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First decent road bike... stem length?
I just picked up a road frame for the first time. I have been riding a
hybrid frame for several years and felt I wanted to see what a real road bike would do for me. Anyway, I will have the frame in a few days and I was wondering how to go about deciding what reach to use for the stem. It's a 1-1/8 ahead style with an uncut fork but with no stem. I just want to get the right stem length - or at least close. I may need to swap it once or twice to get it perfect, but I dont want to get something WAY too short or too long. So, what's the formula to get close? Dan -- Remove NOT from email address to reply. AntiSpam in action. |
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#2
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First decent road bike... stem length?
Dan Brussee wrote in
: Anyway, I will have the frame in a few days and I was wondering how to go about deciding what reach to use for the stem. It's a 1-1/8 ahead style with an uncut fork but with no stem. I just want to get the right stem length - or at least close. I may need to swap it once or twice to get it perfect, but I dont want to get something WAY too short or too long. So, what's the formula to get close? Stem length is a personal preference issue. Many beginners start with a relatively short stem, then get a longer stem when their strength and flexibility improve. There are lots of rules of thumb regarding stem length, but the only one that really matters is that you should be able to ride on the drops for long periods of time. If your stem is too long, you'll feel too stretched out when riding on the drops. If your stem is too short, you'll feel too cramped and/or upright. |
#3
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First decent road bike... stem length?
Hi, Dan, if you can do a 'mock up' of the bike, then, sit on the seat
with your feet on the pedals and hold the handlebars in front of you. Have your hands on the top, flat, part of the bar and try to hold it at a height from the ground that you think you would be comfortable when riding. Now look down at the front hub and move the bar until it obscures the hub. Have a faithful assistant measure the distance from the bars to the stem. This should get you to a good starting place. Hope this helps. Lewis. ******************************************* Dan Brussee wrote in message ... I just picked up a road frame for the first time. I have been riding a hybrid frame for several years and felt I wanted to see what a real road bike would do for me. Anyway, I will have the frame in a few days and I was wondering how to go about deciding what reach to use for the stem. It's a 1-1/8 ahead style with an uncut fork but with no stem. I just want to get the right stem length - or at least close. I may need to swap it once or twice to get it perfect, but I dont want to get something WAY too short or too long. So, what's the formula to get close? Dan |
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First decent road bike... stem length?
On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 19:30:39 +0000, Lewis Campbell wrote:
Hi, Dan, if you can do a 'mock up' of the bike, then, sit on the seat with your feet on the pedals and hold the handlebars in front of you. Have your hands on the top, flat, part of the bar and try to hold it at a height from the ground that you think you would be comfortable when riding. Now look down at the front hub and move the bar until it obscures the hub. Noting personal, but this "standard" should be retired. It simply isn't useful enough. If the OP is able to consider swqitching stems at least once, then start with an adjustable stem that you can use to dial in what you need. A bike fit is only the first step to these adjustments. You want to be comfortable with your hands on the hoods, not just with your hands on the tops. -- David L. Johnson __o | We have a record of conquest, colonization and expansion _`\(,_ | unequalled by any people in the Nineteenth Century. We are not (_)/ (_) | to be curbed now. --Henry Cabot Lodge, 1895 |
#5
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First decent road bike... stem length?
try wrenchscience.com they have an online 'fitkit' that works very well.
"Dan Brussee" wrote in message ... I just picked up a road frame for the first time. I have been riding a hybrid frame for several years and felt I wanted to see what a real road bike would do for me. Anyway, I will have the frame in a few days and I was wondering how to go about deciding what reach to use for the stem. It's a 1-1/8 ahead style with an uncut fork but with no stem. I just want to get the right stem length - or at least close. I may need to swap it once or twice to get it perfect, but I dont want to get something WAY too short or too long. So, what's the formula to get close? Dan -- Remove NOT from email address to reply. AntiSpam in action. |
#6
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First decent road bike... stem length?
On Mon, 28 Jul 2003 21:56:04 GMT, Dan Brussee
may have said: I just picked up a road frame for the first time. I have been riding a hybrid frame for several years and felt I wanted to see what a real road bike would do for me. Anyway, I will have the frame in a few days and I was wondering how to go about deciding what reach to use for the stem. It's a 1-1/8 ahead style with an uncut fork but with no stem. I just want to get the right stem length - or at least close. I may need to swap it once or twice to get it perfect, but I dont want to get something WAY too short or too long. So, what's the formula to get close? If you have a cooperative lbs, see if they've got a box of used stems that they would consider allowing you to test fit to see what feels right. If not, then I'd advise grabbing an adjustable stem and fiddling with it until you're as close as *it* will get you to a good, comfortable ride, and then measure and buy a fixed stem accordingly...or stay with the adjustable, if it's right on target and works well for you. -- My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy. |
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