Is 2 cm worth the expense?

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I got fit-kitted yesterday because I wanted to make sure my new bike
was adjusted properly. They told me the reach from the seat post to
the handlebars was a little short and recommended a 2cm longer stem.
Later, while I was pedaling hard, I tried holding a little forward of
the hoods with my pinkies on the brake hoods and the rest of my hand
in front of the brake levers and it felt ok so I was thinking of
trying the longer stem but am not sure it would be worth the $80-$100
they quoted me for a stem of equal quality. Is this something that
would make a big difference? When I first got the bike it felt like a
stretch because I was used to a shorter one. It's comfortable now but
would a longer reach be even more comfortable when I'm used to it? How
accurate are fit kits?

A fit kit is to give you a good fit based on and "average" person's
physique, so it may or may not be accurate for you. If you are
interested in trying a longer stem, I'd recommend getting a cheap one
just to try for fit, and then if you like it, you could sell that one
and get a super light one (which is probably what they meant).
Specialized has a wide selection of stems for $30 - $40 or so, and so do
many other mfr's.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hello,
I got fit-kitted yesterday because I wanted to make sure my new bike
was adjusted properly. They told me the reach from the seat post to
the handlebars was a little short and recommended a 2cm longer stem.
Later, while I was pedaling hard, I tried holding a little forward of
the hoods with my pinkies on the brake hoods and the rest of my hand
in front of the brake levers and it felt ok so I was thinking of
trying the longer stem but am not sure it would be worth the $80-$100
they quoted me for a stem of equal quality. Is this something that
would make a big difference? When I first got the bike it felt like a
stretch because I was used to a shorter one. It's comfortable now but
would a longer reach be even more comfortable when I'm used to it? How
accurate are fit kits?

Get a $20, or less, stem that is 2cm longer than your current stem. Ride
around with it a while and see how it feels. You can then decide if that
will work for you. If not, you are only out $20. If yes, you can get the
fancy stem to match. Your LBS should offer to do this for you for free since
they will make money if you buy the longer stem. Especially since you already
paid for a fitting.
------------
Alex

Chris Hansen said:

Hello,

I got fit-kitted yesterday because I wanted to make sure my new bike
was adjusted properly. They told me ...

"They" should have offered you a fit kit _before_ you bought the bike, and
swapped out equipment as needed. This often can be done at no net cost to
either the shop or the buyer except for labor.

Quoted message said:

front of the brake levers and it felt ok so I was thinking of trying the
longer stem but am not sure it would be worth the $80-$100 they quoted
me for a stem of equal quality.

Someone has been smoking something if they think $80-$100 is reasonable
for a stem. I echo the suggestions to get a cheap stem. The difference
in "quality" between it and what you have will be debatable. Even the
difference in weight will be small on a $/gram basis.

OTOH, 2cm is a big jump. I would try 1cm longer, and see how that feels.
Maybe get both, since after all you can get an assortment of reasonable
stems for the price of one high-zoot stem.

Quoted message said:

Is this something that would make a big
difference?

Oh, it can make a difference. Feeling stretched out at first is common,
but if the longer stem is right you will adjust fairly quickly. But fit
is more than a fit kit. That is a first approximation only. Better than
straddling the bar, but not a science, even though they make it out to be.

It may be that in winter you would prefer the shorter stem, and in summer
the longer one. It's good to have a choice.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster. --Greg LeMond
_`\(,_ |
(_)/ (_) |

Two cms is a relatively large amount by bike fit standards and it might make
a huge difference in your comfort. If you're buying a new bike, I've never
heard of a shop not being willing to swap out a stem to make a sale -- and
I've bought many, many bikes. Sheesh.

Bob C.

"Chris Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I got fit-kitted yesterday because I wanted to make sure my new bike
was adjusted properly. They told me the reach from the seat post to
the handlebars was a little short and recommended a 2cm longer stem.
Later, while I was pedaling hard, I tried holding a little forward of
the hoods with my pinkies on the brake hoods and the rest of my hand
in front of the brake levers and it felt ok so I was thinking of
trying the longer stem but am not sure it would be worth the $80-$100
they quoted me for a stem of equal quality. Is this something that
would make a big difference? When I first got the bike it felt like a
stretch because I was used to a shorter one. It's comfortable now but
would a longer reach be even more comfortable when I'm used to it? How
accurate are fit kits?

Thanks.

Quoted message said:

"They" should have offered you a fit kit _before_ you bought the bike, and
swapped out equipment as needed.

That's kind of what I was hoping. They just gave me the bike and sent
me on my way. I guess I was hoping for a little better service, maybe
adjust the seat height or something. I had the fit kit done at another
store because it is cheaper and closer.

Quoted message said:

Someone has been smoking something if they think $80-$100 is reasonable
for a stem. I echo the suggestions to get a cheap stem.

How much would a stock stem on an $1100 bike usually cost?

How is the reach measured in the fit kit system? At the shop they
stretched a tape measure from the seat post to the handlebar but I've
also seen where they measure the top tube and the stem seperatly and
add them together which gave me a different measurement when I tried
it that way.

Thanks.

On 12 May 2004 03:57:38 -0700, [email hidden] (Chris

Hansen) said:

Quoted message said:

Someone has been smoking something if they think $80-$100 is reasonable
for a stem. I echo the suggestions to get a cheap stem.

How much would a stock stem on an $1100 bike usually cost?

$35 in a bike shop. $20 mail order.

On my bike, which was at the same price point, I've put a $20 (at a
bike shop; $10 mail order) stem and I can't tell the difference
(except that I'm more comfortable). They didn't even feel different
when I hefted them in my hands.

