Favorite stem length for road biking?

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jever98
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by jever98

I was wondering what stem length most people prefer around here for road biking. I have mostly ridden with 100mm stems, a few times with a 120mm - pretty standard geometry with 73 deg HTA and a normal fork (my guess is a 49mm rake, still checking).

I found the 100mm usually rode nicer, a bit faster steering, whilst the 120 felt a bit more sluggish.

What's your favorite stem length from a point of view of handling? (from a visual point of view I find 120-130mm best :))
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Yamabushi
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by Yamabushi

How about choosing your stem length based upon proper fit?

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jever98
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by jever98

Well, if you can choose your frame and know your fit, either TT length or stem length can be the dependent variable.
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Tinea Pedis
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by Tinea Pedis

Stem length makes an appreciable difference in handling. It's not just a means to an end in getting the correct reach.

Me, 120 or 130.

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fa63
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by fa63

I designed my first custom frame around a 120 mm stem, and liked it that way so I did the same when I ordered my second one. With that said, I have ridden frames with stem lengths ranging between 90 and 130 mm, and to be honest I found that after a short while my body just adapted to it and I couldn't really tell the difference.

audiojan
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by audiojan

I ride 120mm stems on all my road bikes, but anything between 110-130 is perfectly ok. Going shorter starts to feel too twitchy and if I need a 140, I probably have the wrong frame for my body build
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AttacknowAttackoften
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by AttacknowAttackoften

120, -10.

But I'm trying a 130, -10 this season.

I hear Iit's going to steer like a boat lol. :wink:
I only train on days that end with "y".

Eli

CarpetFibre
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by CarpetFibre

I ride 80mm -17. I'm 5'5" with an extremely short torso so I can't have the luxury of longer stems (100mm+), as there simply aren't frame sizes small enough. That said, I really like the way my bike rides with the 80mm stem, I don't think the handling suffers because of it - like someone says it's what you get used to.

topflightpro
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by topflightpro

I run 100mm stems on most of my bikes. I ran 110 for awhile, but the 100 fits me better.

For me, I need a shorter length stem due to my body proportions. I have very long legs for my height, and as a result, a very short torso. I can't go with a smaller frame/longer stem because the headtube ends up being too shorts and I cannot bend over that much.

jever98
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by jever98

You do not need to quote the post above

Very similar here. I'm 2m with long legs. I have done everything to get as low as possible on the saddle (mid foot cleat + super thin soles), but still have 86cm saddle height. I ride a 20cm HT with 25mm top cap, 5mm spacer, 100mm 0 deg stem. (59cm TT). My handlebar drop is around 15cm. Unfortunate to be proportioned that way, but so it goes.

If I want to ride 110 and -6 without spacers I need about 21-22cm HT and 57.5cm TT :-)
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artray
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by artray

130 -17 slammed on my trek ...on my Awesome Guru photon I was 120 -10 slammed ,that may change when I build it up again.

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kgt
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by kgt

Tinea Pedis wrote:Stem length makes an appreciable difference in handling. It's not just a means to an end in getting the correct reach. Me, 120 or 130.

+100

CarpetFibre
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by CarpetFibre

Didn't think they made stems in that angle.


I'll show myself out.

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Rick
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by Rick

There is no "correct" or "optimum" length for stems. They must be fit to individual anatomy.
The usual rule is (Stem Length) = .433*(penis length).
So I always use a 140.

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luckypuncheur
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by luckypuncheur

110 or 120, depending on the fit of the respective frame. Below 110, steering becomes to nervous, above 120 too sluggish.
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