Road Bike Ideal Stem Length
The most important consideration when choosing a road stem is the stem length considered as a key factor in the overall fit of the bike.
Road bike ideal stem length. Find your ideal bicycle saddle part 1 duration. As a rule of thumb on a road bike you shouldn t run a stem much shorter than 90mm or much longer than 130mm. Nowhere in the study of bicycle dynamics or frame design is the stem length discussed. Sometimes you might need to customise the stem length yourself though.
When road cyclists think about stem length we tend to only take into account the effect it has on our position on the bike. If you need a stem length beyond those extremes your bike frame is the wrong size. Competitive racers will opt for a longer 120mm stem for optimum stretch. The steering of a bike is dictated by the head angle and trail but the length of.
Stem length does not affect handling of a bike. Bike fit for road cycling can be complex. Riders looking to achieve a long low and aerodynamic position on the bike e g. It must also address the rider s comfort biomechanics performance needs and the steering and handling of the bike.
Stem length dictates how much weight is placed on the front wheel. A proper bike fit has more to do with the saddle handlebars brake levers and hoods stem and most importantly shoes cleats and pedals. This may explain why dan and i disagree on ideal stem length for road. The longer the stem the more weight will be pushing forward on the bars making the bike more stable at high speeds.
Some manufacturers specify different length stems in relation to the frame size to try and offer the best fit. Generally speaking stem lengths on road bikes vary from 80 to 140mm with 100 to 110mm perhaps the most common sizes. The rise angle of stem from fork to bar has quite a large effect. Good bike shops will be very helpful in helping you get the right stem length on your new bike or buying a new stem doesn t have to cost a lot of money.
This size specific approach goes a long way to getting you set up with the correct stem length providing you ve chosen the right size frame another area where a bike fit comes in useful. This can however make for a less responsive feel. Stem length affects the level of comfort for the rider. Oli beckingsale of bw cycling about reach and stem length.