I would like to know, do you prefer an extra 5mm spacer above the stem or the top cap sitting on the Stem?

Depends on the fork. Carbon steer tubes should always have a spacer above the stem. Aluminum/steel steer tube is generally fine without.

Why is this a poll?

The extra space above and below the stem is to allow for fine-tuning of the rider's position as flexibility increases as the season progresses. It's not an aesthetic thing. It's functional

carleton - I know you don't like to admit it but not everyone rides on the track and/or has a "season". Some of us just enjoy riding our bikes and nobody said anything about aesthetics but you.

I always put a 5mm spacer on top so the entire stem makes contact with the steerer. I know this is more crucial with a carbon steerer and doesn't matter as much with steel or aluminum but I've just alway been in the habit of allowing room for a spacer up top once I dial in the right height and cut my fork.

But once you get the position right, theres not much to change. I have a fork that needs cutting (aluminum steer tube) and once I dial everything in I figured I would either cut it to allow a spacer, or make it flush with the stem.

Better safe than sorry. I would rather cut the tube a bit long and have extra spacers stacked on top than be upset with my bike fit, even when I think I've dialed it in. It looks cleaner without spacers stacked on top, but I don't mind the look either way.

yummy - you're doing it wrong. We're not allowed to discuss what things look like in this thread.

WTF, Scrod. You've been on my case lately. What gives?

And aesthetics was mentioned in the poll, in case you missed it:

I understand your point of view, and that extra spacers on top can mean a lot finer tuning...but the fork is too long as it is, and when I go to cut it I thought I would do it with a 5mm spacer above... but as I was looking at the two bikes I currently have, one with the top cap on the stem, and one with a spacer...I found the top cap on the stem to look a little better aesthetically. I believe that I will end up cutting the fork with 36mm of spacers below the stem and top cap sitting on the stem. Though, I wanted to set up a poll to see the general SS & FG community's opinions.

That pic rules. I guess I should have read the poll. Whatever!

Alex - like I mentioned in my post before carleton's nipples started getting all chafed, a spacer up top allows for a larger contact area between your stem and steerer.

Relevant: https://slamthatstem.com/

I don't exactly agree with the premise that a slammed stem is better. What a lot of people aren't noticing is that the head tubes on modern bikes are so freaking long and modern road bars are so shallow that a slammed, negative stem is actually required.

Related:
My road bike is a 58cm and my track bike is a 57cm. Both have a 10 degree Thomson stem. BUT, the road bike (Specialized Tarmac) has the stem in a negative position with no spacers underneath. The track bike has 1cm spacer underneath and it's in the positive position. Crazy.

I think it looks cleaner with the cap flush against the stem, but due to a mistake I made a few days back cutting my carbon steerer, I left the sleeve inside too short and my star nut didn't have room to grab anymore, so I had to run a compression cap instead, which sticks up 1cm above the stem, so i have to run a spacer on top

I hate slammed stems.

stryper - you should never use a star nut in a carbon steerer.

I don't think you're supposed to use a star nut on carbon steer tubes anyways.

Edit: Scrod beat me to it.

F*** spacers

Some of us have seasons and will start riding a little more upright and as the miles get laid down and our old bodies get a little more flexible we drop things down a little more.

I don't generally leave an extra spacer on top, except carbon steerers.

I needz roomz for my ding ding.

This.

I had a stressful winter, put on at least 10 pounds. I am not gonna be happily fitted when I finally get a chance to take the road bike out this month. That spacer will be useful.

Looks like he was saying he had some type of internal sleeve that allowed him to use the starnut. Then he didn't so he used a starcap.

But what do I know?