Flipping the stem ROCKS!!!
 

As many of you know, I have a LeMond Tourmalet (Jeez I have posted enough pics of it :D ), and in all but the first pic I took I have the stem flipped. I confess that I never rode it that way.....until today. I have to tell you that the difference is mind-blowing. I decided to flip the stem this morning before my ride into work, and I didnt realize what a different it would make in my speed. It seemed like I was able to raise my avg speed about 2-2.5mph while expending the same effort. The position wan't as uncomfortable as I had anticipated, and actually it was not bad at all....besides it just makes the bike LOOK faster and sexier. I think I am going to like this and I cant wait til Thursday when I am off and can go out for my 30 miler around the local college campus.

Cheers,

Brian

I dont like talking about this because of such a fad that it apears to be, but when i got my bike and took it out for a spin and got home to adjust a few things, the flipping of the stem was something i thought of all on my own :)

Flipping the stem is just like having to take Viagra, you get what I mean.

Ummmmm. I don't.

yeah, that one stumped me too, i really didn't get it. seems to me like the stem is more "up" when its NOT flipped....oh well, whatever, maybe its one of those things "i'll understand when i'm older" :D

Well I AM older...I must be slippin' :D

Here is the comparison, men typically take Viagra to get a "boost" when needed, apparently you folks flip the stem to get a "boost" as well. ie. you believe that flipping the stem enhances performance, speed, etc. on your bikes.

Glad it worked for you. It helped Jess too, but it's different for everyone. It either works or it doesn't. Always good to find some free speed, eh?

Yes it is...and I don't usually care about it that much, but I took a ride around the neighborhood before I hit the road to work and I just felt faster. I am usually not at my best in the AM when I leave for work. I must have been faster because I beat my previous PB by over 4 minutes on my commute. I even beat the bus!!

Oh! :rolleyes:

Uh, yeah...it's like...when you have really big..but no, uh..motion...and...uh...

No. I don't get it either.

No, WAIT! Oh, yeah, that's it... You mean 'real men' who can get it up 'all by themselves' are so strong it doesn't MATTER that they are taking a chestfull of wind. They could even flip their saddles and crush their testes and still grind out an easy victory over wimpy stem-flippers.

I wanna be one of THEM!!! Off with that effete saddle! Seat post only for this 'superman'. And, let me have 200 mm of spacers, please. NO BARS!!! Don't want to be thought of as a Viagra gulping ...one o' them. I'll steer with my TEETH, thank you. Hmmm...no...that might look...

Yeah. I flipped my stem too. I wasn't even out of the driveway before that upright position brought to mind cigarette smoking dudes in full denim with bars flipped straight up, Safeway bag'o'booty dangling from one hand...Next dumpster comin' up!

Up intil about 8 years ago every road bike was a -17 stem until some bright marketing idiot said; Hey we need to sell more road bikes cause the mtb markets falling off.

same guy said don't cut the stock fork and add about 30mm's of spacers.

lol, thanks for the laugh :D

He has a red star by his name, I cannot reply any further. I was schooled by a superior poster. I stand corrected. My shame is worn on my sleeve for the world to see. The humanity!

Now now, my son...you too can wear the 'red badge of I thought this place was worth contributing $25 to' ...yes, they will even allow inferior posters to purchase them now!

I'm like a peacenik, dude, and a 'sit-down' comedian. Rant rant rant...and then laugh. I loved your response.

:)

my stem has been flipped since...well...since before they could be flipped.

It's not just a belief, as in a faith, it's a proven fact lower aerodynamic drag increases road speed. Its been said 85% of your power output is used to fight aerodynamic resistance, the remainder is rolling resistance, and friction.

If you are riding a bike that makes you look like you are on a ladder, you will have to peddle that bike harder to maintain the same speed, compared to if you were in a lower tuck position. Thus "Flipping" of the stem.

In the end it's what ever a rider feels comfortable with. However if we were to use your Viagra analogy, I would think Viagra users would have to have the high-rise stems so they can perform longer, Geezer style. The spry spring chickens would flip the stem and go hard, racer style.


There is no right or wrong, just ride to your own level ;)

I'm young and spry, if I wanted to sit upright I'd be riding a hybrid. ;)

Ummm no0bish question here: WTF is stem flipping?

Stem flipping refers to reversing the rise of the stem by taking it off and re-installing it "upside-down."

Somehow I don't think that would work with my road bike. Is this something that has become relevant since threadless forks? (and spacers, what are those?)

Yes, flipping will only work if you have a threadless stem/fork combo. Spacers are little discs that you slide onto the steer tube of the fork between the headset and the bottom of the stem to raise the stem.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the stem in the 'non-flipped' position is at an accute angle to the stearer tube, thus resembling the angle on a quill stem. When small frames became popular among recreational riders (translation: the rest of us) in order to show lots of seat post and still reach the hoods the stem needed to be turned over to raise the bars. A 'flipped' refers to a stem at an obtuse angle to the stearer -- not that there's anything wrong with that. So as a point of reference...

not flipped:
_ _
\


flipped:

/
\

actually you have it reversed. A lot of new road bikes come with the bars up above the headset, like a mt. bike or hybrid. Hell some I see are up above the saddle.

Flipping the stem gets the bars lower, resulting in a more aerodynamic position on the bike. It may not be the most comfortable at first, but you will be faster in the long run.

While this imay be true, my opinion is that if you are not capable of riding in the drops of your current setup for long periods of time then flipping the stem will have an asthetic value only. I like my handlebars setup higher so I can use my drops for extended use.

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