How to decide what stem to get
#1
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How to decide what stem to get
I have had my bike for a little over a month and while I enjoy it very much , I want to get a different stem so I am little more upright and my weight is more in the saddle , currently with the reach that it is I should be further out or little more upright for my back , the current angle just doesn’t seem correct
so I would chose to be more upright.
the challenge is what rise and length should I get on the stem?
I have a trek fx 3 size large , the default stem is 100 mm in length and 7 degree rise ..
trek has one that is 17 degree rise and 90mm but not sure if it will be better enough ?
would shops let me try different ones , prior to purchasing one ?
( I would let the shop set them up , I’m not handy or want to be in this matter)
I don’t want to spend money on a bike fit Bc I only ride 45-60 min for exercise typically
so I would chose to be more upright.
the challenge is what rise and length should I get on the stem?
I have a trek fx 3 size large , the default stem is 100 mm in length and 7 degree rise ..
trek has one that is 17 degree rise and 90mm but not sure if it will be better enough ?
would shops let me try different ones , prior to purchasing one ?
( I would let the shop set them up , I’m not handy or want to be in this matter)
I don’t want to spend money on a bike fit Bc I only ride 45-60 min for exercise typically
Last edited by Awesomeguy; 11-24-20 at 05:27 PM.
#3
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Going from a 7 deg rise to a 17 deg rise (without changing the length) will shorten the reach as well as raise the bars. Going with a 90 will shorten it more.
Take a look at this stem fit chart: https://www.habcycles.com/fitting.html
Take a look at this stem fit chart: https://www.habcycles.com/fitting.html
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I've tried both of these:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B072BYZM4T?...p_mob_ap_share
This one was my favorite because you can angle it up by 60 degrees.
Take a look at this one in the 32mm length. You'll like the more comfortable reach and faster handling:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HHY8R4H?...p_mob_ap_share
Personally I preferred the adjustable one because this 32mm stem still wasn't enough to compensate for the absurdly long reach on my old XC bike.
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B072BYZM4T?...p_mob_ap_share
This one was my favorite because you can angle it up by 60 degrees.
Take a look at this one in the 32mm length. You'll like the more comfortable reach and faster handling:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HHY8R4H?...p_mob_ap_share
Personally I preferred the adjustable one because this 32mm stem still wasn't enough to compensate for the absurdly long reach on my old XC bike.
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Trigonometry is your friend.
#8
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Have you thought about a stem riser? Although bike shops might not let you swap out brand new stems out of their boxes for you to try without buying, you can probably ask to sit on other bikes with higher bars and use them to measure how tall they are and close to the seat. You can also move the seat forward if you haven't done that already.
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Have you thought about a stem riser? Although bike shops might not let you swap out brand new stems out of their boxes for you to try without buying, you can probably ask to sit on other bikes with higher bars and use them to measure how tall they are and close to the seat. You can also move the seat forward if you haven't done that already.
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#10
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I have had my bike for a little over a month and while I enjoy it very much , I want to get a different stem so I am little more upright and my weight is more in the saddle , currently with the reach that it is I should be further out or little more upright for my back , the current angle just doesn’t seem correct
so I would chose to be more upright.
the challenge is what rise and length should I get on the stem?
I have a trek fx 3 size large , the default stem is 100 mm in length and 7 degree rise ..
trek has one that is 17 degree rise and 90mm but not sure if it will be better enough ?
so I would chose to be more upright.
the challenge is what rise and length should I get on the stem?
I have a trek fx 3 size large , the default stem is 100 mm in length and 7 degree rise ..
trek has one that is 17 degree rise and 90mm but not sure if it will be better enough ?
EDIT: I checked Trek's website. Your handlebar is probably 31.8mm.
Last edited by Reflector Guy; 11-25-20 at 06:45 AM.
