to the LBS asking for a 110mm stem, and was given this. Am I correct in thinking it is actually 100mm, or am I not understanding the measuring correctly? Just want to know if I screwed up in not asking for long enough, or they gave me the wrong one. Either way, I need a bit more reach.
jefnvk is offline  
Old 08-14-17, 09:02 PM
  #2  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,599

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,346 Times in 853 Posts
Yes, following what ever up angle it is..
fietsbob is offline  
Old 08-14-17, 09:04 PM
  #3  
f4rrest
Farmer tan
 
f4rrest's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Burbank, CA
Posts: 7,986

Bikes: Allez, SuperSix Evo

Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2870 Post(s)
Liked 28 Times in 23 Posts
Looks like 100mm to me.
f4rrest is offline  
Old 08-14-17, 10:35 PM
  #4  
Maelochs
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 14,597

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 143 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7168 Post(s)
Liked 2,624 Times in 1,430 Posts
Measure it along the length of the body ... the steeper the angle, the shorter the overall length for a given stem tube length. (i.e a 120 mm 17 degree stem might measure, center of bars to nut, 100 mm and so would a 0-degree 100 mm stem ... but the angled stem would have a longer stem tube. I do believe that is what Fietsbob meant.)

(Rationally, I knew the Great Stem-length Misdirection Conspiracy would be uncovered eventually, but ...

No one expects the Stem-lengthish Inquisition!)
Maelochs is offline  
Old 08-14-17, 10:50 PM
  #5  
FBinNY 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 37,143

Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter

Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5006 Post(s)
Liked 1,122 Times in 655 Posts
Originally Posted by Maelochs
Measure it along the length of the body...
+1

The distance is measured along the theoretical axis running down the center. (corresponding to a schematic blueprint).

With angled stems, measuring the top or bottom will cause a false high or low.

That said, it still looks more like you got 100mm than an 110. Remeasure from the side along the stem to confirm.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site

An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.

“Never argue with an idiot. He will only bring you down to his level and beat you with experience.”, George Carlin

“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN

WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FBinNY is offline  
Old 08-15-17, 05:04 AM
  #6  
Sy Reene
Advocatus Diaboli
 
Sy Reene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,275

Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4495 Post(s)
Liked 1,396 Times in 900 Posts
I'd be surprised if Spesh doesn't actually have size marker on the stem.
Sy Reene is offline  
Old 08-15-17, 06:37 AM
  #7  
TimothyH
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,782

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6840 Post(s)
Liked 729 Times in 463 Posts
The stem in the photo is 100 mm.

@jefnvk, you are measuring correctly. They gave you the wrong length. Take it back.


-Tim-
TimothyH is offline  
Old 08-15-17, 06:39 AM
  #8  
jefnvk
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
jefnvk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Metro Detroit/AA
Posts: 8,214

Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama

Mentioned: 63 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3639 Post(s)
Liked 81 Times in 51 Posts
Originally Posted by Sy Reene
I'd be surprised if Spesh doesn't actually have size marker on the stem.
Yeah, that is what I figured as well, but I looked all over it and didn't see any. The shop only had OEM ones sitting in the back, nothing boxed, they measured it with a caliper and told me it was 110 (probably should have paid a bit more attention to what they were doing).
jefnvk is offline  
Old 08-15-17, 07:14 AM
  #9  
cyccommute 
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 26,306

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 142 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5549 Post(s)
Liked 3,222 Times in 1,883 Posts
Originally Posted by jefnvk
Yeah, that is what I figured as well, but I looked all over it and didn't see any. The shop only had OEM ones sitting in the back, nothing boxed, they measured it with a caliper and told me it was 110 (probably should have paid a bit more attention to what they were doing).
It looks like someone measured it from the center of the handlebar to the end of the steer tube. While it is true that does measure out at 110mm, that's the wrong way to measure it. It should be from the center of the steer tube to the center of the handlebar.
__________________
Stuart Black
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Days of Wineless Roads. Bed and Breakfasting along the KATY
Twisting Down the Alley. Misadventures in tornado alley.
cyccommute is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bobbyl1966
Fitting Your Bike
6
08-05-15 07:26 PM
rpenmanparker
Bicycle Mechanics
8
01-19-14 09:29 PM
goldfinch
Bicycle Mechanics
30
02-28-13 10:03 AM
radial1999
Road Cycling
4
02-05-11 10:52 AM
Polka Dot
Bicycle Mechanics
4
07-08-10 04:10 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.