Stem spacers - how to clean cockpit?
Moderator: robbosmans
Those of you who need to have more stem spacers under the stem, are there any tips how to make it look better?
How many is too much? (From my observation around 2,5cm of spacers is max to look good)
Do you prefer less spacers and stem to positive?
Do you prefer conical spacers?
Do you rotate bars upwards?
(Don´t say to buy endurance or custom geometry bikes:)
How many is too much? (From my observation around 2,5cm of spacers is max to look good)
Do you prefer less spacers and stem to positive?
Do you prefer conical spacers?
Do you rotate bars upwards?
(Don´t say to buy endurance or custom geometry bikes:)
No, no, no! This is not good.
A maximum stack height of 2cm below the stem, i.e. upper headset top (dust) cover + spacers. E.g. for 15 mm headset cover max 5 mm spacer. I think it's not aesthetically nice looking to use higher than 10 mm spacers, it's better idea to combine the higher headset top (dust) cover with one 10 mm spacer.
What I see from your photo, you probably have 5 mm headset cover and three 10 mm spacers? So it totals 35 mm. With 15 mm headset cover and 5 mm spacer it's only 15 mm lower. Do this and adapt your body. It takes at least three months or even more of regular riding. As of a bonus of beeing cooler you will also have more aero position. If it's really hard, use 10 mm spacer for first half a year and then replace it with 5 mm one. Altrenatively you have an option to use one 10mm and one 5mm spacer with that 5 mm headset cover you have there.
Actually subject is already discussed in this thread The best height of spacers
A maximum stack height of 2cm below the stem, i.e. upper headset top (dust) cover + spacers. E.g. for 15 mm headset cover max 5 mm spacer. I think it's not aesthetically nice looking to use higher than 10 mm spacers, it's better idea to combine the higher headset top (dust) cover with one 10 mm spacer.
What I see from your photo, you probably have 5 mm headset cover and three 10 mm spacers? So it totals 35 mm. With 15 mm headset cover and 5 mm spacer it's only 15 mm lower. Do this and adapt your body. It takes at least three months or even more of regular riding. As of a bonus of beeing cooler you will also have more aero position. If it's really hard, use 10 mm spacer for first half a year and then replace it with 5 mm one. Altrenatively you have an option to use one 10mm and one 5mm spacer with that 5 mm headset cover you have there.
Actually subject is already discussed in this thread The best height of spacers
Last edited by Priit on Fri Oct 26, 2018 6:33 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Yes, he should suffer for fashion's sake. Personally I can't bend over enough to slam my stem and I don't want to buy a larger frame just so I can slam it because then I'd need a short 9 or 10 cm stem.
Personally, I don't like upward sloping stems. I think your Bianchi looks about as good as it can if that is your stack limitation. Unfortunately, that frame has a shorter head tube. It might look 2% better with a taller conical cap and one less spacer. Or maybe you can lower your stem by 1 cm and use a taller conical cap?
Don't mess with it and don't try to follow the misguided fashion police that want to do what the pros do.
Personally, I don't like upward sloping stems. I think your Bianchi looks about as good as it can if that is your stack limitation. Unfortunately, that frame has a shorter head tube. It might look 2% better with a taller conical cap and one less spacer. Or maybe you can lower your stem by 1 cm and use a taller conical cap?
Don't mess with it and don't try to follow the misguided fashion police that want to do what the pros do.
Only faster if that position doesn't compromise power and comfort.
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Screw trends/fashion. If a bike is not comfortable, you won’t ride it!!!
A -17 degree stem flattens the stem out on most frames. Start there, as it will be a small drop. I like the wren stems as they are very light, and affordable. Maybe think twice if you are the size of an ox. If you are on this forum... you are probably not ox sized.
Ride that for a few weeks. Do rides typical for you. If you like daylong rides... do them. If your back/neck are fine after a few typical rides, keep dropping the stem by no more than 5-10mm every 1-2 weeks (time depends on how often you ride and duration, no need to set an alarm for when to next remove a spacer).
Dont cut your steerer!!! For now, Pop those spacers on top of the stem. It looks like a$$, but right now you are testing fit. Dont do anything you can’t reverse.
Stop removing spacers below the stem when you either:
- get neck/back pain that does not go away in time,
or
- when your stem is slammed.
If you drop down and are unsure after a few weeks, go back up a bit, experiment. You resisted the fashion police and did not yet cut your steerer... right?!?!
In time you will find the right height for you. When you find the right height... cut that ugly steerer above your stem already!!! If you don’t keep your bikes long and frequently resell... maybe avoid cutting the steerer too much, and live with a spacer or two, as too low and some may not buy it.
Q: I am 18, do crit races and can fold into a pretzel. Should I slam my stem?
A: slam your stem already and suck it up!!!
Q: i am an old fart with degenerative disc disease of my cervical spine, scoliosis, and osteoporosis. I can’t bend due to chronic low back pain. Should i slam my stem to be cool like the 18 year old entitled socialist vegan expresso-drinking hipster crit racer in the first question?
A: No. don’t be an idiot. Add spacers, or get a -17 or -27 degree stem and consider reversing it. Consider a comfort bike if you still have discomfort.
Q: I think your are an idiot. i just slammed my stem, cut my steerer, and did a ride down the street. It felt great. Your approach is stupid. #slammedordie #veganhipstercritracer #millenial
A: No, you are stupid! Do you only do rides down the street? If yes... fine... but WTF did you get a 12,000$ bike to only ride down the street?!?! Do multiple rides at a distance and intensity your normally ride. What is comfortable for 30 minutes, may kill you after 4 hours.
