100 to 110mm works for this 6' short torso person. No preference for one verses the other more what works best with the frame I'm riding. That has not changed since January of 2008 nor will it any time soon.

_________________
-For my next trick I will set myself on fire!
-This board and the world in general would be a much nicer place if everyone could just take themselves a little less seriously.
-Sticky Fingers John Rockefeller
-First one over the cliff wins!

this is madness - there is only one stem length, and thats the one that adjusts the position on the bike that is right for you. Personally most of my bikes have 90mm stem, but when I built one up recently i found the actual frame geometries demanded a 110mm

_________________
Wiliers: Cento Uno; Cento SLR; Imperiale, Zero 7 (all Super Record 11sp naturally)

thats a gross over simplification.

if looking at things that way makes it easy for you then fine but its not madness to try to have a deeper understanding of things.

you can set 2 bikes up, with the same reach, using 2 different frame sizes, stem lengths, and one will be more suit to certain situations than another.

matching that to your particular needs is the difference between an AWESOME bike/ride and one that just works.

Dimitri: maybe, but a lesson learned - my bike fit concluded I needed to ride a 90m stem on my race bike, so when building a new bike up I ordered a 90mm for it, only to find the positioning was oh so wrong. So as Juanmoretime noted a certain stem works for a certain height, that is not so true either, or a generalisation, as it is both the frame geometries and the riding position which dictate the right frame length, not your height, if your're on the correct size frame.

I am sure we have both seen riders with different riding positions, which may not be text book, but work for them, and I am sure if I could have more spinal flexibility in my lower back, I could bend from there into a flatter position - and maybe would be suited to a longer stem (i wish), but when approaching 50, that isnt going to happen now

_________________
Wiliers: Cento Uno; Cento SLR; Imperiale, Zero 7 (all Super Record 11sp naturally)

Not quite. I was referring to the stem that works with my current frame and height and body proportions. If were different geometry on the frame and tube lengths then it might dictate a different length stem.

_________________
-For my next trick I will set myself on fire!
-This board and the world in general would be a much nicer place if everyone could just take themselves a little less seriously.
-Sticky Fingers John Rockefeller
-First one over the cliff wins!

My favorite stem length is 140mm, because it makes me feel like Tom Boonen, even though I look full retard when sitting on the bike.

My favorite shoe size is 47.5, even though I should be wearing a 43.5, doesn't matter that I look full retard with 47.5's.

Sorry, couldn't resist, dumbest post ever.