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Stem length, Feel too stretched out.

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Stem length, Feel too stretched out.

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Old 03-02-13 | 03:08 AM
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From: Valley Village, CA
Stem length, Feel too stretched out.

On my bike I feel a bit too stretched out when I'm in the hoods or drops, unless I have gloves on. Sometimes my neck gets a bit sore from reaching too much. The stem I have now is 100mm long. I was considering going to a 90mm and keeping the 100 for only the track. Also what effect would slamming the stem do to either stem length I'm just curious. Would it bring the bars closer or make it further. When I first started riding this current bike I had the bars a lot higher and the stem upright, but I've been going lower and loving it. I'd like the slammed stem look.

I was also considering just moving my seat a little bit forward instead of getting a new stem as a quick fix. But I would move it back to the original spot when I start going to the track again, because one of the experienced riders saw me months ago and said to lower the seat and move it back since I was a little too cramped.

Heres what the bike looks like now.

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Old 03-02-13 | 07:43 AM
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Start with Rule 45, the rest is detail.

Bro, being honest here, there is so much wrong with your post.

Your neck getting sore could be anything - from weak muscles, to weak mind, to neck cancer.
The question about current stem setup compared to a 90mm in a lower position requires a protractor. Or this.
You would like the slammed stem look... why is this thread still open? Close it because this is all you need!
Do not move your saddle to fix your neck.
Dude told you to lower and move back the seat because you were "too cramped?" I am going to assume that he knows what he is talking about and that you misunderstood him. I agree that your saddle is in the wrong place, but that is based on this.

If you want help, use the fitment calculator and get some profile pictures and video of you riding your bike.
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Old 03-02-13 | 07:53 AM
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Lowering the stem effectively makes the reach longer. Don't adjust the saddle to change reach. Accept the fact that what looks cool is not always what is comfortable. Decide which one is more important (cool or comfortable), since you can't always have both.
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Old 03-02-13 | 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by seau grateau
Lowering the stem effectively makes the reach longer. Don't adjust the saddle to change reach. Accept the fact that what looks cool is not always what is comfortable. Decide which one is more important (cool or comfortable), since you can't always have both.
Awwww Daaaaaaaad. I wanna be cool AND comfy. Not fair!
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Old 03-02-13 | 11:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Bat56
Bro, being honest here, there is so much wrong with your post.
Agreed.

How you gonna say this:

Originally Posted by chris675D
On my bike I feel a bit too stretched out when I'm in the hoods or drops, unless I have gloves on. Sometimes my neck gets a bit sore from reaching too much.
Then this?

Originally Posted by chris675D
When I first started riding this current bike I had the bars a lot higher and the stem upright, but I've been going lower and loving it.
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Old 03-02-13 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by BigglyPuff
Agreed.

How you gonna say this:



Then this?

When I first bought this bike over two years ago I wasn't that serious about cycling and performance. Over time I flipped the stem down and lowered it a little bit. I went from bullhorns, to drops, to drops with hoods. Having the hoods is the only time I felt too stretched out.

Last edited by chris675D; 03-02-13 at 01:22 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 03-02-13 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by seau grateau
Lowering the stem effectively makes the reach longer. Don't adjust the saddle to change reach. Accept the fact that what looks cool is not always what is comfortable. Decide which one is more important (cool or comfortable), since you can't always have both.
I wasn't sure what slamming the stem would do to reach if I switched to a 90, if it would help out and look nicer I would do it. I'm obviously not going to just slam it for looks if it messed up my fit.
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Old 03-02-13 | 02:13 PM
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You could try different drops with less reach or move your levers up a tad and see how that feels, don't move two things at the sme time, and don't cut your steerer unless you are absolutely sure of your stem height. Moving to a slightly larger frame might also help, but using the fit calculator and working with what you have would be the best starting point
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Old 03-02-13 | 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by FakeFuji
You could try different drops with less reach or move your levers up a tad and see how that feels, don't move two things at the sme time, and don't cut your steerer unless you are absolutely sure of your stem height. Moving to a slightly larger frame might also help, but using the fit calculator and working with what you have would be the best starting point

I moved the hoods up a little bit 2 days ago and it feels a lot better but I still wish they were closer to me. The frame now is already a little too big. Its a 54 but I think I should be on a 52.

I guess getting a 90mm stem and leaving it at the same height as the current stem is the best option.
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Old 03-02-13 | 07:12 PM
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Try flipping your stem back up before spending money
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