Other than Levi, who always looks like his bike is two sizes too big, does it look like alot of the tour riders are riding on 130mm or longer stems? Whatever works, but wow.
Levi’s bike isn’t too big, he’s just too small… ;o)
140mm, -17 deg rise.
Good luck trying to find that at your LBS.
I ride a 130mm Deda Pista. Doesn’t seem long and low, just fast.
Other than Levi, who always looks like his bike is two sizes too big, does it look like alot of the tour riders are riding on 130mm or longer stems? Whatever works, but wow.
Ummm…are you suffering from “stem length envy”? 
I feel inadequate, somehow. My stem is only 110mm.
But at least it is oversized.
I wonder if it is due to the larger number of compact geometry bike out there. Seems like compact geometry requires an unusual shorter of longer stem for most people.
No, that isn’t it. There has been a trend to smaller frame sizes for a few years. It has nothing to do with whether the rider is on a compact geometry bike or not.
I was noticing that yesterday, they seem really stretched out.
No, that isn’t it. There has been a trend to smaller frame sizes for a few years. It has nothing to do with whether the rider is on a compact geometry bike or not.
There’s been a trend toward taller headtubes on the same toptubes to accomodate fat riders.
Pro riders have sized down to get the right headtube height, and use longer stems to compensate.
Think of it as reverse trickle-down: now it’s from the out of shape masses to the pro tour.
I don’t know if it is the same issue on the road bikes but I was reading some articles on the pros being fitted to their TT bikes…a reference was made that after the fitting the team may choose to put the rider on a frame that is one size smaller and use a longer stem to slow down the handling.
My thoughts here are twofold…smaller frame = less weight and the longer stem slows the handling down? I might be way off base.
why would it slow down the handling?
it would seem to me smaller frame = shorter wheel base = more responsive handling.
a longer stem will slow down the handling. wheelbase doesn’t matter nearly as much as front end geometry for handling.
The longer a lever is the further you have to move it to get a reaction (equal to a shorter lever) at the other end. It doesn’t ‘slow’ the handling; it makes it less ‘twitchy.’
got it… makes sense.