how can i find what size stem diameter i need (is it on my bike somewhere)?? i need a shorter one length wise because right now i'm stretched out too far on my bike...but, the diameter has to be the same for my steering tube (right??) ....also, are there any recommendations on what stems are good out there?? are ritchey's okaY?? what about what FSA or Cinelli's???

There are 3 different sizes you need to know for a stem - 1. The length (usually from 8cm to 13cm) 2. The steering tube (either 1" or 1 1/8"), and 3. The handlebar clamp diameter (25.9mm or 26mm is standard road bike, while 31.8mm is oversized road bike) This is assuming that you have a road bike and a threadless stem.

There's more to diameter than diameter, though. A "one inch" quill stem is actually 22.2mm in diameter (an inch is 25.4). I can't remember what a 1-1/8 measures (I don't have any), but it isn't 1.125 inch. And there are still a few 1-1/4 inchers out there, one of them on my Cannondale mountain bike. If you can't tell by looking (no reason you should be able to, until you've looked at a bunch of them), easiest fix is to go to a bike shop and ask them what you need. If you don't get the part there after they help you, decency requires that you at least buy a tube or something.

thanks....those sizes helped a lot... but, i'm guessing it doesn't say what size everything already is on my bike anywhere?? if i find my bike online...think the specs will be there for all of that so that i order a shorter stem, but one that fits everything else as well? probably better off going to a store huh...? just not too many on this island. the one we do have doesn't offer a lot...

oh yea...i do have a road bike by the way...its the Trek 1200...think the 2005 version...black, red, silver, and white...