matimeo

Wasn't sure where to post this but figured here since I mostly ride to commute.

I am coming to the conclusion that I need to raise the handlebars on my new cyclocross bike. I am getting terrible stiff upper shoulders/lower neck after even a short 5 mile ride. I have really tried to make sure I'm not locking elbows, doing grip of death, etc. when riding. I think I'm just leaning too far forward and down- too much pressure on upper body, not taking enough with through the seat or able to use lower back muscles to support my torso. Best I can tell, a small rise in the bars, bring them even or slightly higher than the seat will alleviate this problem.

So I've searched the forums to understand options and come down to either a stem riser or adjustable stem- probably the one Richey makes. I bob back and forth between options. I can see pros and cons of both. Any advice on which is a better option?

I'll edit my original post here with updates of pros and cons to keep everything organized:

Adjustable Stem
Pros:
1. Have more control over angle and final height
Cons:
1. Potentially creaky

Riser
Pros:

Cons:
1. Less adjustment ability (with the angle)

Steely Dan

i've got a Forte adjustable stem on my newish hybrid. i got it because i needed a longer stem anyway for a proper fit and i wanted to play around a bit with the angle. now that i have the angle i like dialed in, i'll probably get a rigid stem of the same length and angle at some point down the road. the adjustable stem isn't bad or anything, but when i'm up out of the saddle hammering hard on the bike, i can hear some creaks coming from the adjustable stem even though it's very firmly tightened. i don't like creaks.

Rob_E

3rd option: new front fork with longer tube?

I haven't tried a stem riser, at least not yet. I think there's a project in the hopper that will call for one. But it seems like that's the solution to your problem. If you wanted to mess around with different angles, that's what I used my adjustable stem for. Once I figured out where I wanted the bars to be, I got a non-adjustable stem. I was also having a problem where I couldn't eliminate the wobble from my adjustable stem. I don't know if that's common or not, but I figure an adjustable stem just gives you one extra potential fail point that serves no function if you're not adjusting it. If folks have had luck with the stem riser, then that is how I'd go.

ShinyBiker

A couple of pros with the adjustable stem:

-You can lower it further if you want to have an "aero" day.
-If you ever sell the bike, adjustable stem is a selling point in that the new owner can adjust the stem to his/her liking.

Sixty Fiver

I use adjustable stems to dial in the right position then swap them for a rigid stem although on something like a touring bike the adjust ability can be nice when you want to change things up to change position a little.

Andy_K 

If you're ever going to use the bike for cyclocross, the adjustable stem may be risky, but otherwise it's probably the way to go.

Short of paying for a full bike fit, it can be really hard to guess what size stem you're going to need. The adjustable stem isn't perfect -- it still limits you to a specific arc -- but it will definitely get you in the right balpark.

If you have the funds available, a bike fit may be worth the money. Sunset Cycles does a "comfort" fit for $45 + parts, which sounds like all you'd need.

ibis_ti

Specialized multi stem? +/- 16 degrees in 2 degree increments.

Sundance89

(Stem Riser)




(Ajustable Stem)

Cross bikes have very short head tubes. I have a 64 cm frame (seat tube) on my Cross, but it only has a 165mm head tube. That's pretty short for a frame that size.

I like the Ritchie Adjustable Stem. It is the most secure design IMO, but I should warn you, it is NOT as quickly adjusted as most other designs. If you decide on getting the Ritchie, post again or PM me and I can run you through how to do it. It's pretty simple actually, aside from having to take it off to adjust it. The trade off is a rock solid design though.

matimeo

I have been mulling this over. Possibly considering the stem below that has a 35 degree rise. An online stem calculator says that will give me an additional 1.7 inches of rise. That should be just the right amount and I can save my money for something a little more solid than an adjustable stem. Maybe I'll be sorry for not trying adjustable first but I'm thinking this is a good solution.

https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...ucts_id=420949

MK313

I use the stem riser that sundance pictured on one of my bikes & I love it. It's been rock solid for me so far.

fietsbob

I did Both, Bought a BBB Stem raiser, It's an internal quill , and so I got to move
the Stock Adjustable stem, on my 04 Koga Miyata Trekking bike.

Special center bolt is internally threaded for the threadless headset top cap .

Bike Mine got the US distribution Contract for the NL based BBB company.

Hippiebrian

I bought an adjustable stem and almost immediately went with a fixed 35 degree fixed stem. The adjustable one, no matter how tight it was, would wiggle a bit when pulled on driving me nuts! The fixed one obviously doesn't, and positioned the handlebars just a hair higher than the seat. Works great!

El Duderino X

There's also the NVO option:

https://www.nvocomponents.com/

Dahon is offering an adjustable version (Dahon Axis Stem) on a couple of their bikes.