I would like to increase my bike’s stem length and need some advice on how to proceed.
I started cycling at the beginning of this year with a 2010 Madone 4.7 (H2 fit). A few months ago I removed the 2 spacers and flipped the stem. Now I’m comfortable enough I’d also like to get a longer stem to get more aero. The one I have now is 90 mm with 7 degree rise. Could I jump up to 120 or should I go lower?
I would like to do this during the fall/winter so I’m accustomed to the fit before long summer rides/racing. Any advice?
30mm is pretty significant. I can notice even 5. Why not split the difference and 105? Perhaps pick some cheap stuff up off ebay till you find perfect fit.
Make sure you get correct handlebar diameter right.
I would suggest spending the money and getting a good professional bike fit, then you will know for sure about all aspects of your fit, not just stem length
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Why do you want to be more aero? The reason for my seemingly obviously dumb question is like this. Are you using the road bike for racing non drafting triathlons? In which case some clip on ITU race style aero bars would be better, and you wouldn’t want to have a long stem or else on a road bike then you’ll be too stretched out and lose too much power.
If it’s for racing on the road then aero isn’t that important as you’ll be sat up on the hoods most of the time in a pack and not in the wind anyway, the lower position making it harder to see when moves are hapening / people move to avoid potholes, etc. Then come ‘hammer time’ then you’ll be down on he drops and technique will get you wrapped into a smaller shape whilst putting down the power anyway - no offence, but after years of riding then I’ve not got that nailed yet.
If on the other hand this is for training, and you have a dedicated race bike, then add parachutes, weights and set the brakes to drag, then reap the benefits come race day.
Adding a long stem (90-120) will change the handling quite a bit on most road bikes . We had a discussion on this about 3 weeks ago, would be well worth searching for that thread before you pull the trigger so you can see and consider the issues. You will also almost certainly need to recable your bike, and that also means re-wrapping the bars with new tape. Going the other way is easier, so at least if you did change and wanted to revert back then you could just chop a little off. Just mentioning as you may not realise.
Without seeing a photo of your fit, it’s a difficult question to answer. On face value however, if you were wanting to add 30mm to your stem length, it would suggest that your bike doesn’t fit you at all!
Is the issue that your are struggling to get into your drops? or do you just want to get lower to the handlebars?
In either case, there are a multitude of factors that can play into it. Flexibility. Fore/aft position of the saddle. Drop from saddle to handlebars.
As Planetxer posted earlier, you would be better off going to your LBS and getting a proper fit done.
simply changing your stem, may not necessarily make you more aero. It may actually make your ride worse as your body will inherently know what position is best for itself and this may not be with a 120mm stem.
I would suggest spending the money and getting a good professional bike fit, then you will know for sure about all aspects of your fit, not just stem length
I actually had a FIST fitting done last october. It came out with 100 to 110 mm stem. That was a different bike so when I bought this one it came with the short stem.
Adding a long stem (90-120) will change the handling quite a bit on most road bikes . We had a discussion on this about 3 weeks ago, would be well worth searching for that thread before you pull the trigger so you can see and consider the issues. You will also almost certainly need to recable your bike, and that also means re-wrapping the bars with new tape. Going the other way is easier, so at least if you did change and wanted to revert back then you could just chop a little off. Just mentioning as you may not realise.
I’d really have to go through all that just to get a 2cm longer stem? And I can’t find that thread.
Is the issue that your are struggling to get into your drops? or do you just want to get lower to the handlebars?
If you just want to be more aero, is there any reason you want your handlebars further away from you rather than lower down?
(eg. you could get a stem with a steeper angle)
Kind of sounds like you are just guessing. A precise fit with a method/fitter you believe in will probably produce a much better result than buying stems.
I rode with 100mm on my size 56 bikes and I went to 120 on both when I got fit. He said my frames themselves were the correct size.
If you need a 120 on a 52, that might be a little silly, but generally no one needs a 90 on a roadie unless they are very very short or on a frame that is too big.
My advice is buy a selection of cheap stems of varying lenghts and play around with the fit yourself. If you look around you can pick up base level FSA stems for $20 each.
Adding 30mm to the stem is a big difference. You will be a lot more stretched out (though not necessarily more aero). If your current fit is anything close to correct, increasing the stem 30mm will be uncomfortable and offer little benefit beyond shoulder pain.
Stem length from a FIST fit on a different bike is entirely irrelevant. That bike could have had entirely different geometry (even if they are both the same frame size).
, but generally no one needs a 90 on a roadie unless they are very very short or on a frame that is too big.
-Physiojoe
As I said earlier that’s the stem that came on the bike. I bought it from a friend.
My advice is buy a selection of cheap stems of varying lenghts and play around with the fit yourself. If you look around you can pick up base level FSA stems for $20 each.
Adding 30mm to the stem is a big difference. You will be a lot more stretched out (though not necessarily more aero). If your current fit is anything close to correct, increasing the stem 30mm will be uncomfortable and offer little benefit beyond shoulder pain.
Stem length from a FIST fit on a different bike is entirely irrelevant. That bike could have had entirely different geometry (even if they are both the same frame size).
So do I need to do all the recabling just to experiment with stems 2 cm longer?
And I wasn’t set on 120mm. That’s just a number I threw out. Probably more like 110mm.
I did the fit first on a fit bike (or whatever it’s called) then he set it up on the bike I bought. He wasn’t actually fitting me directly on that bike. So after he’d put in all my body measurements and put them in the computer that’s when it came out with stem length 100- 110mm.
As you take the spacers out it is normal to fit a longer stem. I now run a 120 and am thinking I might try a 130. I prefer to ride hard on the hoods than the drops, not sure what affect this has on my want to run a longer stem. Just play around with it. People say get a professional fit done and if you are a complete newbie sure do that. But the problem is fit always changes as you change. After a couple of years of riding I started playing with my fit. Learnt heaps and am better for it. Still tweak it on one of my bikes (3 disciplines) on a semi regular basis.
