Don't you adjusted to the twitchiness?

Humans can adjust to just about anything, but when the rest of my bikes fit me and make sense, the twitchiness sticks out like a sore thumb.

I take it you haven't read through all the posts then?

Does using a short stem automatically necessitate that the bike doesn't fit you? Is it humanly impossible for people to have different proportions?

variations in body proportions, yes, but if you need a stem that small, it's pretty clear the frame is way too big. humans dont vary that much unless a deformity has occurred.

how's the seat tube length?

just flip it for something that'll be comfortable. no big deal.

where's that picture of the steamroller with a zero reach stem? looked like a tin can coming out of the headtube and riser bars on top like antlers.

At some point yes, that's exactly what it means.

OP, I feel your pain. I'm 5'8 and rode a size 61cm Nishiki (FREE) for well over 6 months because I had nothing else and could not afford to indulge in any new bikes at the time.

However, most the comments here are valid regarding sizing. Furthermore, if you have no other options I would just change the stem to a 60cm (which is pretty small already) and try to ride with bars that help assist in the sizing issue. My Nishiki had a 60cm stem and a pair of sparrow bars that helped me get by when I had no other options.

I've seen zero reach stems. They look weird, but they are out there.
Recumbent bikes use them.

as do those silly trick riders that are into barspins.

Closest thing will be a 45mm stem due to packaging constraints of the bar/steertube intersection. As mentioned, the bike will feel really twitchy but you'll prob get used to it. A bar with a good amount of backseep will help out just as much as a shorter stem will in some cases. Either that or start stretching out your lower back every morning.

On a side note, i see these really awkwardly built up bikes day in and day out on the street, at my shop, at school, etc... I really, really hope some day all these riders that have adopted a bike as a form of transportation and in a larger sense, a lifetyle, will one day have the opportunity to build up a proper fitting bike.

I know money is an issue for many so thats why i dont bash every bike with a funny set up, be it a seat with the nose pointed down at the front hub, bars cut down so far that only half your palm fits on it, or stems so short that one knees are within an inch of the bar. I just hope that one day they will see the light.

pssssst.
(i have a big head... and little arms...)

cant remember where but i saw a pic of a straight stem once.
(rises straight out of the steerer tube)

found it:
nitto zero stem (pparently its very rare though)

Damn, that's pretty cool. I'm glad I don't need anything smaller than about a 50mm stem. If I did, I would have to agree with everyone here that my bike was the wrong size.

azonic zero, also.

All my stems are very short, 65mm being the longest one. I'm built like a hobbit, and I get really bad back problems with a stem over 100mm, despite good posture on the bike.


Not everybody is built the same.

Pretentiometer: H-|-------------L

Wow. This thread is nearly off the charts.

Mebbe the OP is built like a T-rex...

artesc, sent you a pm

Is it threaded or threadless?

Shortest threadless I've come across is 50mm https://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30...ils&sku=SM4600

You can get a Nitto threaded at 50 mm too.

Remember, any rise in the stem will shorten the apparent reach. If threaded, raising the bars also shortens the apparent reach.

Tip for next time: you could have settled the size debate 40 posts ago if you'd simply put up a picture of yourself on the bike.

You don't need something as ridiculous as a Nitto Promenade. Get a bar with some sweep, that doesn't go straight back, and doesn't have really long grips like the Promenade. Velo Orange makes a few bars like that. I have a Soma Sparrow bar and I think it is perfect.