Slammin' dat Stem?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
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From: The most congested city in the world.
Bikes: Celt Steel Frame
Slammin' dat Stem?
Guys have you slammed them already?
For those who have, how is it?
For those who havent, why not?
Kindly share your thoughts pls, thanks!
For those who have, how is it?
For those who havent, why not?
Kindly share your thoughts pls, thanks!
#8
My understanding that a slammed stem is negative rise, no spacers. Is this not right? Mine is currently on the positive rise, but now that it is up, it needs to be flipped. Can't get comfortable on the bike and I think that it is dialed in for it to be negative. Will be taking care of that Monday am.
#9
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3
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of course.... when the stem is stacked onto of piles of spacers it looks plain ugly to me. The pillar that looks like a giraffes neck looks like you've bought the wrong frame geo. Also its even more ugly with the stem placed in middle or slammed to the bottom with a spacers stacked above it, the stump it leaves sticking out hurts my eyes. The the day i bought my bike i removed all but one small spacer and took a hacksaw to the head tube. Much happier.
#10
- Soli Deo Gloria -
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 14,779
Likes: 743
From: Northwest Georgia
Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix
If the slammed stem look makes people happy then go for it.
For me however, how a bike looks is secondary to how it fits - comfort on long rides, injury prevention, optimizing power output, etc.
Slamming the stem because you care what other people think is just pride. I'd rather ride an ugly fast bike than a slow show bike.
-Tim-
For me however, how a bike looks is secondary to how it fits - comfort on long rides, injury prevention, optimizing power output, etc.
Slamming the stem because you care what other people think is just pride. I'd rather ride an ugly fast bike than a slow show bike.
-Tim-
#12
Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 48
Likes: 9
of course.... when the stem is stacked onto of piles of spacers it looks plain ugly to me. The pillar that looks like a giraffes neck looks like you've bought the wrong frame geo. Also its even more ugly with the stem placed in middle or slammed to the bottom with a spacers stacked above it, the stump it leaves sticking out hurts my eyes. The the day i bought my bike i removed all but one small spacer and took a hacksaw to the head tube. Much happier.
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, Tennesse.
Bikes: All have flats.
I've slammed it. It's awesome.
Until your shoulder aches and your neck hurts from being at an uncomfortable angle, and you keep cracking it. and you start applying Ben-Gay on your back because oh my god it hurt.
Until your shoulder aches and your neck hurts from being at an uncomfortable angle, and you keep cracking it. and you start applying Ben-Gay on your back because oh my god it hurt.
#15
I dont slam my stem but most spacers make the stem look ugly. I've never seen an alloy spacer with a smaller diameter that makes it look like part of the stem. Most spacers overlap the stem. Do you guys know what im talking about?
#16
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,861
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From: Coeur d' Alene
Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors
You mean most spacers are larger than the stem? Most I've seen are close to a match.
#17
#20
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,861
Likes: 41
From: Coeur d' Alene
Bikes: 3 Chinese Gas Pipe Nerdcycles and 2 Chicago Electroforged Boat Anchors
#21
Senior Member


Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14,152
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From: Portland, OR
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
I used to race. ON a bike that fit me well. I varied my stem height depending on the race, the time of year and my fitness. Winter it came up, coming slowly down over the summer. Slammed for criteriums. Up for 100 mile races. On my custom bikes, it is usually somewhere in between.
To me, slammed as a matter of course tells me the bike fit is "just barely" there.
I'm going to ride Cycle Oregon fixed with probably 1-2 cms showing and sweet, sweet fit.
Ben
To me, slammed as a matter of course tells me the bike fit is "just barely" there.
I'm going to ride Cycle Oregon fixed with probably 1-2 cms showing and sweet, sweet fit.
Ben
#22
If you have a carbon fiber steering column, it's recommended to leave a bit of it sticking up past the stem, and use at least one small spacer. This is done to minimize risk of it cracking due to the clamping force from the stem right at its edge.
#23
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,219
Likes: 6,609
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I prefer to have spacers, good looking colored spacers can be quite nice. I prefer comfort over pretending to be cool or a racer or whatever the case might be.
#24
THE STUFFED


Joined: Oct 2009
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From: San Francisco, CA
Bikes: R. Sachs Simplicity; EAI Bareknuckle; Madone SLR9 Gen 8
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,091
Likes: 2
From: Williamsburg, Tennesse.
Bikes: All have flats.
I'm using a quill stem adapter and slammed the stem with a positive rise. I love that it looks so ugly, and the reach feels pretty good so far.
My neck ache has gone down between my shoulder blades though.
Weird.
My neck ache has gone down between my shoulder blades though.
Weird.





