How do I know what size stem I need?

To measure your bike’s stem length, measure between the two vertical points above. The stem rise refers to the stem’s angle in degrees, relative to the fork steerer tube, and affects bike positioning and reach.

How are bike stems measured?

Stem length It is measured from the center of your steer tube to the center of your handlebar clamp along the central axis of your stem. Stem length typically ranges from 60mm to 150mm with some outliers in the extremes.

What is the diameter of a bike stem?

In recent years the “oversized” or 31.8mm stem clamp diameter has become the industry standard for both road and mountain handlebars. Older road handlebars commonly have a 26.0mm diameter, whereas older mountain bars usually have a 25.4mm diameter.

How long should my stem be?

As a rule of thumb, on a road bike you shouldn’t run a stem much shorter than 90mm or much longer than 130mm. If you need a stem length beyond those extremes, your bike frame is the wrong size.

Is 80mm stem too short?

The sweet spot is generally accepted as being 100mm to 120mm, but not everyone agrees. ‘It’s a bit of a cliché that a too-short stem will over-quicken the handling. ‘Needing a 70mm-80mm stem probably means bike sizing needs to be reviewed, but many riders are happy to ride a 70 or 80 or 90mm stem without difficulty.

Is it better to get a bigger or smaller bike frame?

Check your Ape Index If your arm span is longer than your height, go for a bigger frame. If it’s shorter, get the smaller one. On a bigger bike, the reach to the handlebars will be longer. If you have proportionally longer arms, you are likely to feel more comfortable on a bigger frame.

Are bike stems universal?

Yes, bike stems are universal. Where they connect to the handlebars is almost always the same width. Where it connects to the fork steering rod is the same width. So there is around a 95% chance that a bike stem will fit your bike.

Is 90mm stem too short?

To put a (rough) number to it, a long stem is 100-120mm, very long stems are 130mm or more, and anything less than 90mm can be considered a short stem. Most riders will quickly adapt to any stem length as long as it serves the reach they need.

Should I change my bike stem?

Changing the stem length not only impacts your fit and comfort, it affects the handling dynamics of a road bike. A shorter stem will result in snappier steering, a longer stem will produce slower steering. Adjusting the stem length can be used to tailor the handling.

Do pro cyclists use smaller frames?

In more modern times, pros often use a smaller frame that a similarly sized recreational rider because they want to ride a big drop to the handlebars. As head tubes continue to grow for a given frame size, pros are forced onto smaller frames to maintain their positions.

Is a 70mm stem too short?

A short stem will effect handling by making your bike feel twitchier. 70mm is quite short but unless you’re riding a technical course, it is doable. Having a short torso, I ofetn have to resort to 70 and 80 cm stems. The bike can handle well with a short stem, but it takes practice.

How do you find the angle of a stem?

To measure the angle of a stem, we place the stem on a horizontal surface and measure the angle that the stem rises above the horizontal. Because most treadless stems are reversible, a stem with a 10° rise could be flipped around to serve as a stem with a 10° drop.