I have a 10cm stem on my road bike, but I've started to hold the bars on the section where they transition to the hoods; in other words, closer to my body. This seems more comfortable for me, so I'm contemplating getting a 9cm stem so I can be on the hoods but in that position. I feel very well balanced like that, and there is less pressure on my hands.
How, if at all, will handling be affected by this? Specifically sprinting and descending? I prefer a more compact position (I'm sure I could use smaller frame comfortably) but I wonder if this might make the bike perform strangely.
My GF rides a 47cm Felt road bike. It came with a 85mm stem. She wanted more comfort so I fitted a zero ofset seat post, raised the bars a little and a 100mm adjustable stem! 😉
This brought her closer to the brake levers, raised her shoulders and still kept sufficient weight over the front wheel for stability, she is only 50kg.
I have a 10cm stem on my road bike, but I've started to hold the bars on the section where they transition to the hoods; in other words, closer to my body. This seems more comfortable for me, so I'm contemplating getting a 9cm stem so I can be on the hoods but in that position. I feel very well balanced like that, and there is less pressure on my hands.
How, if at all, will handling be affected by this? Specifically sprinting and descending? I prefer a more compact position (I'm sure I could use smaller frame comfortably) but I wonder if this might make the bike perform strangely.
Anyone changed to a shorter stem? Any issues?
The bike will react more to smaller inputs with a shorter stem than with a longer one. But with only a one cm change it likely will not bother you. A really short stem will make a bike very squirrely.
The bike will react more to smaller inputs with a shorter stem than with a longer one. But with only a one cm change it likely will not bother you. A really short stem will make a bike very squirrely.
That's what my intuition tells me. It's already a squirely bike, but I think I'll give it a try anyway. I can always go back to the 10cm.
I have a 10cm stem on my road bike, but I've started to hold the bars on the section where they transition to the hoods; in other words, closer to my body. This seems more comfortable for me, so I'm contemplating getting a 9cm stem so I can be on the hoods but in that position. I feel very well balanced like that, and there is less pressure on my hands.
How, if at all, will handling be affected by this? Specifically sprinting and descending? I prefer a more compact position (I'm sure I could use smaller frame comfortably) but I wonder if this might make the bike perform strangely.
Anyone changed to a shorter stem? Any issues?
I put a 100 stem on in lieu of a 130, on one of my bikes to lift some of the weight off my wrists. It worked fine. I does make the steering response a little more flighty, but I think once you are used to it, it's more different as opposed to being 'worse'.