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#12
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Get a bike fit (and yes I saw your comment) seriously. It is not about racing or being a professional cyclist at all. It is purely about getting you more comfortable on your bike and if that is not appealing to you, there is no stem that will magically help. You could have a whole host of other issues on the bike and maybe the stem isn't one of them maybe your saddle position is off on the seatpost or the seatpost is off as well or something else and rather than guessing be accurate. Trust me I am not a professional cyclist and I don't really ride nearly as much as I should but I cannot recommend getting a proper dynamic fit enough. It really made me more comfortable on my bikes and dialed everything in properly. No more knee pain for me and a lot less foot pain and more comfortable position. Granted I set up my bikes initially so back pain isn't so much of an issue and neither is neck pain but I do suffer from chronic back pain normally.
The only people I might not recommend getting a bike fit are those who literally ride a few times a year and not because of any pain or improper fitting of the bike. If you are riding regularly it can improve things greatly and plus a stem is $40-300, a fit is around $200 average. It is decent money if you look at it once but if you say ride twice week for 32 weeks and have the bike for 3 years that is about $1 per ride. Imagine if I asked you "would you pay $1 per ride to be more comfortable on your bike?" would you do it and if I also said "that you could be comfortable on your next bike and any other bikes you might own without more cost necessarily" would that make it easier?
We tend to think of things as a one time cost and if that one time cost is high we will scoff but if it allows us to use an item better or get more enjoyment out of life and is not just a one time use thing and will not provide lasting memories we should better embrace it. Obviously there are limits if you truly don't have the money and couldn't save the money or shouldn't save the money because you are in a dire financial strait or coming into one, then yeah maybe don't get a bike fit. However if you regularly go to a coffee place and get more pricey coffee drinks or drive a less efficient automobile a lot for pleasurable trips or eat out at restaurants or take out, surely you could save up a few bucks here and there and get a fit pretty easily. Trust when you do save that money you will be happy you did. A proper professional dynamic fit can really be a game changer.
The only people I might not recommend getting a bike fit are those who literally ride a few times a year and not because of any pain or improper fitting of the bike. If you are riding regularly it can improve things greatly and plus a stem is $40-300, a fit is around $200 average. It is decent money if you look at it once but if you say ride twice week for 32 weeks and have the bike for 3 years that is about $1 per ride. Imagine if I asked you "would you pay $1 per ride to be more comfortable on your bike?" would you do it and if I also said "that you could be comfortable on your next bike and any other bikes you might own without more cost necessarily" would that make it easier?
We tend to think of things as a one time cost and if that one time cost is high we will scoff but if it allows us to use an item better or get more enjoyment out of life and is not just a one time use thing and will not provide lasting memories we should better embrace it. Obviously there are limits if you truly don't have the money and couldn't save the money or shouldn't save the money because you are in a dire financial strait or coming into one, then yeah maybe don't get a bike fit. However if you regularly go to a coffee place and get more pricey coffee drinks or drive a less efficient automobile a lot for pleasurable trips or eat out at restaurants or take out, surely you could save up a few bucks here and there and get a fit pretty easily. Trust when you do save that money you will be happy you did. A proper professional dynamic fit can really be a game changer.
#13
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Thread Starter
Get a bike fit (and yes I saw your comment) seriously. It is not about racing or being a professional cyclist at all. It is purely about getting you more comfortable on your bike and if that is not appealing to you, there is no stem that will magically help. You could have a whole host of other issues on the bike and maybe the stem isn't one of them maybe your saddle position is off on the seatpost or the seatpost is off as well or something else and rather than guessing be accurate. Trust me I am not a professional cyclist and I don't really ride nearly as much as I should but I cannot recommend getting a proper dynamic fit enough. It really made me more comfortable on my bikes and dialed everything in properly. No more knee pain for me and a lot less foot pain and more comfortable position. Granted I set up my bikes initially so back pain isn't so much of an issue and neither is neck pain but I do suffer from chronic back pain normally.
