Godwin

Due to a shipping error I have received both a 10° stem and 17° stem. I told the seller I would send back the 17° stem right away but curiosity got the better of me and I had to see and feel the difference. Since I can't take it on the road I really can't be sure which would be a better fit but I'd probably find little difference anyway.

I don't think the seller would mind if I kept the 17° instead (I originally ordered this by accident but told the seller right away but then he sent the 17 by accident).



Which one, which one, which one??

toucci

10. If you really want to get lower, just bend your arms more!

Hummeth

10. It makes the stem parallel to the top tube. It looks better that way in my opinion. But you should contact the OCP for official rulings.

Godwin

There is actually a slight rise but I was thinking along those lines when I ordered it.

Dubbayoo

I keep both a +/-6 and a +/-17 stem personally.

Quijibo187

ewww... thomson... send them both back.

ElJamoquio

The 10 looks better, if that's what you're asking.

doughboy

10. Seems unanimous so far. It looks better and may be more comfortable.

Dubbayoo

Consider this. If there's any chance you'll sell the frame later you'd rather leave more steerer tube and use a lower stem than cut the steerer tube down and use a rising stem.

cccorlew

Ahhhh. This is a weird conversation.
Which feels better? I know you can't ride right now, but can you at least borrow a trainer or rollers?
How can you know what's right? Going by looks is just plain silly. Sure, lower is better looking and more racy, but jeeezzz. You're the one riding the bike. Are you racing? Are you comfortable that low at the distances you want to ride? Are you mentally strong enough to not have a super low bar even if it feels good to you?

Jynx

10

Fox Farm

I would go with the higher rise one. Visually, it seems to fit the geometry of that frame and your saddle hight.

CEE

hmm... I was wondering the same thing as the OP. What is your head tube angle? If you want your stem parallel to the gound, subtract your heat tube angle from 90.

i vote 10 for your bike

carpediemracing 

Fit should determine your choice.

I have a -17 (Ritchey) with my steerer tube cut to minimum. And I wish I could lower it more. But that's me.

It looks like you have pretty deep drop bars. If you're partial to them, you prob want the -10s. If it doesn't matter and you want a lower "top" position, then the -17s.

Since you haven't cut your steerer tube, I'd keep the -10.

If you'd cut your steerer tube to minimum and were still asking, then prob the -17.

min steerer and -17 user,
cdr

Godwin

I'll probably be sticking with the 10 then. I really can't tell a difference just sitting on the bike and I don't have access to a trainer. I'm not racing right now just doing long distance training so if there is slight difference chances are sightly higher would be better.

Thanks!

briscoelab

-17* Don't be a wuss (this coming from a guy with a -23*)

3MTA3

things are not good when ocp gets in the way of a proper positioning.

rollin

That's quite a difference not to notice. I know I would be able to tell but I am not very flexible.

On pure aesthetics, the 10 looks better to me. But that's not the correct reason for choosing it.

Godwin

I know but I have to take a chance on one of the stems, in a few months I may have to buy another. There's just no way for me to figure out which would be the better for proper fit so instead of flipping a coin I'm going by which one looks better. If you have a better solution please let me know. Thanks.

ElJamoquio

Take out the spacers you have now and keep the 10, and you'd have the same position as that 17. Basically, the 10 setup is more versatile (really, more reversible) if you're still trying to figure out where you want to be.

AnthonyG

As far as looks goes the 17º stem would look better on a traditional frame and the 10º looks better on a compact frame. Its all about the stem being parallel with the top tube so the 10º looks better on YOUR frame.

As far as which is better only a fitting will tell. The 17º stem will allow for both a lower AND higher handlebar position but I suspect there may be some positions in the middle that you can't use. The 10º stem will give you more options in the middle but won't reach the high or low positions of the 17º stem.

This may be a little time consuming but try flipping each up and down while moving the spacers from below the stem to some being above and see what range of heights you get.

Regards, Anthony

oilman_15106

Man that is my thinking also. Fit is everything.

3MTA3

buy a cheap stem & see how that works. many shops have a bin full of stems that have been swapped out, so you may be able to hook up on that. sure your ocp points will hurt on that nice bike for a few weeks while you try out different stems before you buy the correct thomson, but your body will love you for it.