baj32161

I recently swapped out my stock 120mm, 17 degree rise stem for a brand new 110mm, 25 degree rise stem. I posted a thread earlier about the incredible difference in comfort I felt. Well yesterday I decided to flip the stem and try the more aero position. It felt much better witht the shorter length. The bar position was lower than with my previous stem but I didn't feel as stretched out in the aero position as I did before. So for the time being I wil leave it in the aero position. I have noticed that it is really helping me cut through some of these vicious spring winds we have been having lately here in NJ....not that I actually cut through anything at 6'1" 207lbs. I more kind of plow through them .

Cheers,

Brian
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jsharr

Wow, that is some drop. Do you just ride on the tops / hoods now or ride in the drops as well?

rufvelo

Neither position looks aero.

cydewaze

Oh my. Well, it's better than it was, but I think having a stem that was parallel to the ground (and removing a few spacers to achieve the same position) would look better.

$0.00/Gal

That won't give you any aerodynamic advantage outside of a wind tunnel. It will however bring your chest closer to your knees which might result in more power transfer.

baj32161

This is true, but wouldn't that have involved cutting the steerer tube (if only for aesthetic reasons)? But to to be honest with you, I actually didn't think of that. Thanks for the insight....and perhaps "aero" was not the propoer term for me to use.

Cheers,

Brian

baj32161

I am still learning about this stuff....thanks for the correction. I appreciate it.

Brian

High Fist Shin

Brian,

Just be careful with that new position. It's quite a drop and your lower back might start complaining. I have a -6 degree stem that was killing my lower back after 20 miles. I had to flip it back to +6 for the pain to go away.

Dante

baj32161

Gotcha!!

Thanks.

cydewaze

Not if you take the spacers from below the stem and move them above it. Although that would create a new appearance "issue" maybe.

baj32161

Gotcha!! Thanks again.

Cheers,

Brian

Warblade

Thats not really a big drop...
My race bike has about 2more inches of drop.

marqueemoon

I really like the feel of a -17 degree stem, but that could be because I started riding bikes when threadless stems were not in common use and most road stems were -17 or so, but I've tried rising stems a few times and hated it.

donrhummy

I remember reading something posted by Floyd Landis (I think it was him) where he said that the wind-tunnel testing they did found that how narrow you were on the bike matter MUCH more than how high/low you were for aerodynamics. So you'd be more aero by getting a narrower handlebar than by lowering/flipping the stem.

531Aussie

more aero? You need a set-up like this


https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?...nremo/MSR04_07

operator

Besides the wheels, that doesn't look very aero either.

cmcenroe

Baj, your stem reminds me of a quill type track stem (like a nitto jaguar). You usually don't see quite so much drop with a threadless set up!

531Aussie

flatter back

DXchulo

I haven't heard that, but it makes a lot of sense. I have a bad habit of pointing my elbows out from time to time. Maybe that habit is worse than I thought.

And for those saying baj's setup isn't aero, give him a break. He never said he was the most aero guy in the world. He's just saying he's more aero than he was before.

If you're going to give him a hard time, give him a hard time about those reflectors.

keevohn

What?

Crouching over more to reach the lower bar position will reduce his frontal area, thus resulting in increased aerodynamics. It's the difference between riding the tops and riding the drops: less frontal area = less wind resistance = better aerodynamics.

Same issue.

baj32161

LMAO....I am 6'1" and 207lbs with a 46" chest...I am never going to be TOO aero as it is (lol!). To the poster that suggested more narrow bars, no thanks, I would rather be able to breathe properly. As far as the reflectors go...they will be coming off as soon as I get some reflective tape to put on my rims. I ride alot at night and won't take them off until I have put on a suitable alternative...trust me, I hate them too.
Just as an aside...could I wrap reflective tape around the spokes?

Did I just hijack ny own thread?

Cheers and thanks again to all of you,

Brian

RC2

Get a blinkie. You can get a cheap blinking light to attach to your seat post, which will be visible from behind as well as the side (fyi, those type of reflectors work well only when car lights hit them...won't be as visible from behind, etc). Other good ideas if you ride at night: cycling clothing often has the reflective tape built in, and a head light.

baj32161

I already have a headlight and a rear blinkie.