Road Bike Stem Length Calculator

Tri bike fit protocol to generate.

Road bike stem length calculator. Some manufacturers specify different length stems in relation to the frame size to try and offer the best fit. That makes a big difference in the choice of head tube length and stem angle. 17 for a 7 shaped stem. To calculate the effect of raising a stem add 0 96cm of rise for every 1 0cm of quill or steer tube you expose and subtract 0 30cm of reach.

Measure center of the stem binder bolt to the center of the bars. All contents licensed under a creative commons attribution noncommercial share alike 3 0 license unless noted otherwise creative commons attribution noncommercial share alike 3 0 license unless noted otherwise. So to arrive at stem angle add the head tube angle to the extension angle from the chart and you ll have a number that most bike shops can use. Stem angle record the stem angle from horizontal.

The calculator above is designed to help fitters trained in the f i s t. We visited oli beckingsale of bw cycling in bristol to find out more about steam length and reach. Bike fit for road cycling can be complex. Plug in actual stem pitch.

Sometimes you might need to customise the stem length yourself though. In the stem is downward sloping record as a negative number. But mountain bikers change stem length depending on the handling. I use a 9 10cm drop from the saddle to the bars while others my size only have a 5cm drop.

6 for 6 down from perpendicular 6 for 6 up. When road cyclists think about stem length we tend to only take into account the effect it has on our position on the bike. 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. Write 0 the number zero for an extension perpendicular to the steerer.

Stem length does have an impact based upon the length of the stem on steering efficiency and speed of steering reaction that is why mountain bikes and particularly downhillers use a very short stem it has to do with the turn arc similar to why on old cars without power steering and tractors have a large radius steering wheel and why formula 1 cars have a small stubby steering wheel it. Especially on shorter stems hold angle finder so it is parallel to stem angle. Generally speaking stem lengths on road bikes vary from 80 to 140mm with 100 to 110mm perhaps the most common sizes. 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.