Q: i just got a new 12,000$ bike cause i ruined my last one cutting the steerer too low. I removed one spacer. After a typical 2 hr ride, my neck now gets really sore. after 2 rides it is no better.
A: give it time. Your body may just need more time to adjust. If things are not improving in time, try adding the spacer back. Some people just don’t tolerate lower positions. Our bodies are all different.
Q: i dropped my stem 7mm. You said 5 or 10mm drops. Is that ok?
A: i did not know they made 7mm spacers. I actully said 5-10mm... but stop being so literal. Just make small changes gradually. If you change too much in one go, you may not tolerate it... where the same drop spread over a few months may be tolerated as your muscles stretch gradually/accomidate.
Q: you have a sexy voice. Are you single?
A: Don’t hate me because I am beautiful!!!
A -17 degree stem flattens the stem out on most frames. Start there, as it will be a small drop. I like the wren stems as they are very light, and affordable. Maybe think twice if you are the size of an ox. If you are on this forum... you are probably not ox sized.
Ride that for a few weeks. Do rides typical for you. If you like daylong rides... do them. If your back/neck are fine after a few typical rides, keep dropping the stem by no more than 5-10mm every 1-2 weeks (time depends on how often you ride and duration, no need to set an alarm for when to next remove a spacer).
Dont cut your steerer!!! For now, Pop those spacers on top of the stem. It looks like a$$, but right now you are testing fit. Dont do anything you can’t reverse.
Stop removing spacers below the stem when you either:
- get neck/back pain that does not go away in time,
or
- when your stem is slammed.
If you drop down and are unsure after a few weeks, go back up a bit, experiment. You resisted the fashion police and did not yet cut your steerer... right?!?!
In time you will find the right height for you. When you find the right height... cut that ugly steerer above your stem already!!! If you don’t keep your bikes long and frequently resell... maybe avoid cutting the steerer too much, and live with a spacer or two, as too low and some may not buy it.
Q: I am 18, do crit races and can fold into a pretzel. Should I slam my stem?
A: slam your stem already and suck it up!!!
Q: i am an old fart with degenerative disc disease of my cervical spine, scoliosis, and osteoporosis. I can’t bend due to chronic low back pain. Should i slam my stem to be cool like the 18 year old entitled socialist vegan expresso-drinking hipster crit racer in the first question?
A: No. don’t be an idiot. Add spacers, or get a -17 or -27 degree stem and consider reversing it. Consider a comfort bike if you still have discomfort.
Q: I think your are an idiot. i just slammed my stem, cut my steerer, and did a ride down the street. It felt great. Your approach is stupid. #slammedordie #veganhipstercritracer #millenial
A: No, you are stupid! Do you only do rides down the street? If yes... fine... but WTF did you get a 12,000$ bike to only ride down the street?!?! Do multiple rides at a distance and intensity your normally ride. What is comfortable for 30 minutes, may kill you after 4 hours.
Q: i just got a new 12,000$ bike cause i ruined my last one cutting the steerer too low. I removed one spacer. After a typical 2 hr ride, my neck now gets really sore. after 2 rides it is no better.
A: give it time. Your body may just need more time to adjust. If things are not improving in time, try adding the spacer back. Some people just don’t tolerate lower positions. Our bodies are all different.
Q: i dropped my stem 7mm. You said 5 or 10mm drops. Is that ok?
A: i did not know they made 7mm spacers. I actully said 5-10mm... but stop being so literal. Just make small changes gradually. If you change too much in one go, you may not tolerate it... where the same drop spread over a few months may be tolerated as your muscles stretch gradually/accomidate.
Q: you have a sexy voice. Are you single?
A: Don’t hate me because I am beautiful!!!
hannawald wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 5:41 pmThose of you who need to have more stem spacers under the stem, are there any tips how to make it look better?
How many is too much? (From my observation around 2,5cm of spacers is max to look good)
Do you prefer less spacers and stem to positive?
Do you prefer conical spacers?
Do you rotate bars upwards?
(Don´t say to buy endurance or custom geometry bikes:)
Last edited by RocketRacing on Fri Oct 26, 2018 9:35 pm, edited 5 times in total.
Rocketracing: thanks for your tips..well, i have gone through couple of bike fits through years so i have some basic orientation..of course with improved mileage i may go lower/further..with Specialissima it seems i may need at least 30 mm of spacers above the headset cover..it is quite low bike, 6mm lower stack than Ultimate or Foil
Last edited by hannawald on Fri Oct 26, 2018 8:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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You haven’t seen him on his bike, you’ve absolutely zero clue what his position looks like.
Looks fine to me mate, if it’s comfortable and you can’t be arsed, leave it. If you want “get pro” start stretching. I actually kinda think it looks better in the first photo.
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Tldr!!!hannawald wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 8:37 pmRocketracing: thanks for your tips..well, i have gone through couple of bike fits through years so i have some basic orientation..of course with improved mileage i may go lower/further..with Specialissima it seems i may need at least 30 mm of spacers above the headset cover..it is quite low bike, 6mm lower stack than Ultimate or Oltre
To answer your original wuestion, when you settle on the ideal ride height, if you don’t like the look of multiple spacers, i suggest trying to find one or two large spacers. Or go small/large/small, or large/small/large.
That is all I got.
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On most bikes I don't like seeing too many spacers, but on this one, maybe because of the color of the frame, i am not bothered at all.
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