What length stem should I choose, everything remaining equal?
01-08-21, 12:58 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
What length stem should I choose, everything remaining equal?
I have ordered a Lynskey gr300 LARGE gravel frame and I am ordering a Lynskey stem to go with it.
Based on the stem I ride on my current bike, I want to estimate what size Lynskey stem I should order.
The road bike dimensions are pretty similar to the Lynskey. Here are some facts:
- Road bike has an effective top-tube length of 58.2cm
Lynskey has an effective top-tube length of 58cm
- Road bike head-angle is 73.5degrees
Lynskey head-angle is 71degrees
- Road bike has a seat-tube (c-t) of 54cm
Lynskey has a seat-tube (c-t) of 53cm
- Road bike has a stack of 61cm
Lynskey has a stack of 61.5cm
I use a 100mm stem on the road bike. I wonder whether a rule of thumb for such a situation would be to go 10mm shorter on a stem for the gravel bike. Am I right?
Based on the stem I ride on my current bike, I want to estimate what size Lynskey stem I should order.
The road bike dimensions are pretty similar to the Lynskey. Here are some facts:
- Road bike has an effective top-tube length of 58.2cm
Lynskey has an effective top-tube length of 58cm
- Road bike head-angle is 73.5degrees
Lynskey head-angle is 71degrees
- Road bike has a seat-tube (c-t) of 54cm
Lynskey has a seat-tube (c-t) of 53cm
- Road bike has a stack of 61cm
Lynskey has a stack of 61.5cm
I use a 100mm stem on the road bike. I wonder whether a rule of thumb for such a situation would be to go 10mm shorter on a stem for the gravel bike. Am I right?
01-08-21, 09:02 AM
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Southeastern PA
Posts: 294
Bikes: Niner RLT RDO, Trek Remedy 9.8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 108 Post(s)
Liked 117 Times
in
70 Posts
Use an online tool like www.bikeinsights.com to get dialed in.
Likes For tdilf:
01-08-21, 09:09 AM
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,610
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10955 Post(s)
Liked 7,484 Times
in
4,186 Posts
I for sure havent read that gravel should have a shorter stem just because its a different category.
Personally, I use whatever stem length and angle needed to get me comfortable. My gravel bike is a road bike that I use on unpaved roads- so I have the reach to my hoods basically the same as my road bikes, relative to my saddle height too.
Also, stem length depends on handlebar and brake hood geometry. Handlebars have different reach, and new hydraulic hoods are longer than cable road hoods. These both need to be considered when looking at overall bike fit. And if you have the bars and levers you want, then the only component available to adjust to get the fit you want is your stem. Maybe it needs to be 70mm or 110mm.
Personally, I use whatever stem length and angle needed to get me comfortable. My gravel bike is a road bike that I use on unpaved roads- so I have the reach to my hoods basically the same as my road bikes, relative to my saddle height too.
Also, stem length depends on handlebar and brake hood geometry. Handlebars have different reach, and new hydraulic hoods are longer than cable road hoods. These both need to be considered when looking at overall bike fit. And if you have the bars and levers you want, then the only component available to adjust to get the fit you want is your stem. Maybe it needs to be 70mm or 110mm.
01-08-21, 04:21 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Stillwater, OK
Posts: 7,827
Mentioned: 33 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1872 Post(s)
Liked 692 Times
in
468 Posts
Definitely use an online calculator to get an idea for the equivalent stem you'd need for the same reach. And, yes, I too find myself creating a slightly higher and shorter stack/reach for my dedicated gravel bike vs. my road bike.
__________________
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
2014 Cannondale SuperSix EVO 2
2019 Salsa Warbird
Likes For shoota:
01-08-21, 04:40 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,903
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4803 Post(s)
Liked 3,927 Times
in
2,553 Posts
We need one more fact. Seat tube angles. (Head tube angle makes no difference here).
What I can see from your specs is that the Lynsky has the top of its headtube 1/2 cm higher. That the top tubes are 2 mm different ie the same. But,those top tubes start at the seat tube. Where that is depends on the seat tube angle.
