MTB Stem length/Set up

[shadowchaser-d]

Ok so i am new to the mnt biking thing.  Finished building up my 29er but i just can't seem to get the set up correct.  Someone mentioned that you should ride a "short" stem and that the saddle height should be lower than that of your road bike.  Should you have spacers between your stem and frame?  My seat post has a "lay back" is that correct?

[Bos]

That all depends dude, how tall are you? I have no spacers under my stem and I ride with a 100mm turned upside down when racing, for everyday trailriding I might turn it right way up but I find I get so used to do the jumps and drops with the stem that way that I dont bother. However sometimes I put a short 70mm stem on and the bike suddenly feels like a toy, much more flickable. I can extend my fork aswel, which lifts the front even more. nice for trail not nice for climbing and longer distances. <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

as for seat height, Mines about the same as my roadbike

 but I have a 90mm stem on my roadbike and would probably not mind a 80mm.

 

Im 1.81m tall and have longer legs and a slightly shorter torso.

I ride a L bike with the seatpost al the way out.

 

Heres two pictures of my bike with the sus extended and short stem, trail mode, and another of me at the xterra, low stem and fork on 90mm travel.

 

[Bos]

[Bos]

Point being, what kind of riding do you want to do? what size are you?

Comfort and optimum performance is 2 different things. Mabe with the setback seatpost you can go for a shorter stem, as a long one wil just streach you out.

 

One of the old test methods are. On a mtb, sit on your bike while leaning your shoulder against a doorframe, when looking down at your front wheel, you should be able to see the hub about halfway down your stem on your roadbike the hub should be right behind the Handlebar.

 

Have I got that right?

[shadowchaser-d]

thanks Bos.  I about 184cm, my road bike is a 57cm with a 110 stem and seat post extended quite some.  Because of the 29er wheels and angles on frame it would seem  that i need to turn the stem (110) around, as right now it seems to be angled up.  I am more into my road bike racing but could see myself getting into the mnt bike scene, so would prefer more "racing" type set up.....i could be wrong but that is what i think i would like.  The only bike shop in my area that has/had any knowledge on mnting has closed, so i am kind of just trying to figure it out on my own. 

[shadowchaser-d]

My fork travel is set on 100mm

[Bos]

Ok, I see. Ya, since youre onley getting started on the MTB, you might want to set your Mtb up like your roadbike(or find you tend to want to do this) but Like you guessed, there is quite some differences. the pro marathon  racers  Kevin Evans style ride a MTB that resemble a roadbike with knoblys, I think he uses a flipped 120mm stem and I think he is about 1.7m,  and a flat bar. but I think If you were to try this you wil find negotiating singletrack and steep dropofs  difficult. rather start with a shorter stem and a low rise bar. Burry stander Uses a lowrise bar and much shorter stem than Kevin, Different strokes, obviously, but It shows that personal preferance Is key. Perkaps that explains why burry Is so fast on singletrack, he rides a rizerbar. It makes a huge differance.

 

Dont try anything only once, You wil get used to annything in a while.