The only people I might not recommend getting a bike fit are those who literally ride a few times a year and not because of any pain or improper fitting of the bike. If you are riding regularly it can improve things greatly and plus a stem is $40-300, a fit is around $200 average. It is decent money if you look at it once but if you say ride twice week for 32 weeks and have the bike for 3 years that is about $1 per ride. Imagine if I asked you "would you pay $1 per ride to be more comfortable on your bike?" would you do it and if I also said "that you could be comfortable on your next bike and any other bikes you might own without more cost necessarily" would that make it easier?
We tend to think of things as a one time cost and if that one time cost is high we will scoff but if it allows us to use an item better or get more enjoyment out of life and is not just a one time use thing and will not provide lasting memories we should better embrace it. Obviously there are limits if you truly don't have the money and couldn't save the money or shouldn't save the money because you are in a dire financial strait or coming into one, then yeah maybe don't get a bike fit. However if you regularly go to a coffee place and get more pricey coffee drinks or drive a less efficient automobile a lot for pleasurable trips or eat out at restaurants or take out, surely you could save up a few bucks here and there and get a fit pretty easily. Trust when you do save that money you will be happy you did. A proper professional dynamic fit can really be a game changer.
The only people I might not recommend getting a bike fit are those who literally ride a few times a year and not because of any pain or improper fitting of the bike. If you are riding regularly it can improve things greatly and plus a stem is $40-300, a fit is around $200 average. It is decent money if you look at it once but if you say ride twice week for 32 weeks and have the bike for 3 years that is about $1 per ride. Imagine if I asked you "would you pay $1 per ride to be more comfortable on your bike?" would you do it and if I also said "that you could be comfortable on your next bike and any other bikes you might own without more cost necessarily" would that make it easier?
We tend to think of things as a one time cost and if that one time cost is high we will scoff but if it allows us to use an item better or get more enjoyment out of life and is not just a one time use thing and will not provide lasting memories we should better embrace it. Obviously there are limits if you truly don't have the money and couldn't save the money or shouldn't save the money because you are in a dire financial strait or coming into one, then yeah maybe don't get a bike fit. However if you regularly go to a coffee place and get more pricey coffee drinks or drive a less efficient automobile a lot for pleasurable trips or eat out at restaurants or take out, surely you could save up a few bucks here and there and get a fit pretty easily. Trust when you do save that money you will be happy you did. A proper professional dynamic fit can really be a game changer.
2. if the bike fit will provide me measurements for any future purchases , does it carry over to any type of bike I may get, (I.e road bike, hybrid , mountain etc ?
3. does the bike fit have to happen for each bike I get?
4. is it better to get a bike fit prior to purchasing a bike ?
5. I want to find a bike fitter that is also a physical therapist , what would they charge?
also I ride about 40 miles a week, 10 miles per session
#14
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You can always carry over your fit to a new bike. One way to do this is taking pictures of your fitted bike and using photoshop to superimpose image of new bike to see what adjustments you're going to make to the new bike.
You'll also need to use exactly the same saddle of your fitted bike to the new bike.
You'll also need to use exactly the same saddle of your fitted bike to the new bike.
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1. so when you get a bike fit , is the fit specific to your bike , or will the cyclist get measurements such that I will know all the measurements for any future bikes I may get and not have to get a bike fit for each bike I may purchase ?
2. if the bike fit will provide me measurements for any future purchases , does it carry over to any type of bike I may get, (I.e road bike, hybrid , mountain etc ?
3. does the bike fit have to happen for each bike I get?
4. is it better to get a bike fit prior to purchasing a bike ?
5. I want to find a bike fitter that is also a physical therapist , what would they charge?
also I ride about 40 miles a week, 10 miles per session
2. if the bike fit will provide me measurements for any future purchases , does it carry over to any type of bike I may get, (I.e road bike, hybrid , mountain etc ?
3. does the bike fit have to happen for each bike I get?
4. is it better to get a bike fit prior to purchasing a bike ?
