Which stem do I need?

[Llama]

Hi All, just looking for stem advice for a Specialized Crosstrail Sport from about 2013 ish? The existing stem is 90mm.

This is my shopping bike and I want to fit On-One OG V2 Handlebars (spec: 38mm rise, 33mm forward offset 25° backsweep, 6° upsweep 680mm tip-to-tip width) just to try on this bike.

To try out and I need a new stem to accommodate and I also want to try i'm thinking I should look to reduce the reach a little as the bike is a little big for me. Therefore would fitting a shorter stem this plus the swept back design of the handlebars be a good way forward. The bike was a second hand buy and looks to have already been updated from stock previously?

I was looking at:
BBB BHS-25 - HighRise MTB Stem - But i think this might be a bit much? 36 degree x 70mm

Race Face Ride 31.8mm MTB Stem - Maybe a better choice? 6 degree x 60mm - 30mm less than existing?

Further pictures:

Thanks!

 

[OldShep]

Personally I’d fit the new bars first and go for a ride and see where I prefer my hands. This entails riding with no hands and hovering them around where you like to be. Now you know if your stem is correct or what adjustments are needed.
Until you do that then you’re guessing really using a bit of rusty mathematics.

 

[Llama]

Personally I’d fit the new bars first and go for a ride and see where I prefer my hands. This entails riding with no hands and hovering them around where you like to be. Now you know if your stem is correct or what adjustments are needed.
Until you do that then you’re guessing really using a bit of rusty mathematics.

Thanks for your reply, this would be best, however the new handlebars are 31.8mm and existing stem has a smaller clamp so I can't just test out first

 

[Drago]

Probably a 1 1/8th steerer, but don't take that as gospel.

Remember, shortening the stem can make a big difference to steering feel. Actual steering won't change, the bike will behave identically for every degree the forks turn, but it can feel different in the hand. Whether that is good depends on many factors, so I wouldn't go too short.

 

[gcogger]

I had a set of these bars and they do reduce reach considerably compared to 'normal' bars, so you may not need to change the stem length.
I also found that the bars worked much better for me by twisting them so that the grip area was a down sweep, not up. (I'm baffled why such bars are sold as having an upsweep, as that puts the wrists in a very unnatural position).

 

[T4tomo]

I was looking at:
BBB BHS-25 - HighRise MTB Stem - But i think this might be a bit much? 36 degree x 70mm

Race Face Ride 31.8mm MTB Stem - Maybe a better choice? 6 degree x 60mm - 30mm less than existing?

get both, try them, most likely one first and send one back. just make sure you don't scratch it when fitting it.

 

[richardfm]

Have you got a bike recycling charity near you? If so they may lend you a couple of stems to try (in return for a packet of biscuits)
This post in thread 'Bike refurb & repair charities' https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bike-refurb-repair-charities.300919/post-7347484 has a list

 

[si_c]

Just had a quick look - Specialized Crosstrail's came with a 31.8mm clamp, so double check that yours isn't 31.8mm already. It may have been changed at some point for an aftermarket set of bars and stem but the stock came in a suitable size for your chosen bars.

Very few handlebars are in a clamp diameter different other than 31.8mm.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

I was shocked when I discovered my sister's '20 Carrera had 25.4mm bars, making the 31.xmm riser stem I took up with me a few years ago useless.

 

[Llama]

Thanks for all your replies, I've been reading up, checked measurements and geo and tried to work it all out, I think I'm starting with a Deda Elementi Zero 17deg Riser Stem that seems a good mid way point, accepting that the 70mm is on the short side but I do want to reduce reach. I think/hope this will give me a good starting point and sub £20 for a brand I've heard of seems like a reasonable deal. Thanks for advice re bike recycling, the nearest one to me just sells and doesn't provide any parts or advice unfortunately.

Just had a quick look - Specialized Crosstrail's came with a 31.8mm clamp, so double check that yours isn't 31.8mm already. It may have been changed at some point for an aftermarket set of bars and stem but the stock came in a suitable size for your chosen bars.

Very few handlebars are in a clamp diameter different other than 31.8mm.

I'm not sure mine is as delivered? it's got a 25.4mm (is this the right measurement? anyhow it's smaller!) at the moment.

I also found that the bars worked much better for me by twisting them so that the grip area was a down sweep, not up. (I'm baffled why such bars are sold as having an upsweep, as that puts the wrists in a very unnatural position).

That's for this, not something I had really considered, but I will now when testing them out. Thank you,

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Are you sure it’s not 31.8mm? It’s just the bit that gets clamped that is that diameter, bars taper down rapidly after that. The bit you need to measure is currently inside the clamp.

 

[Llama]

Are you sure it’s not 31.8mm? It’s just the bit that gets clamped that is that diameter, bars taper down rapidly after that. The bit you need to measure is currently inside the clamp.

Yes, it's 25.4mm throughout it's whole length including inside the clamp, I reckon it was swapped out before and isn't stock!