I’m still feeling too stretched out on my Blade. I have a one-piece base/aerobar that is not adjustable, at all. Generally speaking, will going from my current 90 stem to an 80 create any significant handling issues? (I don’t have great handling skills to begin with.) Thanks.
80mm stem is pretty short and will make your bike pretty “twitchy”, esp a tri bike with your weight forward. Sounds like you might be on the wrong bike (or size).
no.
Even if it did you still win by gaining control from not being so stretched.
fiancee’ has won her first two duathlons (overall!) with an 80mm stem and she has been road biking for 3 months. She hasn’t had any trouble controlling the bike even on technical rides.
80mm is getting into the ‘odd’ range though so on some bikes it may get weird.
80mm stem is pretty short and will make your bike pretty “twitchy”, esp a tri bike with your weight forward. Sounds like you might be on the wrong bike (or size).
That’s a mighty generalized statement…it really depends on the bars, the bike, and where your armrests are in relation to the steerer tube (i.e. the REAL steering geometry).
For example, in order to run Scott 100K bars on my P2K, I had to replace the ~100mm stem with a 50mm stem in order to get my arm rests and hands in a similar position to what I had with a Vision basebar and Profile T2+ extensions.
My bike didn’t become “instantly twitchy” 
In fact, it handles exactly the same.
Although the general rules of length for stems are good for “ballparking” things, it’s OK to try things slightly outside those accepted norms. Stem length is just ONE part of the steering mechanism, and it doesn’t necessarily have the same effect depending on the bars and bike…
Yup - pretty generalized, but …
- This is someone asking this question on ST
- He is on a Blade which has a 78 or 80 degree STA, plus his seat, so pretty far forward
- Has a one piece aerobar
- Even proclaims he “is not a good bike handler” when most all cyclists think they are great
So … he might very well have a better handling bike if he is more “comfortable”, but an 80mm stem WILL be twitchier than a 90mm stem would be. Simple as that. I love my 60mm stem on my MTN bike! Every time I get on my tri bike (very well fit, 20 races on it, etc.) I can’t believe how poorly it handles compared to a good fitting road bike. Of course, I mostly go straight on it so …
What kinda tri bike you got man? Maybe you need a better one? =)
I can’t believe how poorly it handles compared to a good fitting road bike. Of course, I mostly go straight on it so …
Can’t miss it - in my profile (at least my IM set-up. TT set up a bit more aggressive)
yeah see your road bike is a cervelo and thus the best ever
and your tri bike is a Taiwan mystery frame =)
Can’t miss it - in my profile (at least my IM set-up. TT set up a bit more aggressive)
I’m a chicken on descents (I’ve had bad speed wobbles twice, once on this bike) so I’m normally not in the aerobars for decent downhills. I’ve done 10 IM’s with no bike handling skills because IM’s generally only require the ability to ride in a semi-straight line which, fortunately, I can do. I’m fine on the basebars as far as feeling stretched out, mainly because I can grab them a bit closer. I feel stretched out when in the aerobars. I’ve thought of getting a good Profile base bar and the new T1 Viper aerobars because it looks like I could bring the bars and pads back. (I’d just have to paint or tape over the stupid IM logo on the bars.) If I could suddenly solve my problems by replacing the stem myself with a shorter one that would obviously be easiest. Thanks for any advice.
just try it, 90% chance it will be fine.
moving the pads back with a 90mm stem would, I think, be effectively the same as getting an 80mm stem as far as handling goes anyway.
I’m a chicken on descents (I’ve had bad speed wobbles twice, once on this bike) so I’m normally not in the aerobars for decent downhills. I’ve done 10 IM’s with no bike handling skills because IM’s generally only require the ability to ride in a semi-straight line which, fortunately, I can do. I’m fine on the basebars as far as feeling stretched out, mainly because I can grab them a bit closer. I feel stretched out when in the aerobars. I’ve thought of getting a good Profile base bar and the new T1 Viper aerobars because it looks like I could bring the bars and pads back. (I’d just have to paint or tape over the stupid IM logo on the bars.) If I could suddenly solve my problems by replacing the stem myself with a shorter one that would obviously be easiest. Thanks for any advice.
yeah see your road bike is a cervelo and thus the best ever
and your tri bike is a Taiwan mystery frame =)
LOL! Yeah, the Cervelo I chose/bought. The tri bike was a sponsor deal so … can’t complain
plus your position is so goofy, maybe an older TTX would handle right for you!
yeah see your road bike is a cervelo and thus the best ever
and your tri bike is a Taiwan mystery frame =)
LOL! Yeah, the Cervelo I chose/bought. The tri bike was a sponsor deal so … can’t complain
I run a 65MM stem with no issue and have used 50mm stems with no issue, I like the cockpit crammed on the front end
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I run a 6omm with the saddle at approx. 80 degrees with zero issues. I actually prefer riding steep while also having more bike under me that way. Go for the 80, stems are cheap, don’t fall into the ST trap of overthinking everything. What is the alternative, do you now need to get a smaller bike to fit yourself on because somebody told you that stems less that 90 are too short?