Longer toptube or Stem?

Bestest Handsander

Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
or a 59cm top and 120 stem?

Thanks

David Kerber

In article <jtqdnSP26_WathndRVn-uQ@aros.net>, none@u.biz says...
> Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
> or a 59cm top and 120 stem?

Unfortunately, all other things cannot be equal. With identical
seattube and headtube angles, the longer top tube will give the bike a
longer wheelbase, affecting its handling characteristics, its ride
smoothness, etc. If the longer top tube is on a bike with the same
wheelbase, it will change the frame angles, again changing the handling
and ride characteristics. So you have to play those characteristics off
against each other as well.

--
Remove the ns_ from if replying by e-mail (but keep posts in the
newsgroups if possible).

Zog The Undeniable

Bestest Handsander wrote:

> Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
> or a 59cm top and 120 stem?
>
> Thanks
>
>
Well, there's not much difference in that example, but an 8cm stem on a
23" frame looks wrong, as does a 14cm stem on a 19" frame. If the top
tube length is correct for you, you should be at the same end of the
stem size range as the frame size range, if that makes any sense.

Sheldon Brown

Someone who wished to conceal his or her secret identity wrote:

> Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
> or a 59cm top and 120 stem?

If you have an oddball stem length, handling can suffer to some extent,
due to the relationship between your hands and the steering axis.

Weight distribution will also change, because the longer the top tube,
the farther forward the front wheel is.

If you're talking about a bike with drop handlebars, I'd consider 120 to
be the upper limit for "normal" stems, and 130 to be a bit over the line
into the "oddball" region, so I'd go for the longer top tube.

If you're talking about a mountain bike, 130 is a fairly medium stem
extension, but so is 120.

Sheldon "Fitz" Brown
+-------------------------------------------+
| Good judgment comes from experience, |
| and experience comes from bad judgment. |
| --Fred Brook |
+-------------------------------------------+
Harris Cyclery, West Newton, Massachusetts
Phone 617-244-9772 FAX 617-244-1041
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Paul Southworth

In article <jtqdnSP26_WathndRVn-uQ@aros.net>,
Bestest Handsander <none@u.biz> wrote:
>Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
>reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
>or a 59cm top and 120 stem?

On a road bike I'd take the latter.

--Paul

Andy Coggan

"Bestest Handsander" <none@u.biz> wrote in message
news:jtqdnSP26_WathndRVn-uQ@aros.net...
> Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130
stem
> or a 59cm top and 120 stem?

Personally, I would take the 58+13 combo, as it would slow down the steering
and put more weight on the front wheel. However, your preference could
easily be different.

Andy Coggan

Richard Chan

cnhyf-1082347200@usenet.etext.org (Paul Southworth) wrote in message news:<u2Ygc.2869$WC3.25625@ord-read.news.verio.net>...
> In article <jtqdnSP26_WathndRVn-uQ@aros.net>,
> Bestest Handsander <none@u.biz> wrote:
> >Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> >reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
> >or a 59cm top and 120 stem?
>
> On a road bike I'd take the latter.

I second that. If you are in great shape and limber, then 59 and 13
cm. Even for smaller pro riders, I often see the use of 13 cm (and
VERY low).

Andy Coggan

"Sheldon Brown" <captbike@sheldonbrown.com> wrote in message
news:40844049.3060703@sheldonbrown.com...

> If you're talking about a bike with drop handlebars, I'd consider 120 to
> be the upper limit for "normal" stems, and 130 to be a bit over the line
> into the "oddball" region, so I'd go for the longer top tube.

Scope out some pics of eurodog road racers...lots and lots and lots of 13+
cm stems used by this crowd.

Andy Coggan

SDMike

"Andy Coggan" <acoggan@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:7r0hc.3203$e4.1501@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "Sheldon Brown" <captbike@sheldonbrown.com> wrote in message
> news:40844049.3060703@sheldonbrown.com...
>
> > If you're talking about a bike with drop handlebars, I'd consider 120 to
> > be the upper limit for "normal" stems, and 130 to be a bit over the line
> > into the "oddball" region, so I'd go for the longer top tube.
>
> Scope out some pics of eurodog road racers...lots and lots and lots of 13+
> cm stems used by this crowd.
>
> Andy Coggan

Yeah, but they're 18-20-somethings with 0% body fat too!

Personal opinion says make the bike fit with between a 100-120mm stem. Anything
less handling gets a little strange. Anything more, ditto. (Sez the guy what
used to ride a 140mm stem on his 88 Rockhopper. Can you say "tiller?")

HTH,

M

Bruni

If you draft a lot, long stem puts you closer to draftee. I personally like
the shorter stem to allow higher braking rates by reducing weight transfer
to the front. High speed downhilling and late braking is one path to
performance.
Tom

--
Bruni Bicycles
"Where art meets science"
brunibicycles.com
410.426.3420
Andy Coggan <acoggan@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:np0hc.3201$e4.1128@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> "Bestest Handsander" <none@u.biz> wrote in message
> news:jtqdnSP26_WathndRVn-uQ@aros.net...
> > Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> > reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130
> stem
> > or a 59cm top and 120 stem?
>
> Personally, I would take the 58+13 combo, as it would slow down the
steering
> and put more weight on the front wheel. However, your preference could
> easily be different.
>
> Andy Coggan
>
>

ML

Bestest Handsander wrote:
> Provided all other things are equal (setback, etc.) to get to your ideal
> reach lenght... would you prefer for example a 58cm top tube and a 130 stem
> or a 59cm top and 120 stem?
>
> Thanks
>
>

130cm stem with 58cm toptube. Why? Because the steering axis is moved
back 1cm closer.

MOO,
Matt

John Verheul

Sheldon Brown writes:
> If you're talking about a bike with drop handlebars, I'd consider 120 to
> be the upper limit for "normal" stems, and 130 to be a bit over the line
> into the "oddball" region,

Why is this?

John Verheul

Doug

This "conventional wisdom" went out the door with aluminum stems, where flex
was a bigger issue. Indeed, even in the late 80s and early 90s, it was hard
to find stems more than 120mm in length, and even 120mm stems would flex
wildly when sprinting in the drops. However, given the advent of steel
stems, and then oversized threadless stems, flex is no longer a significant
problem, and it is perfectly fine to use a longer stem.

That being said, I certainly wouldn't advocate using a 130mm stem on a 51 cm
bike. But there is nothing at all wrong with using a longer stem on a
larger frame. Indeed, contrary to what some might suggest, a 130mm stem
simply does not "oversteer" when installed on a 57, or 59cm frame. Even if
it did, you'd soon get used to it and compensate accordingly. The main
issue is bike fit and confort, and assuming your frame is properly sized, if
that takes a 130cm stem, that's fine!

"John Verheul" <jverheul@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:Poihc.4375$e4.2462@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...
> Sheldon Brown writes:
> > If you're talking about a bike with drop handlebars, I'd consider 120 to
> > be the upper limit for "normal" stems, and 130 to be a bit over the line
> > into the "oddball" region,
>
> Why is this?
>
> John Verheul
>
>

Qui si parla Campagnolo

Doug-<< This "conventional wisdom" went out the door with aluminum stems,
>><BR><BR>


???Holy pista Batman....most stems are aluminum, have been for years...hardly
any steel stems...threaded or threadless....few, Salsa, few others.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"