5. I want to find a bike fitter that is also a physical therapist , what would they charge?
also I ride about 40 miles a week, 10 miles per session
Going from drop bar road/gravel bikes to flat bar hybrids and street bikes, the fit will be pretty much the same as far as the saddle position, but the bar position will be a little different, obviously. A good fitter should give you recs for both, IMO (mine did).
Where it breaks down some in going from Road (or flat bar hybrids) to Mountain Bikes. If you are just using your rigid or hardtail MTB for riding on the street and bike paths, or as a commuter... sure, the fit is pretty much the same (or will work at the very least). But for actual "mountain biking" on technical singletrack it will likely not be. This is something for which the conventional wisdom has changed a LOT over the past 20 years, and especially in the past 5 years. 25 years ago, it was typical for folks to pretty closely re-create their road bike fit on their MTB. . Currently, the only aspect anything close to universally consistent is the saddle to pedal distance (leg extension). But you can cross that bridge when you get there. If you are not riding technical single-track, I would not worry about this.
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The OP is hesitant to drop $20 trying a different stem and you guys are trying to talk him into paying for a bike fit?
The new stem you are looking at won't make much of a difference in how the bike feels. I would go shorter and higher rise. I put this stem on two different bikes for the exact same reason you are.
https://www.performancebike.com/ritc...8837?v=1000842
No math.
The new stem you are looking at won't make much of a difference in how the bike feels. I would go shorter and higher rise. I put this stem on two different bikes for the exact same reason you are.
https://www.performancebike.com/ritc...8837?v=1000842
No math.
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The stem the OP is considering will raise the bar about 1cm and shorten the reach about 1.5cm.
Getting a fit is fine, but it only costs about $25 to try a different stem.
Getting a fit is fine, but it only costs about $25 to try a different stem.
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Take your bike to the store where you got it, tell them that you are not comfortable on it, and ask if they can help you. Most will not charge you for a "bike fit" (at least I've never had one say there would be a charge). They will charge you for parts, and maybe (but not too often) labor. Most are just glad to have a customer, and helping that customer brings them back in the store.
If you bought the bike used, take it to the Trek store and ask them if they can help you get comfortable on it. Try to go when it is not busy - Tuesday morning or something. Most will still be glad to help you hoping that you will buy some gear, parts, or someday a new bike.
Unless you are investing to be competitive at some level, the notion of paying for a bike fit is rubbish. Most places aren't going to have the motion capture equipment and software or other tools to do a really analytical bike fit, but are just going to have you sit on the bike, check your leg bend and knee position at various positions, and so forth. With all of the information available online, there is no reason why you can't get the thing close enough if not perfect for you.
Emma Pooley never had a "bike fit" and did alright for herself and better than virtually any of us will ever do.
If you bought the bike used, take it to the Trek store and ask them if they can help you get comfortable on it. Try to go when it is not busy - Tuesday morning or something. Most will still be glad to help you hoping that you will buy some gear, parts, or someday a new bike.
Unless you are investing to be competitive at some level, the notion of paying for a bike fit is rubbish. Most places aren't going to have the motion capture equipment and software or other tools to do a really analytical bike fit, but are just going to have you sit on the bike, check your leg bend and knee position at various positions, and so forth. With all of the information available online, there is no reason why you can't get the thing close enough if not perfect for you.
Emma Pooley never had a "bike fit" and did alright for herself and better than virtually any of us will ever do.
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Typically a bike setup starts with the saddle position, and saddle tilt.
If you have access to a wind/mag trainer you can basically secure the bike upright and try a few things.
A saddle with the nose pointed downward, or even level, can put too much weight on the bars. Tilting slightly up generally puts more weight on the saddle.
I’m not saying that is your issue, but it is a safe cheap way to make some adjustments.
As far as your handlebar height purely for comfort, your back, without considering performance, a fitter probably isn’t needed. Technically you could raise your bars 6 inches and just tool along on your rides. It’s not like you’re stretching out in the drops on a road bike.
With your bike attached to a trainer, you can use props to see about where things feel good. You should be able to easily sit up and pedal hands free.
