Stem question...

Fender76

I'm currently using a 110mm stem but it's definately too long for me as I feel uncomfortable on the hoods and even more so on the drops.
Basically I feel completely streched on the hoods and I get a sharp pain in my neck and shoulders after a while..
So I'm going to get a shorter stem but I'm wondering how short to go... I need to gain about 2 inches, would a 70mm stem be too short...? Would I be better off with a 80mm...?
Thanks...

Side Show Bob

Fender76 wrote: »

I'm currently using a 110mm stem but it's definately too long for me as I feel uncomfortable on the hoods and even more so on the drops.
Basically I feel completely streched on the hoods and I get a sharp pain in my neck and shoulders after a while..
So I'm going to get a shorter stem but I'm wondering how short to go... I need to gain about 2 inches, would a 70mm stem be too short...? Would I be better off with a 80mm...?
Thanks...

Have you any room left to move the saddle forward? 70mm could be very sharp in the steering.

Fender76

Yeah, thats what I was thinking.. thres not a whole lot of movement left o the saddle but i'll try it out... what do you reckon would be the shortest stem you could get away with and still maintain good control, 90...?

Side Show Bob

Fender76 wrote: »

Yeah, thats what I was thinking.. thres not a whole lot of movement left o the saddle but i'll try it out... what do you reckon would be the shortest stem you could get away with and still maintain good control, 90...?

take it to LBS they should let you try out one or two stems

ashleey

It sounds silly but do you find yourself gripping the bars and tensing your shoulders as you cycle? It's a common set up if you are trying to 'put some power' into your spin. Try and focus on a relaxed upper body every 5 mins until your cycling posture improves maybe? I found I was tensing up and it wasn't the bike that was at fault.

blorg

110 to 70 is massive and if actually necessary means that your frame is the wrong size, and significantly so. Did you get fitted on the bike at all? It is possible though that it is not necessary- the difference in stretch felt with even 10mm is significant, much more than you might think. So 100 or at a stretch :-) 90mm may actually be enough. Only way to know is to try. Also worth looking at stem height and angle as this can reduce reach. I have changed by 10mm on a few bikes (either way) with major difference and only once by 20mm, on a bike where I swapped flat bars for drops- that requires in that region of a reduction.

Fender76

Yeah, you're right, 110 to 70 is pretty massive.... gonna try a 90mm and tinker with the saddle....

I'll let you know the outcome..... ta muchly...!;)

Quigs Snr

For what it's worth, I find that a stem as short as 80mm is ok. Anything after that is very twitchy indeed on a road bike.

petethedrummer

I went from a 100mm stem to a 65mm to a 70mm, back to the 100mm and now have a 120mm stem on the same bike. The shorter stem definitely makes the steering snappier but its manageable.

Getting my handlebars set up comfortably (for me) has allowed me to take more weight on my hands which distributes my weight more evenly around the bike. That has eased my lower back issues and I feel alot less stretched out even though I am in fact more stretched out. I have since been able to flip the stem downwards and remove most of the spacers to get lower. I still reckon I could get a bit lower.

My bike was sized correctly for me, yours might not have been.