Well, I see it being parroted a lot, "Flip that stem!" Riding around today (thinking about my fit, which seems to be off), it occurred to me that I never saw anyone actually explain how to flip it. I'm interested in trying, as my bars seem a little too high and a little too close but my seat-to-pedal height is fine. A quick search confirmed no one seems to have actually explained how to. Anyone mind explaining the process? Is it possible to do with just a multi-tool or should I go for real hex keys? Leave it to a bike shop? Seems like it would be pretty easy (loosen two bolts, remove two others, flip stem, replace and re-tighten), but I don't want things falling apart on me.

That is exactly what you do.

EDIT

1. Remove bolts from the faceplate (will be 2 or 4 depending on stem) - careful the handlebars will come loose.
2. Remove the topcap from the stem.
3. Remove the bolts from the other end of the stem attached to the steer tube
4. Lift stem off, flip it over and replace all bolts.

actually, there's one more step, you got take off the cap on top of the steerer tube also to pull the stem off. Then pull the stem up and flip it. When you go to reassemble, replace the cap on top of the steerer, and tighten that bolt down first. You are pretensioning the headset bearings. You want it snug so that there is no play in the headset, but not so tight the bearings bind. (to test you have no play, put thefront brake on and the roll the bike forward, if the fork doesn't move, its tight enough). Next you tighten the stem bolts and face plate.

What is the purpose of this? I am lost.

AHHHH!! I Knew I forgot something!

The astonishing part is that people here seem more concerned with image than bike fit. If you need your stem in the 'uncool' position to get your bike fit right - and I do - who cares?

Too many of the weenies here, apparently.

Flip this you dickheads.

Wow- a little hostile this morning are we patentcad???

Did you have a bad ride into the office this morning??

Flipping the stem has the effect of lowering your handlebars in relation to your saddle. It apparently looks cooler.

Shocking that a biker would do something to look cool.

The whole "flip it" comment is a bit of a forum joke realy so it shouldn't be taken too seriously. Useful if you realy wan't to lower the stem but this asumes that the stem is angled upwards to begin with. The other thing you can do is take some of the spacers out from under the stem and fit them above the stem to lower your handlebars further and you can play around with combinations of spacers and stem angle. You can't remove the spacers however unless you go the trouble of cutting down the steerer but they work perfectly fine on top of the stem.

Regards, Anthony

It puts you in a more aggressive aerodynamic position therefore lessening wind resistance. In other words, it makes you go faster.

Anyone have any pictures of a bike pre and post stem flip so I can see if I can tell the difference? I might just be dumb (very possible) but I don't see how this changes anything.

There are some 90 degree stems (I have one): flipping those would achieve absolutely nothing

My commute to work involves two short flights of stairs. I'm in a great mood today actually. Catch me on a bad day some time.

You guys are aware that the stem is desined to be used both "upside down" and "ride side up" which really means that there is not "right side up". So before you start insulting people for how they setup their bike, you may want to go get bent.

Ironicly this is directed towards the jagbags here bashing the "flipping" of a stem.

Go educate yourself before you start bashing people.

Wow, you're cool.

It's possible (thought doubtful) that your stem has no angle to it...in which case you'd be right.

Pre-flippage:


Post-flippage:

Most important thing for you to do is find out if you have a quill stem or threadless stem. Most modern bikes have a threadless, and they forget that some people (like me) have a quill stem that can't be flipped. 3 people have told me to flip my stem, now I just mention that I can't weld. Not to mention it is 0 degree so it would look the same flipped

I think it's funny how people today think of a "flipped" stem as upside down, when 10 years ago almost all road stems were prallel to the ground. If you ask me, bikes today come with flipped stems, which I believe was an answer to a demand for a more back friendly bike.

The argument has also been made in these forums that as you get into better shape, you're more likely to be comfortable with lower handlebars. If you haven't been riding long, you might want to wait a bit and change handlebar position gradually, put a spacer or two above the stem like AnthonyG mentioned.

The OP mentioned the bars seemed too close, and depending on the angle of the stem, flipping it will also probably put the bars slightly farther away from the seat. So it's got that goin' for it. Which is nice.

Cheers.

As for looking cool, all of us must realize that to non-cyclists we all look like dorks. So, if you do anything to look cool, your efforts are mainly in vain.

urbanknight...I think I told you to flip it once, as a joke, because the pic wasn't too clear that it was a 0 deg. quill stem. You with the Bianchi, in full Bianchi kit, non drive side pic, right? I may be wrong.

On the whole Flip It thing. It all depends on fit. I'm 5'10" and have a 53 cm frame, which is probably too small for me. I have my seat up pretty high, and when I flip my 110mm, 5 deg. stem to the 'cool' position, I have a nearly 4" seat to handlebar drop. When I'm in the drops, the nose of my saddle wracks my 'nads something awful. When I flip the stem to the 'uncool' position, I have a 2.5" seat to handlebar drop and my unit is much less discombobulated whenst in the drops. Much more comfortable.

If I didn't get such a smokin' deal on my frame, I'd go and get the right frame size for my body and get pro-fitted, and probably have a flipped 'cool' stem...bit I don't care what you schmo's think of how I look. I'll drop all y'all anyway.

Yep, that was me, only two MORE people told me to flip it after I posted a new thread with larger pics! You're off the hook 'cause you only saw the one small pic. As for the others

I forgot to mention: I think that 0 degree and raised stems become more popular on road bikes when compact frames become more popular as well. Too many people compensating for a bar 8" below their seat!

I find it funny how people tell others to flip their stems, raise the position of their brake/shift levers, all without taking into account how this drastically changes the fit of the bike. Is it about looking cool or about riding comfortably? I saw a recent picture of Sean Yates' bike setup and his bars and brake levers were positioned a lot lower than what is in style these days and he won many races with that setup.

I love a guy who has a sunshine personality like me!