MTB - Shorter Stems the way to go?

[cadenceblur]

i've gone from 100mm (with a rise)720mm bars to 60mm (no rise)- 785mm bars - was too much I think - experienced back pain.

Now on a 80mm stem (with a rise)and bars cut to 760mm

[Louis for real]

How is it on the up hills.

miles better especially on technical climbs-more leverage to make that front wheel go where it needs to... but like hairy mentioned you do need to allow yourself time to adjust to be able to *cut in and make that turn by 1mm technique*

[RockCoach]

mine was 740mm I cut them down to 720mm,the longer ones don't like trees on the singletrack here in KZN. You will be playing bumper cars with the trees here.

 

My 765mm don't have any problems with he Kzn trees.

 

Even though my stem is 40mm short I don't have any problem with keeping weight on the front up climbs. In fact that's why you use wider bars to pull your weight a bit more forward. And the width gives you much more leverage to push and pull while standing.

 

[Bizkit031]

miles better especially on technical climbs-more leverage to make that front wheel go where it needs to... but like hairy mentioned you do need to allow yourself time to adjust to be able to *cut in and make that turn by 1mm technique*

Are you on a 26er

[Bizkit031]

 

 

My 765mm don't have any problems with he Kzn trees.

 

Even though my stem is 40mm short I don't have any problem with keeping weight on the front up climbs. In fact that's why you use wider bars to pull your weight a bit more forward. And the width gives you much more leverage to push and pull while standing.

Are you on a 26 er?

[Hairy]

The other thing ... if your bike has a relatively short Top Tube for YOU the rider while using a longish stem, then going short stem is not neccesarily the best thing to do ... not saying don't try it, but from past experience it gave me the feeling of wanting to go over the bars and not being able to push in from behind on the front wheel, my saddle ended up slammed all the way back on the rails, screwed up my pedaling and ended up with hammy and back pain. Went back to a medium length stem and all was fine afterwards.

 

My next bike will be a large frame and the 50mm stem with the 780mm bars should be spot on in terms of reach and feel ..... I hope so at least

 

So the short story ... not all bike/rider combo's will benefit from short (50mm and less) stems

[Louis for real]

Are you on a 26er

yup giant trancex but even on a 29 it would make sense to try...

[Bizkit031]

The other thing ... if your bike has a relatively short Top Tube for YOU the rider while using a longish stem, then going short stem is not neccesarily the best thing to do ... not saying don't try it, but from past experience it gave me the feeling of wanting to go over the bars and not being able to push in from behind on the front wheel, my saddle ended up slammed all the way back on the rails, screwed up my pedaling and ended up with hammy and back pain. Went back to a medium length stem and all was fine afterwards.

 

My next bike will be a large frame and the 50mm stem with the 780mm bars should be spot on in terms of reach and feel ..... I hope so at least

 

So the short story ... not all bike/rider combo's will benefit from short (50mm and less) stems This is what I thought,my top tube is not very long so that might be a problem. I am gonna be cramped up.Im on a 29er large frame so think I must stay with my setup.

[Hairy]

Marius?

 

Agree or disagree, missed your post as it was edited ... no gripe, just curious

[popcorn_skollie]

I'm short so 50mm stem and 720 bars are on both my bikes. Works best for me. Only difference between the hardtail and the dual is where i position the spacers.

 

Oh and my dual is a riser whereas my hardtail is flatbar

[Bizkit031]

Marius?

 

Agree or disagree, missed your post as it was edited ... no gripe, just curious

Sorry Hairy dumb ass moment there,I think that with my current setup if I go shorter on the stem I am going sit too cramped up so might have to stay as I am. I am on a large 29er FS but my top tube is not long by current standards. Only problem I have is when cornering I really have to weight the front down quite a bit.

[RockCoach]

Are you on a 26 er?

 

Yes.

 

The top tube isn't super long for me but it feels right for reach at anything between 40 and 80mm. It's just that the directness of the handling is sublime with the shorter stem.

[Mr X]

I have noticed many xc pro riders using very long negative rise stems on 29ers. This might be to get better 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, and at their speeds wind resistance has an effect, or maybe none of these, its just something I have noticed.

[goya-goya]

Guys.... Let's forget about whether you have the incorrect sized frame for a moment..

If I assume you are fitted "correctly" and you want a shorter stem? To keep the same body position you will need wider bars.

 

Wider bars=more leverage=easier to turn(unless you're reaching)

Shorter stem=more twitchy=direct feel(unless you're reaching)

 

There is no harm in trying any setup.. I ride 70mm stem with 560mm bars on a 29er and based on not just my inseam... But my torso length and arm length... It's comfortable and handles like a dream.

 

No one can tell you to increase your bar width, or changing to a riser bar is the answer without understanding your riding position... Your bike ...your flexability... Your body..

 

 

[ScottCM]

What a massive difference.

 

Last year when RoboDog suggested i go shorter and wider at one of his skills lessons i didn't imagine the difference would be so dramatic.

 

Yes it was only one ride and yes it was a commute home over a could of fields and not the trails, but man it just feels awesome. i had been for a cyclefit setup and they told me although my bar was a little bit narrow my stem was fine, hence my procrastination.

 

So spec wise i went from a 110mm Stem down to a 70mm, and 640mm with 15mm ride handlebar to a 750mm with a 15mm Rise bar.

 

I always felt stretched out and cramped up, while descending my weight felt as though it was pushing over the axis of my front wheel instead of through it, causing an Over The Bars sensation regularly. Last night as i got to the second last block to my house i came through the field and as i climbed off the pavement there was a brick in the road just at the right place to test my new gear out. Needless to say my front wheel landed with pin point accuracy between the curb and the brick, with my forward and descending momentum while my front wheel was anchored my rear wheel went vertical. this would definitely have ended up OTB normally while my cleats were still clipped in, but not this time. I was able some how (Pure luck i think as i don't posses the skills) to push my weight through the bar and front wheel to get some control and then came back down on my rear wheel HARD, luckily i unclipped and no injury was caused to me or my ego. I did however buckle the rear rim, no spokes broke so i'm hoping that the LBS can true it back for me.

[RockCoach]

What a massive difference.

 

Last year when RoboDog suggested i go shorter and wider at one of his skills lessons i didn't imagine the difference would be so dramatic.

 

Yes it was only one ride and yes it was a commute home over a could of fields and not the trails, but man it just feels awesome. i had been for a cyclefit setup and they told me although my bar was a little bit narrow my stem was fine, hence my procrastination.

 

So spec wise i went from a 110mm Stem down to a 70mm, and 640mm with 15mm ride handlebar to a 750mm with a 15mm Rise bar.

 

I always felt stretched out and cramped up, while descending my weight felt as though it was pushing over the axis of my front wheel instead of through it, causing an Over The Bars sensation regularly. Last night as i got to the second last block to my house i came through the field and as i climbed off the pavement there was a brick in the road just at the right place to test my new gear out. Needless to say my front wheel landed with pin point accuracy between the curb and the brick, with my forward and descending momentum while my front wheel was anchored my rear wheel went vertical. this would definitely have ended up OTB normally while my cleats were still clipped in, but not this time. I was able some how (Pure luck i think as i don't posses the skills) to push my weight through the bar and front wheel to get some control and then came back down on my rear wheel HARD, luckily i unclipped and no injury was caused to me or my ego. I did however buckle the rear rim, no spokes broke so i'm hoping that the LBS can true it back for me.

 

Hey dude, glad to hear that you finally got your bars and stem.

 

Sorry you buckled a wheel but at least saved some skin. Wheels should handle that kind of impact though.