Now, in jest - the answer is 120 mm -17 degrees. Because both Eddy Merckx and God rode those stems. When I was racing we all knew that.
What I can see from your specs is that the Lynsky has the top of its headtube 1/2 cm higher. That the top tubes are 2 mm different ie the same. But,those top tubes start at the seat tube. Where that is depends on the seat tube angle.
Now, in jest - the answer is 120 mm -17 degrees. Because both Eddy Merckx and God rode those stems. When I was racing we all knew that.
Likes For 79pmooney:
01-08-21, 07:27 PM
#6
Newbie
Thread Starter
One more fact then:
- Road bike has a seat-tube angle of 73degrees
Lynskey has a seat-tube angle of 73degrees, too.
I tried the bikeinsights calculator but without much luck. I should probably take a second look at it.
My Kestrel 200SCI (58cm c-t) has a 120mm stem like Eddy Merckx and God, alas it is only 80degrees (-10degrees?).
- Road bike has a seat-tube angle of 73degrees
Lynskey has a seat-tube angle of 73degrees, too.
I tried the bikeinsights calculator but without much luck. I should probably take a second look at it.
My Kestrel 200SCI (58cm c-t) has a 120mm stem like Eddy Merckx and God, alas it is only 80degrees (-10degrees?).
01-08-21, 09:10 PM
#7
Newbie
Thread Starter
After a second look at bikeinsights calculator I've got the road bike frame from my original post superimposed on the Lynskey gr300 frame.
What exactly should I be looking for to guide my stem length choice?
What exactly should I be looking for to guide my stem length choice?
01-08-21, 09:47 PM
#8
Guest
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,888
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1346 Post(s)
Liked 3,270 Times
in
1,439 Posts
If you don't have a drawer full of stems yet, you might as well get started; all the calculations in the world are no substitute for trying them. I've got 60mm -100mm in at least two rises of each. I generally choose shorter and taller for gravel.
Likes For Rolla:
01-15-21, 09:43 AM
#10
Junior Member
Of if you're getting the bike from a good shop, they should let you swap. I got a Moots RSL. Tried a 110 and immediately told them it was too long, they swapped for 100mm and that was perfect. No charge to swap (enve stem).
01-15-21, 10:57 PM
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
Thanks for the suggestion 'xseal'. In fact, Lynskey have said that if the 90mm stem I have ordered is not the correct size, then I can return it and swap if for a better fitting one.
01-16-21, 05:11 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,468
Bikes: Co-Motion Cappuccino Tandem,'88 Bob Jackson Touring, Co-Motion Cascadia Touring, Open U.P., Ritchie Titanium Breakaway, Frances Cycles SmallHaul cargo bike. Those are the permanent ones; others wander in and out of the stable occasionally as well.
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 339 Times
in
229 Posts
We use this tool at our shop to compare two different stems. Stem Comparison Tool | yojimg.net Very simple and can compare reqch an height change quickiy.
01-16-21, 06:36 PM
#13
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,610
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10955 Post(s)
Liked 7,484 Times
in
4,186 Posts
We use this tool at our shop to compare two different stems. Stem Comparison Tool | yojimg.net Very simple and can compare reqch an height change quickiy.
01-16-21, 07:13 PM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,468
Bikes: Co-Motion Cappuccino Tandem,'88 Bob Jackson Touring, Co-Motion Cascadia Touring, Open U.P., Ritchie Titanium Breakaway, Frances Cycles SmallHaul cargo bike. Those are the permanent ones; others wander in and out of the stable occasionally as well.
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 339 Times
in
229 Posts
Take a look; you can figure it out in less than a minute. Basically for a given bike you can compare rise and reach of 2 different stems to compare before and after. If you write down a few things you could change the HTA for a different bike and put in different stem dimensions to get net bar position you want.
The link above did not work for some reason for me.
The link above did not work for some reason for me.