It is also not uncommon to swap out bars to a riser with more sweep.
John
If you have access to a wind/mag trainer you can basically secure the bike upright and try a few things.
A saddle with the nose pointed downward, or even level, can put too much weight on the bars. Tilting slightly up generally puts more weight on the saddle.
I’m not saying that is your issue, but it is a safe cheap way to make some adjustments.
As far as your handlebar height purely for comfort, your back, without considering performance, a fitter probably isn’t needed. Technically you could raise your bars 6 inches and just tool along on your rides. It’s not like you’re stretching out in the drops on a road bike.
With your bike attached to a trainer, you can use props to see about where things feel good. You should be able to easily sit up and pedal hands free.
It is also not uncommon to swap out bars to a riser with more sweep.
John
Last edited by 70sSanO; 11-25-20 at 10:50 AM.
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The cheap approach I would try. Get a ruler and protractor. (You might have to go to a store with school supplies and spend $5.) Draw a line on the paper 72 degrees from horizontal, This is the angle of the fork, headtube and steerer. Put a mark on that line that indicates the bottom of the spacers under the stem. Another at the top of those spacers. Now draw in your existing stem above the spacers. If you know the angle and length of your current stem, draw that line through the handlebars and crossing the 72 degree line.
Go to your bike and place your hands where you want the bars to be and measure where that is relative to your current handlebar position, (1" up and 1/4" forward, say.) Place an "X" on your drawing there. Now draw a line from you new "X" to the crossing of your old lines. That is the stem you want; Now, that exact stem might not be available but you can get very close by adjusting the spacers and using slightly different angles.
I completely get that this approach is not in everybody's skill set. I'm an engineer type and seeing it on paper has always been both easy and enlightening. I went to school and went out into the field before computer drafting so problem solving required putting it on paper. Now I have AUTOCad and have all my bikes overlaid on each other. When I buy a bike, I go measure the key points, draw it up that night, and see whet I need for stem and seatpost to get that bike to fit me. Only then do I decide if that is a bike I want.
Fit is serious stuff. The right fit will make that bike feel sublime (assuming the bike works well, rolls nicely, etc). There is no exclusive way to find that right fit. A fitter can (and should) get you close but it is not guaranteed, Trial and error can. But with trial and error, documenting what you have done can save you years and dollars. Drawings can be very valuable later and when you want to make changes or get a new bike.
Edit: I said 72 degrees for that first line. Headtube angles vary from 70 to 75 degrees. If you know yours, use that, But a 2 degree error in headtube angle will make almost no difference in the distances we are talking here.
Go to your bike and place your hands where you want the bars to be and measure where that is relative to your current handlebar position, (1" up and 1/4" forward, say.) Place an "X" on your drawing there. Now draw a line from you new "X" to the crossing of your old lines. That is the stem you want; Now, that exact stem might not be available but you can get very close by adjusting the spacers and using slightly different angles.
I completely get that this approach is not in everybody's skill set. I'm an engineer type and seeing it on paper has always been both easy and enlightening. I went to school and went out into the field before computer drafting so problem solving required putting it on paper. Now I have AUTOCad and have all my bikes overlaid on each other. When I buy a bike, I go measure the key points, draw it up that night, and see whet I need for stem and seatpost to get that bike to fit me. Only then do I decide if that is a bike I want.
Fit is serious stuff. The right fit will make that bike feel sublime (assuming the bike works well, rolls nicely, etc). There is no exclusive way to find that right fit. A fitter can (and should) get you close but it is not guaranteed, Trial and error can. But with trial and error, documenting what you have done can save you years and dollars. Drawings can be very valuable later and when you want to make changes or get a new bike.
Edit: I said 72 degrees for that first line. Headtube angles vary from 70 to 75 degrees. If you know yours, use that, But a 2 degree error in headtube angle will make almost no difference in the distances we are talking here.
Last edited by 79pmooney; 11-25-20 at 11:29 AM.