Stem angle, length and the using spacers questions
 

I have my flame suit on, so I can't be lit up too bad.
I have a Specialized Tarmac I'm 5"11" and ride 56. I'm comfortable on it but the more I read around here I may have a a$$ backwards set up. I have a 100mm stem at -8 degrees with 40mm of spacers under it. I wanted to be a little more upright without having a flipped stem, which in my opinion is a worse offense to a stack of spacers.
Is 40mm of spacers not smart just from a strength perspective not to mention aesthetically strange. Would I be better off getting rid of 10mm to 20mm of spacers and zero out the degree of the stem which would still give me a slightly higher position.
I guess another idea is slowing reduce the amount of spacers and just get used to it and ride it how it should be ridden.
Or is my current setup ok?
Thanks

I'd like to know too. What amount of spacers before it's unsafe? I see some very high setups.

There are many Tarmac models... some have carbon steerers and some have metal ones. I don't remember what the specs are for the carbon, but 4cm seems a little excessive.

I don't have any official numbers, but I don't like having more than 2-2.5cm of spacers. I have 2.5cm (5 x 5mm spacers) and it feels a bit much already.

Each fork/steerer has a spec for the height of spacers allowed. 40mm, from what I've seen, would definitely be on the high end for a carbon steerer, probably even for a metal steerer.

That said, was your bike set up this way originally? Did you put on a new fork/steerer and set it up this way without any guidance? Finally, I bet you can find the spec on line at the manufacturer's website.

I'm with you, I personally prefer a higher stack of spacers and a more horizontal, or at least not steeply angled stem.

Rule of thumb seems to be max spacer height should be no greater than the diameter of the steerer tube. On my bike that's about 25mm.

40mm is certainly more spacer than I'd ever use. If the steerer is metal, then you're OK, but 40mm is a lot for a carbon steering tube. My LOOK frames came with 30mm, so I assumed it was the suggested max.

If you flip a -8 stem, it will raise the bars by at least 25mm, but the horizontal stem length will also decrease by 8mm, or nearly one stem size. but removing 25mm of spacers would restore the horizontal position of the bars.

I have asked that question here, at my LBS and I emailed Ritchey when I purchased a carbon fork with 1 inch aluminum steerer tube.

For the most part I do not get a straight answer, but this is what I have gleaned:
- 40mm is the maximum for a carbon steerer tube.
- for an aluminum steerer it gets quite grey. Certainly a 1 1/8" steerer would provide more security with more spacers than a 1" steerer with the same number of spacers.
- if you are using the bike to race, then it would be wise to keep the spacers to a minimum. However, for everyday riding more spacers are possible.

My Ritchy fork, with 1" aluminum steerer, has 80mm of spacers, using a 90mm Ritchey stem at 17 degrees (up). When I ask "is it too much?" they say, "I've seen more"

Soooo, less is better for sure. Speaking strickly about aluminum steerers; you would be more secure with a 1 1/8" steerer than a 1" steerer and if you race try to use as few as you can. If you do not race, then it can add more spacers to get you at the height you're comfortable with.

Some will state that your bike is not the correct size. Well, this bike I speak of, with the 80mm of spacers is a custom built steel frame. Another LBS, took my measurements and supplied the company to build a frame for me. Did they goof up? I don't think so, I was fitted on this bike several years later, as I had some neck trouble and what I have found is to run 80mm of spacers with a 17 degree stem.

My new bike, with carbon steerer, will have 40mm of spacers, 17 degree stem but the head tube is 20mm longer.

Hope that helps.

[flame] I find it ridiculous to extend a steerer to lofty altitudes, only to bring the bars down with a negative rise stem.
Can't stomach a positive rise?
At the very least, try to find a zero-rise stem to reduce the spacer stack, along with stress and flex of the steerer.

Aesthetics aren't everything, you know.[/flame]

Edit: What applies for one type of steerer doesn't necessarily hold for the next.
ie. Many 1" threadless steerers are Al, and have real issues with flex.
Steel is a far superior choice IMO, for that diameter Ahead system. Some manufacturers have seen the light.

This or get a frame that fits you. Safe is one thing, proper tool for the job is another.

Clausen, you're missing the boat on this one but thanks for the comment anyway. The frame fits perfectly it's a matter of flexibility and the amount I'm upright +/-.
I just know a lot of people ride high end Tarmacs with little or no spacers and ride it as the true racing bike it is.

Metzinger...Your comment makes the most sense, thanks for the input

I'd have to agree there. It makes little sense to raise the handlebar via spacers, THEN only to use a negative rise stem.

Just so to have that "racing look."

My Cervelo RS has a 17 degree rise stem. If someone thinks its stupid, they can go..fu..er...stuff themselves.

I think he was referencing geometry in regards to how upright you wanted your setup, and not so much fit. According to your dilemma and his assertion, you should have a bought a Roubaix.

I wasn't trying to say you would be better off on a city bike. Just something like a 58cm tarmac or a Roubaix with longer HTs. Something designed closer to your riding position. :)

Is it a new fork or something? I don't get it. How can you have 40mm of spacers on a stock bike?

Flip the stem if you want to, you may find that you have a slightly stiffer bar as you have less steer tube to twist on. Who the hell cares if your stem is flipped? Really if someone has the audacity to comment on something so stupid then smoke them, that will end the conversation. Why bother with someone who rides for the fashion statement? You will find in time that only newbs are concerned with such trivial crap.

Whose rule of thumb?

:rolleyes:

Thanks for all the good, and bad advice but all Tarmacs come with 40mm of spacers from the factory. 40mm is the maximum amount and thats what they(Specialized) put on all their Allez, Roubaix, and Tarmacs. (except SL2s and SL3s) I got this info direct from Specialized.
I'm comfortable so I'm sticking with it

Connor: Basically the rule of thumb here is...
Rosengurtie: Wait, rule of thumb? In the early 1900s it was legal for men to beat their wives, as long as they used a stick no wider than their thumb.
Connor: Well, can't do much damage with that then, can we? Perhaps it should have been a rule of wrist?

boondock saints (1999)

:o

i was a bit concerned about my carbon steerer and asked real design what max height my stem can be at. i was told one and a half inches.

Don't forget to include the 20mm cone spacer as well. If you have 40mm of additional straight spacers then you really have 60mm. I got mine as a module, fork was uncut. I cut probably about 80mm off of it and replaced the 20mm cone spacer with a lower profile 8mm one.

I haven't seen anyone mention it (and sorry if I missed it) but make sure the top of the steerer is no lower than about 5mm from the top of your stem; ideally as close to the top as possible.

I didn't forget the cone spacer. It's 40mm total.