I can't imagine putting a $80 stem on a $1100 bike. Maybe a $6000
bike that I'm trying to get under 11 pounds or something...

Of course, if the $80 stem excites you, then first buy the $10 mail
order stem, and once you're fit, get an identical $80 stem.
--
Rick Onanian

Chris Hansen said:

I had the fit kit done at another
store because it is cheaper and closer.

Oh. Well, you know at least one shop to avoid in the future, possibly 2.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Someone has been smoking something if they think $80-$100 is reasonable
for a stem. I echo the suggestions to get a cheap stem.

How much would a stock stem on an $1100 bike usually cost?

Look at the bike. There are easily 10-15 do-dads that would be,
comparably equipped, more expensive than a stem: hubs, derailleurs,
pedals, handlebar, shifters, saddle, cranks, brakes. Not counting the
frame, of course. If the stem is "worth" $80, then the bike ought to be
worth a $3000, easy. A $1100 bike does not come equipped with a stem that
cost anyone anything near $80.

Quoted message said:

How is the reach measured in the fit kit system? At the shop they
stretched a tape measure from the seat post to the handlebar but I've
also seen where they measure the top tube and the stem seperatly and add
them together which gave me a different measurement when I tried it that
way.

Due to the angle of the stem, and the angle of the head tube, I'd imagine.
But it is clear which is the relevant measurement.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster. --Greg LeMond
_`\(,_ |
(_)/ (_) |

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (Chris Hansen)

wrote in part:

Quoted message said:

I got fit-kitted yesterday because I wanted to make sure my new bike
was adjusted properly. They told me the reach from the seat post to
the handlebars was a little short and recommended a 2cm longer stem.
Later, while I was pedaling hard, I tried holding a little forward of
the hoods with my pinkies on the brake hoods and the rest of my hand
in front of the brake levers and it felt ok so I was thinking of
trying the longer stem but am not sure it would be worth the $80-$100
they quoted me for a stem of equal quality.

I'm a little confused. You bought a new bike and *then* got fitted or the LBS
that did the fitting then sold you a bike? If it's the former I imagine that
the bike felt good and was so attractively priced that you just took a chance.
In that case, I'd likely ride it for awhile and then decide. If it's the latter
then I'd have had to ask the LBS why I should pay them $80 to $100 to swap one
stem for another when I'm not upgrading stems but simply getting a different
length. Isn't the stem that's on the bike now available in the length you need?

Regards,
Bob Hunt

Quoted message said:

Rick Onanian [email hidden]

wrote in part:

other poster's comment---

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Someone has been smoking something if they think $80-$100 is reasonable
for a stem.

Quoted message said:

I can't imagine putting a $80 stem on a $1100 bike. Maybe a $6000
bike that I'm trying to get under 11 pounds or something...

If you think 6 grand will buy a sub-11 lb bike the question begs to be asked...
what exactly are *you* smoking? <g>

Regards,
Bob Hunt

(Hunrobe) said:

Quoted message said:

Rick Onanian [email hidden] wrote in part:
I can't imagine putting a $80 stem on a $1100 bike. Maybe a $6000
bike that I'm trying to get under 11 pounds or something...

If you think 6 grand will buy a sub-11 lb bike the question begs to be asked...
what exactly are *you* smoking? <g>

Well, I said a $6000 bike that somebody is _trying_ get under 11
pounds by buying over-expensive parts.
--
Rick Onanian

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

(Hunrobe) said:

Quoted message said:

Rick Onanian [email hidden] wrote in part:
I can't imagine putting a $80 stem on a $1100 bike. Maybe a $6000
bike that I'm trying to get under 11 pounds or something...

If you think 6 grand will buy a sub-11 lb bike the question begs to be asked...
what exactly are *you* smoking? <g>

Well, I said a $6000 bike that somebody is _trying_ get under 11
pounds by buying over-expensive parts.

In a 48 cm size, with 12-spoke, 650c wheels and no paint or decals, you
might just get there.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

Quoted message said:

David Kerber ns_dkerber@ns_ids.net

wrote in re a sub 11 lb bike for $6k:

Quoted message said:

In a 48 cm size, with 12-spoke, 650c wheels and no paint or decals, you
might just get there.

I seem to recall a few years ago the owner of Litespeed built a "crazylight"
bike for himself. It weighed in at just under 10 lbs but cost about $10k.

Regards,
Bob Hunt

"Chris Hansen" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hello,

I got fit-kitted yesterday because I wanted to make sure my new bike
was adjusted properly. They told me the reach from the seat post to
the handlebars was a little short and recommended a 2cm longer stem.
Later, while I was pedaling hard, I tried holding a little forward of
the hoods with my pinkies on the brake hoods and the rest of my hand
in front of the brake levers and it felt ok so I was thinking of
trying the longer stem but am not sure it would be worth the $80-$100
they quoted me for a stem of equal quality. Is this something that
would make a big difference? When I first got the bike it felt like a
stretch because I was used to a shorter one. It's comfortable now but
would a longer reach be even more comfortable when I'm used to it? How
accurate are fit kits?

Chris,

As everyone else says, you can get a less expensive stem than what your LBS
is quoting you that may be just fine. I got a nice Salsa H20 stem from
airbomb.com for $30, just as an example. And yes, 2 cm can make a
difference. I went from a 70 mm stem to a 90 mm stem and am a lot more
comfy on my bike. In addition, the front hub is now obscured from both the
brake hoods and the drops (on the flats), as it is supposed to be, and the
front end is less squirrelly. I am also able to maintain a more aerodynamic
position for longer, which is better for speed. So, I'd say give it it try!

Good luck,
Emily