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How much does lowering stem move handlebars back?
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Talking about a road bike here. I'm trialling some things with my road fit and I'm wondering if theres some simple equation that says if you lower your handlebar by 5mm, it will bring the bars back by Xmm.

Trying to figure out if lowering will bring it in enough or if I need to shorten that distance with a stem.

Thanks!
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [teichs42] [ In reply to ]
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The equation would be a geometry one. You could probably work all that out (Sin, Cos etc) if you sketched it out but there are online calulators to do it for you:

http://yojimg.net/bike/web_tools/stem.php

eta you probably meant the spacers part of it so maybe this:

https://www.slowtwitch.com/...ulator/stem_calc.php
Last edited by: OddSlug: Dec 11, 19 17:40
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [teichs42] [ In reply to ]
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10mm down on the steerer = ~3mm forward

Online calcs as linked above are good for comparing spacer height, but not if you change the stem angle as the commonly used formula has a fundamental error.
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [cyclenutnz] [ In reply to ]
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cyclenutnz wrote:
10mm down on the steerer = ~3mm forward

Online calcs as linked above are good for comparing spacer height, but not if you change the stem angle as the commonly used formula has a fundamental error.

^^^This.

You are moving the stem along the angle of the headtube (around 73deg for a road bike).

Cos(73deg) = 0.292, so for every 10mm spacer you remove the stem will move ~3mm forward (it will also move down about 9.5mm, since Sin(73deg) = 0.956 ).

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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [cyclenutnz] [ In reply to ]
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Won’t your site give me the info he needs???

https://www.velogicfit.com/frame-comparison
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [DFW_Tri] [ In reply to ]
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DFW_Tri wrote:
Won’t your site give me the info he needs???

https://www.velogicfit.com/frame-comparison

Yes, but I didn't want to go from saying that all the basic online calculators and formulae are wrong to then say that my site doesn't have that problem and is better than everyone else. Obviously I've tried hard to make it so, but I try to maintain a modicum of modesty ;-)
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [teichs42] [ In reply to ]
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this might help: http://fft.tips/stem but if it doesn't at least we tried ;)
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [teichs42] [ In reply to ]
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teichs42 wrote:
Talking about a road bike here. I'm trialling some things with my road fit and I'm wondering if theres some simple equation that says if you lower your handlebar by 5mm, it will bring the bars back by Xmm.

Trying to figure out if lowering will bring it in enough or if I need to shorten that distance with a stem.

Thanks!

Sounds like you should really leave the bike fit to a professional.

Moving the bars up and down does slightly affect the for and aft of the bars, but if you want to change the reach then change the stem length. and leave the stack height adjustment to your stem spacers of the stem angle.

Most people can only make minimal if any adjustments to the stack height using spacers. Be very wary of not having enough steerer tube in your stem and stem clamp.
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [cyclenutnz] [ In reply to ]
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cyclenutnz wrote:
10mm down on the steerer = ~3mm forward

Online calcs as linked above are good for comparing spacer height, but not if you change the stem angle as the commonly used formula has a fundamental error.

Thanks for the insight! I've been trying to get further back on my Pro Stealth saddle and with a 0SB post and the saddle slammed forward, I had to lower the seat and was able to find a pretty good position. Need more time on it but the saddle felt more comfortable and my hips and knees felt good. But my reach and bar height felt really thrown off.
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [Mario S] [ In reply to ]
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Mario S wrote:
teichs42 wrote:
Talking about a road bike here. I'm trialling some things with my road fit and I'm wondering if theres some simple equation that says if you lower your handlebar by 5mm, it will bring the bars back by Xmm.

Trying to figure out if lowering will bring it in enough or if I need to shorten that distance with a stem.

Thanks!


Sounds like you should really leave the bike fit to a professional.

Moving the bars up and down does slightly affect the for and aft of the bars, but if you want to change the reach then change the stem length. and leave the stack height adjustment to your stem spacers of the stem angle.

Most people can only make minimal if any adjustments to the stack height using spacers. Be very wary of not having enough steerer tube in your stem and stem clamp.

I've actually got a lot of room when it comes to spacers. Right now on my CAAD10 I've got a 25mm dust cap and then I think 20mm of spacers under and 10mm over the stem.
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [cyclenutnz] [ In reply to ]
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Dude your app is awesome. I built one that's more fit focused, if anyone wants to try it out. It can draw you, on your bike and figure out your angles for you. It's bikefitr.net if anyone is interested.

See your bike fit. https://bikefitr.appspot.com/
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [teichs42] [ In reply to ]
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Unless I’m reading this incorrectly - lowering your stem will move the handle bar away from you.
Do you have a flippable stem?
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Re: How much does lowering stem move handlebars back? [ksb] [ In reply to ]
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ksb wrote:
Unless I’m reading this incorrectly - lowering your stem will move the handle bar away from you.
Do you have a flippable stem?

Yes, I’m stupid. I do have a flippable stem but I can’t stand the look of an upturned stem. I’m going to try a 2cm shorter stem with the same stack height and adjust from there.
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