Slammed stems
02-03-16, 03:24 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Slammed stems
Am I the only one that doesn't like the esthetics of bicycles with a completely slammed stem? I think about 25mm of spacers over the top of the head tube looks better than the stem mounted flush with the head tube. Maybe I'm just old, but a small stack of spacers looks more natural, and more like a classic road bike with a traditional headset, yet still more aggressive than old quill stems.
Maybe I'm just old.
Maybe I'm just old.
02-03-16, 03:41 PM
#4
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Liked 2,434 Times
in
1,187 Posts
It's OK to be old, hopefully we will all be one day.
02-03-16, 04:20 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,490
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Liked 380 Times
in
259 Posts
Am I the only one that doesn't like the esthetics of bicycles with a completely slammed stem? I think about 25mm of spacers over the top of the head tube looks better than the stem mounted flush with the head tube. Maybe I'm just old, but a small stack of spacers looks more natural, and more like a classic road bike with a traditional headset, yet still more aggressive than old quill stems.
Maybe I'm just old.
Maybe I'm just old.
For me - I am old, but like a very low bar, and always have. I like a more forward leaning motor bike too. I may ride it like a Harley, but the more upright position is less comfortable. Maybe my bigger arms and chest can better handle the weight of my gut.
02-03-16, 04:20 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I'm not making excuses for a huge stack of spacers used to get the bars up high for an upright position, but talking about bikes with about an inch of spacers over the head tube and a negative rise stem.
If you need to use tiny compact handlebars so that you can reach the drops with a -17 degree slammed stem, your bike looks silly.
Get off my lawn you punks.
If you need to use tiny compact handlebars so that you can reach the drops with a -17 degree slammed stem, your bike looks silly.
Get off my lawn you punks.
02-03-16, 04:31 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
For my son I bought a bigger frame so the stem could be lower.
For me - I am old, but like a very low bar, and always have. I like a more forward leaning motor bike too. I may ride it like a Harley, but the more upright position is less comfortable. Maybe my bigger arms and chest can better handle the weight of my gut.
For me - I am old, but like a very low bar, and always have. I like a more forward leaning motor bike too. I may ride it like a Harley, but the more upright position is less comfortable. Maybe my bigger arms and chest can better handle the weight of my gut.
When I'm in the drops, and have a slight bend at the elbow, my back is flat. Bars being lower than that doesn't help anything.
02-03-16, 04:36 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,490
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Liked 380 Times
in
259 Posts
I have almost 7" of drop from my saddle to tops, so I'm not talking about an upright position, but I wonder how long the arms of some cyclists are.
When I'm in the drops, and have a slight bend at the elbow, my back is flat. Bars being lower than that doesn't help anything.
When I'm in the drops, and have a slight bend at the elbow, my back is flat. Bars being lower than that doesn't help anything.
My son goes about one size bigger so he gets the longer TT and then "slams" the stem. But he is using 12degree and 8degree vs a 17degree or more stem.
02-03-16, 04:43 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
This is a frame sizing issue as well. There is a 5'10 kid in San Diego that has about a 2" larger wing span than I do at 6'2" and I wear long. So it does vary.
My son goes about one size bigger so he gets the longer TT and then "slams" the stem. But he is using 12degree and 8degree vs a 17degree or more stem.
My son goes about one size bigger so he gets the longer TT and then "slams" the stem. But he is using 12degree and 8degree vs a 17degree or more stem.
02-03-16, 04:46 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Southern California, USA
Posts: 10,490
Bikes: 1979 Raleigh Team 753
Liked 380 Times
in
259 Posts
With modern frames with sloping TTs I think it applies. There is always plenty of seat post and unless someone is short body, short arms I think a bigger frame is a good alternative to extra spacers. Yes they are heavier.
02-03-16, 04:47 PM
#12
George Krpan
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Westlake Village, California
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Some bikes have a long head tube and the stem might have to be slammed to get the bar low enough.
Slammed or not, the important thing is that the bike fits. Appearances are distantly secondary.
Slammed or not, the important thing is that the bike fits. Appearances are distantly secondary.
02-03-16, 04:54 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,110 Times
in
1,418 Posts
02-03-16, 04:56 PM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The bikes I'm talking about are the ones with a huge saddle to bar drop, and tiny compact bars. If you need compact bars, you probably don't need to slam the stem.
I'm pretty sure I said that I was criticizing the esthetics, not the functionality.
02-03-16, 05:00 PM
#15
Senior Member
Am I the only one that doesn't like the esthetics of bicycles with a completely slammed stem? I think about 25mm of spacers over the top of the head tube looks better than the stem mounted flush with the head tube. Maybe I'm just old, but a small stack of spacers looks more natural, and more like a classic road bike with a traditional headset, yet still more aggressive than old quill stems.
Maybe I'm just old.
Maybe I'm just old.
02-03-16, 05:06 PM
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
02-03-16, 05:28 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Liked 3,110 Times
in
1,418 Posts
I absolutely agree with you about the long HT, and fit being most important.
The bikes I'm talking about are the ones with a huge saddle to bar drop, and tiny compact bars. If you need compact bars, you probably don't need to slam the stem.
I'm pretty sure I said that I was criticizing the esthetics, not the functionality.
The bikes I'm talking about are the ones with a huge saddle to bar drop, and tiny compact bars. If you need compact bars, you probably don't need to slam the stem.
I'm pretty sure I said that I was criticizing the esthetics, not the functionality.
02-03-16, 05:43 PM
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
02-03-16, 05:53 PM
#20
02-03-16, 06:39 PM
#21
George Krpan
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Westlake Village, California
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I absolutely agree with you about the long HT, and fit being most important.
The bikes I'm talking about are the ones with a huge saddle to bar drop, and tiny compact bars. If you need compact bars, you probably don't need to slam the stem.
I'm pretty sure I said that I was criticizing the esthetics, not the functionality.
The bikes I'm talking about are the ones with a huge saddle to bar drop, and tiny compact bars. If you need compact bars, you probably don't need to slam the stem.
I'm pretty sure I said that I was criticizing the esthetics, not the functionality.
02-03-16, 06:58 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 794
Bikes: '11 Merlin Extralight, '98 Dean Castanza, '89 Schwinn Prologue
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Am I the only one that doesn't like the esthetics of bicycles with a completely slammed stem? I think about 25mm of spacers over the top of the head tube looks better than the stem mounted flush with the head tube. Maybe I'm just old, but a small stack of spacers looks more natural, and more like a classic road bike with a traditional headset, yet still more aggressive than old quill stems.
Maybe I'm just old.
Maybe I'm just old.
02-03-16, 07:45 PM
#25
Senior Member
Yep. Even carbon "race" bikes generally have head tube that's 2-3 cm taller than equivalent size classic geo steel bikes
