In order to get a good fit on my road bike frame, I’m looking at getting a longer stem, as per the advice in the below thread.
What are the effects on the handling, responsiveness, etc of the bike in and out of the saddle?
Also the pros and cons of getting the stem vs alternatives.
all the pro cyclists that run 130 140 stems don’t seem to have any problems
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Longer stem allows smaller frame. Smaller frame allows less flex. Less flex equals more power transfer from the cranks to the rear wheel. Supposedly. But totally. If you’re a pro, it could actually matter.
although sausskross wasn’t particularly clear, as he suggested, you may want to make sure your saddle is far enough back before fiddling with things up front.
I think what sausskross was trying to say is in order to be powerful, comfortable and aerodynamic, you need enough weight on your saddle. The further forward your saddle, the less weight it carries and the harder it is to be comfortably low and stretched out up front. Although there is the other end of the spectrum where being too far back closes your hip angle but you don’t look to be there in your picture.
A good way to test saddle fore-aft position is riding on the trainer in the hoods and drops at a decent clip if you can let go of the bars and not fall forward, you probably have enough weight on your ass.
Now, in terms of a longer stem. 1cm won’t make much of a difference in handling. Longer stems tend to slow steering down but it’s only at extremes or big jumps that you’ll really notice.
I’ve got a bike with a big-a stem at 130mm
Feels like there is more torque applied to the fork/steer tube increasing flex on the bars
I don’t like it.
How long are you looking to go? Most frames are nominally designed for 100mm stems. Anything in the 80-120mm range is “normal”. As you go longer, it shifts your weight more onto the front wheel, and slows the steering a bit.
Are you sure about the saddle back more weight on it?
In my experience if the saddle moves rearward ie behind the centre of mass of the rider it creates a moment, causes the upper body to roll forward placing more mass on the bars and hence load through the upper body… It also asks more if your core to support it…
This is not necessarily bad, but the mechanics ought to be clear…
A lot of people have their bars too low Nd long and saddles thrown. Back cos that’s what the pro’s do, and wonder why their hands shoulders and necks are sore and their hips are tight… Too long and too low and too closed a hip angle for their functionality…
Not of the above relates to a long vs short stem tho… A good position can still use a long stem relative to the frame size… U just need a smaller frame and ideally not too long a leg with good hip functionality otherwise you’d have to run a large stack of stem spares etc…
But yes long stem slows steering response all else being equal. .