Adjusting stem height

goldencleric

Hi all,

I'm trying to experiment with a lower position on the bike so I've decided to lower my stem a wee bit to get the desired effect. Is it simply a matter of loosening the headset nut, taking off the cap and repositioning the existing spacers above the stem or is there a proper and complex procedure to it?

Cheers

GTDolanator

they way you described is fine,you just have a bit of steerer left over which you can cut down if you want

goldencleric

GTDolanator wrote: »

they way you described is fine,you just have a bit of steerer left over which you can cut down if you want

Grand thanks, I think I'll try it out tomorrow. I probably won't be cutting the steerer until I'm comfortable with the change though.

blorg

Just make sure you readjust the headset (top bolt) and get that right, BEFORE tightening the stem bolts.

macnab

When you are finished apply the front brakes and push the bike forward and back, if there is play in the steerer you have done it wrong.

goldencleric

blorg wrote: »

Just make sure you readjust the headset (top bolt) and get that right, BEFORE tightening the stem bolts.

Cheers Blorg took me a while to figure this one out

goldencleric

macnab wrote: »

When you are finished apply the front brakes and push the bike forward and back, if there is play in the steerer you have done it wrong.

Exactly what happened, needed a few goes but figured it out eventually

murph226

I was thinking of doing something like this, should I flip the stem or remove a spacer?

Its a Giant defy2, used for commuting and 60-100k spins at the weekends.

It has a fairly relaxed riding position and I'd like to get something sportier in time so I'd like to get used to that kind of position.

cdaly_

I did both over time. I went from stem up on top of three or four spacers to stem down on zero spacers. Flipping the stem is a pretty big jump, you could start by moving down one or two spacers and see how it goes. Then, to go a little further, flip the stem but move back up a spacer. Keep going until you get a bit beyond your comfort zone and then either move back or try it for a while and see do you get used to it...

murph226

I'll try a spacer in the morning so when I'm giving the bike a clean, thanks!

FISMA

goldencleric wrote: »

Is it simply a matter of loosening the headset nut, taking off the cap and repositioning the existing spacers above the stem or is there a proper and complex procedure to it?
Cheers

Sounds good and if I were you, I would just leave the spacer on top. If/when you ever decide to resell the fork/bike, they'll want to know if the fork was cut and by how much.

Also, when climbing, you will want a taller fork so that you are standing as vertical as possible and not hunching over - restricting your breathing.

Just remember that "tightening" the top bolt on the new forks is not like the old.