How many spacers is the recommended max for a cromo steerer? I’ve got 4.5cm and adding one more (to 5cm) would make things perfect but I kind of feel like I’m pushing the envelope as it is. I can go to an up angle stem if need be or just live with my hands being a little lower than I’d like (its an MTB so hand position is not that critical) but both of those would require cutting the steerer tube which I’d rather avoid if I can.
I dont know absolutely what the limit would be with you–it would depend on the terrain, your weight, and how much you can yank on the bars. For a steel steerer, 5 cm may not look pretty, but it shouldn’t be any problem unless you are a big gorilla and ride downhill at 70 mph. Steel is quite strong.
probably a good rule of thumb, but I think it would be critical to skew your rule depending on the material used for the steering tube. not all materials are equally strong.