BenGeldreich

Hey Everyone!!

I recently upgraded from a 41/42 compact drop bars to a 44 Nitto noodle handlebar. I am in the process of converting my 1981 Bianchi touring bike into a more randonneuring bike. I am trying to decide which Nitto stem to purchase to go with the noodle. My old stem was a 110 3ttt quill stem which worked ok most of the time. I did find it a tad too long on longer rides and did experience some hand numbness on a few occasions. Now the noodles appear to have a longer reach to the hoods but a tad shorter to the middle of the bars. The new bars are wider and I will be mounting an Acorn handle bar bag on the front of the bike. So I was thinking that either an 80 or 90 mm Nitto stem should due the trick. I should mention that I did get a bike fit done on my Orbea bike and although it has a more aggressive drop than my Bianchi the stem is a straight 85mm stem.

Anyone have any thoughts, opinions or experience with noodles and stem lengths.

Thanks in advance
Ben

fietsbob

Myself, an old cycle touring guy, have a short reach but tall stem,
brake levers without brifters . ( Bar end shifters on wide bars..)

so the long ramp is not an issue..
I have always used drop bars of that general type..

Brifters are necessarily long , to make room for the shifter clockworks inside ..

If you have those and stay gripping the hoods, mostly,
you have to figure out if you like that reach.




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BenGeldreich

Thanks! I have never really thought about brifters being longer than normal hooded brakes, but that all makes sense. I'm gonna wait until my new Rando Bag arrives and see how it play with the brifters. That should help me decide what size stem to go with. I really appreciate the reply!