[Stem length] for road bike

[nikoo]

How much to drop stem length by?

 

[ayceejay]

You got me, how much?

 

[Kestevan]

42

 

[Citius]

How much to drop stem length by?

About that much..

 

[russ.will]

As everybody else beat me to the smart answers, I'd say until you're comfortable. There is no 'right' one size fits all answer.

 

[cyberknight]

As everybody else beat me to the smart answers, I'd say until you're comfortable. There is no 'right' one size fits all answer.

Indeed .
You might need to play around to find what feels right for you as drop and reach are all factors, i just raised mine by 1 spacer as they felt to low .
http://bikedynamics.co.uk/guidelines.htm

 

[winjim]

About that much..

Are you insane? You need at least twice that.

 

[mythste]

Are you insane? You need at least twice that.

Nonsense, the length is nothing without reasonable girth.

Apparently.

 

[nikoo]

is 80mm stem on a M/L road bike too short?

 

[vickster]

is 80mm stem on a M/L road bike too short?

Not if it's the size you need. Although perhaps what you actually need is a smaller frame? Have you tried the M size? I'd prefer a slightly smaller frame with a longer stem myself, it's generally easier to make a smaller frame a bit bigger than vice versa without affecting the handling of the bike too much. But views do differ on this

Go ride both bikes and see which feel better. If possible, get the LBS to help you with set up or get a fitting done. Do you already have the bike? If not don't buy the wrong size bike because it's cheap, been there, done that, had the resultant surgery (twice)!

 

[Citius]

is 80mm stem on a M/L road bike too short?

Only if it's too short for you.

 

[nikoo]

it's because i have very long legs 87cm and a short torso with short arms so it's difficult to find the perfect size for me.
ps: i'm 5ft 11

 

[vickster]

I'd go to the LBS, explain your dilemma, see if they'll stick a shorter stem on and have a go, probably more likely on a turbo in the store. There's no reason to not have an 80mm stem

Perhaps the overall geometry of that specific bike doesn't suit you, maybe something with a shorter top tube to seat/head tube ratio might be better? Plus an inline rather than layback seatpost?

 

[Red17]

is 80mm stem on a M/L road bike too short?

Depends on the overall bike set up - I've got a 90 on 1 of my bikes and 120 on the other as they are different frames / sizes.

 

[MiK1138]

How much to drop stem length by?

I recommend the old Scots Imperial measurement of a Bawhair