I’ve understand that too many spacers can be a problem I have about 2.5cm of spacers on my road bike currently, While racing oly/half later in the summer I plan on adding clip-ons and going about 2-1.5cm lower, can I just move the 1cm or 0.5cm spacer above the stem. I do not want to cut the fork tube. Can you have too many spacer above the stem?
I am not a bike wrench, but IMO it shouldn’t be a problem if you’re talking about a centimeter. I changed my position last year on my tri bike as I became more flexible and used to the TT position. My position change was done under the supervision of Dave at Elite who built the bike and when we lowered the bars he put a small spacer above the stem rather than cut the steerer tube. No problems since then.
Probably ok but just make sure to move down your expansion nut (or star nut if alloy) in your steer tube.
You should have zero problems with that kind of move, and there’s no need to mess with your star nut. Just take off the stem, pop off the spacers, drop the stem back on, and put the spacers on the other side. It’s as easy as it seems.
I did it but did not want to cut my fork until I was sure I liked the position and I had a chance to put my new aerobars on (this weekend) and I did not have to do anything special. It has worked fine for me.
you can never have too many spacers above the stem. It’s like pitching a tent in bike shorts. The more it sticks out, the more impressed everyone will be.
having 1 or 2 cm of spacers above the stem isn’t a problem. with a carbon steerer, make sure that the expansion bolt is at the level of the stem, one of the reasons it is there is to prevent the stem from crushing the steerer.
Why does it matter at all if there are 10cm of spacers above the stem (apart from appearance)? How could they affect the leverage that the stem exerts on the steerer tube?
Probably need a pretty long top cap bolt that can reach all the way down to your expansion nut. Hey in theory you could do it but it would look pretty funky, be “unaero” and maybe be unsafe since you would have 4" of steer tube sticking up past your stem. I don’t really understand why anyone would want that much steer tube on a bike unless you wanted to use it as a flag poll.
theoritically, it doesn’t matter. Its just that no-one makes expansion nuts that are long enough to reach that far down the steerer tube. it is a practical matter.
with a steel or alloy steerer, there is no limit. Hell, make it 2 feet long and stick a chinrest on there.
Thanks all the the replies, I didn’t think it would be a problem just want some ST opinions.
I’m waited for a new stem and clipons, lightring stryke, before posting a picture, when I do please feel free to comment on the spacers.