Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Does stem angle affect the axle/handlebar correlation?

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Does stem angle affect the axle/handlebar correlation?

Old 12-18-12, 09:25 PM
  #1  
Goofy Goober
Thread Starter
 
Bikeforumuser0017's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 330
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Does stem angle affect the axle/handlebar correlation?

You have all heard of the stem fitting guide ( if the front wheel axel is behind the handlebars, the stem is too long, vice versa).

Does the stem angle affect the the handlebar/axle correlation?

For example, assuming both stems are the same length and correct length, will a 6* stem and 25* stem both have the handlebars over the front wheel axle?
Bikeforumuser0017 is offline  
Old 12-18-12, 09:31 PM
  #2  
Sqrl
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 552
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That's a good rule of thumb for a bike, but what fits you best is vastly more important. But no, it will move it back and forth a little.
__________________
Originally Posted by carleton
Doing one-legged squats while holding chickens in each hand will make someone strong...that doesn't mean it's the best way to train for track racing.
Originally Posted by Nagrom_
That would be spectacular. A trail of blood and sealant.
David Broon is offline  
Old 12-18-12, 11:02 PM
  #3  
Full Member
 
clarkbre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Snohomish, WA
Posts: 331

Bikes: 1993 Trek Antelope 830, 1996 Trek Singletrack 930, 1995 Giant Innova, 2012 Surly Pacer

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Liked 105 Times in 22 Posts
Agreed. I recently swapped the stem from a 90mm 7* to a 90mm 35*. the difference was about 34mm higher and 25mm rearward. this still kept the bars over the axle but moved them back just a bit. for me (a guy with short arms) it worked perfectly.

what helped me was comparing the old and new stem bar placement on an online calculator. it gives the exact change with the proposed stem.
clarkbre is offline  
Old 12-18-12, 11:37 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
halfspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SE Minnesota
Posts: 12,275

Bikes: are better than yours.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by GT4
You have all heard of the stem fitting guide ( if the front wheel axel is behind the handlebars, the stem is too long, vice versa).

Does the stem angle affect the the handlebar/axle correlation?

For example, assuming both stems are the same length and correct length, will a 6* stem and 25* stem both have the handlebars over the front wheel axle?
You're asking the wrong question.

The answer to the right question is that the axle/bar relationship isn't a useful fit guide.
__________________
Telemachus has, indeed, sneezed.
halfspeed is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 12:28 AM
  #5  
ka maté ka maté ka ora
 
pdedes's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: wessex
Posts: 4,423

Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Like gravity, they keep the geometry on at weekends.
pdedes is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 06:05 AM
  #6  
Voice of the Industry
 
Campag4life's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,572
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times in 8 Posts
It a convention that doesn't apply to many. For example, this convention has no more veracity than KOPS. Neither apply to me...I like the handlebar in front of the hub and I have ridden with every combination.
You can perform a simple experiment. Test the handlebar covering hub convention both on hoods and in the drops...it changes.
What that means is your bar height matters and your visual viewing point depends on your torso angle...and look how differently people ride in terms of handlebar height...no convention there...you just recently going for a riser stem. For me, the higher the handlebar the farther the bar needs to be forward to preserve reach. A guy will longer arms like me will need the handlebar more out in front than a guy with short arms.
Campag4life is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 07:53 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
topflightpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,569
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1851 Post(s)
Liked 678 Times in 429 Posts
Yeah, that system for measurement is really wrong.

IMO, the better way for establishing handlebar placement is the position in relation to the bottom bracket - or at least that is the measurement I use for setting up different bikes.

Really, you handlebar position should be determined based on your flexibility and fitness. You are looking for a position that maximizes power and aerodynamic efficiency. It seems to me that too often people are quick to lower their bars for appearance and aerodynamics, thus increasing the hip angle, without considering whether the position is too low, robbing them of power.
topflightpro is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 07:57 AM
  #8  
pan y agua
 
merlinextraligh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,293

Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1440 Post(s)
Liked 708 Times in 362 Posts
Originally Posted by GT4

For example, assuming both stems are the same length and correct length, will a 6* stem and 25* stem both have the handlebars over the front wheel axle?
No, the stem with more rise is going to have less reach.

__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
merlinextraligh is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 09:13 AM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Looigi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times in 12 Posts
Handy on-line stem calculator: https://www.brightspoke.com/t/bike-stem-calculator.html
Looigi is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 10:54 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Florida
Posts: 1,104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The bar covering the front hub is awful way of doing it. Considering how you can have almost 20mm reach difference from one bar to another you need to adjust the stem size to match. The reach to the hoods is all that matters and then if you can go into the drops without discomfort.
NWS Alpine is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 12:50 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Brian Ratliff's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Near Portland, OR
Posts: 10,123

Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by NWS Alpine
The bar covering the front hub is awful way of doing it. Considering how you can have almost 20mm reach difference from one bar to another you need to adjust the stem size to match. The reach to the hoods is all that matters and then if you can go into the drops without discomfort.
Bar position is not a matter of fit; it is a matter of body position preference, aerodynamics, and bike handling.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Brian Ratliff is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 01:39 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,781
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 493 Post(s)
Liked 617 Times in 364 Posts
Originally Posted by pdedes
Like gravity, they keep the geometry on at weekends.
Its a sine of the times!
wheelreason is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 01:49 PM
  #13  
Should Be More Popular
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,025

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22570 Post(s)
Liked 8,918 Times in 4,152 Posts
Originally Posted by NWS Alpine
The bar covering the front hub is awful way of doing it. Considering how you can have almost 20mm reach difference from one bar to another you need to adjust the stem size to match. The reach to the hoods is all that matters and then if you can go into the drops without discomfort.
I agree the old wives' tale of bar covering the front hub is not a hard and fast rule. But like other guidelines, it gets you in the neighborhood.... a good starting point if nothing else.

Kinda like KOPS.
__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 01:49 PM
  #14  
Should Be More Popular
 
datlas's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,025

Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix

Mentioned: 560 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22570 Post(s)
Liked 8,918 Times in 4,152 Posts
Originally Posted by wheelreason
Its a sine of the times!
You are going off on a tangent...

__________________
Originally Posted by rjones28
Addiction is all about class.
datlas is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 01:54 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: South Florida
Posts: 1,104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff
Bar position is not a matter of fit; it is a matter of body position preference, aerodynamics, and bike handling.
I agree. But usually all fitter will take what you want and fit to the hoods as position 1. All I was pointing out was that there can be a big difference in reach based on the model of bar you pick with the same size stem.
NWS Alpine is offline  
Old 12-19-12, 02:16 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,781
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 493 Post(s)
Liked 617 Times in 364 Posts
Originally Posted by datlas
You are going off on a tangent...

I think you are being obtuse.
wheelreason is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
12strings
Fitting Your Bike
6
10-21-15 08:48 PM
deepakvrao
Road Cycling
4
09-03-10 08:14 AM
Polka Dot
Bicycle Mechanics
4
07-08-10 04:10 AM
acpeeps
Road Cycling
4
05-06-10 02:43 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.