Mountain Bike Reviews Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Shorter Rider and Stem Length

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
M

mcbiko

· Registered
Joined
·
223 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've been riding a Gary Fisher Rig 29er (about 16" frame) for the last few months. Recently, I tried to learn how to bunny hop, but failed miserably at getting the front wheel off the ground. A friend told me that based on my height/reach, a shorter stem length would really help. The current stem is 90mm. Should I switch out to a 50mm stem?

It is also worth noting that I have been experiencing tendinitis in my right elbow which I think is a result of my arms extending and locking out while riding - it seems like a shorter stem would force me to ride with elbows in a better position - I'm about 5ft 6" with fairly short arms. Anyone have similar issues?

Lastly, any recommendations on a sub $25 stem? Used off Ebay is fine. I'm assuming I need a 1 1/8" diameter for steerer tube and a 31.8mm clamp - this seems to be the standard..so hopefully it will fit my Fisher Rig - let me know if I'm off on this.
 
#2 ·
asking the internet what size stem to put on your bike is like asking how tight you should lace your sneakers. you will have to experiment to find out.

more importantly, stem length in isolation could be the wrong approach. getting the front end up could have more to do with the height of your bars than the reach, or could be a combination of the two. you can play with spacer stack, riser/flat bars of various heights, stems of various heights, and stems of various reaches. handlebar width affects reach too. bars too wide or too narrow are going to affect the handling adversely.

one consideration that could provide a clue- how high off the ground are your grips relative to the height of your saddle? (assuming your saddle is at the "right" heigh for you to pedal efficiently.)
 
#3 ·
50 is likely too much of a change. 70 is likely worth trying. Go into your lbs and take a multi-tool. Ask a service guy to let you swap out a 70 and/or 60mm stem from the used stuff box they all have. It'll take you a couple minutes. Ride on the grass and into a ditch to check fit. Give him back the stem and say thank you.
This exact version with these graphics only is light and has worked for me for several years with zero problems in different sizes.
New Uno Ultralight MTB Road 31 8 x 70mm Stem 94g Black | eBay
Gobike88 Uno ASA105L Ultralight MTB Road 31 8 x 60mm Stem 86g Black R62 | eBay
 
#4 ·
Short stems are a trend that I like very much.

Look at BMXers. Short stems all around in that world. A short stem will help you loft the front wheel for bunny-hops. Now on the other hand you might not like a short stem for regular riding. But it will help you loft the wheel.

Here's one from Jenson that can be had in either 40mm or 60mm for circa $30:

Truvativ Hussefelt Stem > Components > Stems > Threadless | Jenson USA

Your Rig will have a 1 1/8" steering tube. Are your handlebars 31.8 mm clamp diameter? Most are these days, but some older bikes will have 25.4 mm at the clamp.

Might be a fun experiment, right? Thats how I look at these things.
 
#7 ·
yes, they are high, but that's a totally different animal. they have been getting higher and higher over the years. when I started riding BMX in the 90s, most bmx riders were using 7" tall bars. now they are all well over 8". also look at trials bikes and dirt jump/street mtbs. they all have an emphasis on being about as tall as possible. no adult sized person is going to try to bunnyhop over a handrail with 4" high bars on a BMX bike.
 
#9 ·
true. it does not tell the whole story, there's a lot more to it than that.

however, if your problem is not being able to pull the front wheel up off the ground, making it easier to do so will be achieved, to some degree by moving the handlebar up and back.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Thanks for the responses. All I really ride is intermediate singletrack trails - nothing technical. So I want my bike to reflect this style of riding. I've heard raising the handlebars makes uphills much more difficult as its tougher to transfer weight over the front wheel, although I can see how this would make lifting the front wheel easier.

My question is for an intermediate single track rider, is bunny hopping a critical skill? I want to learn to bunny hop only to improve my trail riding - not for any tricks. So I don't want to do anything that drastically limits regular trail riding.

I'll either take my bike in to a local dealer and see if I can test some stem combos as suggested... or I may just take a chance and purchase a 60mm or 70mm stem and go from there.
 
#12 ·
bunnyhopping is critical. you need to at least be able to clear a curb at speed without plowing into the curb. this will help a lot with any sort of technical feature you will find on a trail- rock ledges, logs, roots, etc. you can ride smoother and faster and will damage your bike and body less.

it sounds like the bike fits you just a bit too big. getting the bars closer will help the overall fit and control. time to experiment. stems are pretty cheap and you might even find used ones from people who are going through the same process as you. raising the bars might help, but it might not.
 
#14 ·
I keep a stock of stems from 50 to 100mm. Depends on the handlebars, person's reach... Lots of variables.

A couple of years ago, my sister in law's friend bought a 13" framed Motobecane 29er. The frame was the perfect size for her but she complained about the reach. I told her to snap a pic of the bike and send it to me. It had a 120mm stem and flat bars.
Next time I went to visit them, I brought a 65mm stem and riser bars. Bike fits her perfectly now. WHY they sold a 13" frame with such a long stem is beyond me.
 
#15 ·
I like bikes direct, and Ive bought a few bikes from them in the past (girlfriend is currently on one of their road bikes), but BD is the king of just tossing crap together without much regard for how much sense it actually makes.

My girlfriends 43cm road bike had a 130mm stem on it. She went with a 70mm to get it to fit!

Regarding bunny hopping, its not your stem length. Its your technique. 100% guaranteed. If you have the technique down, you can bunny hop a road bike or beach cruiser or any mountain bike. Look at how trials bikes are setup, they use a 4 foot long stem and they're designed to hop as high as possible.

Once you learn how to bunny hop, then is a good time to address stem and bar changes to improve your existing bunny hop. If you have a bike thats already long, a shorter stem can help. If you have a bike thats way too short, a longer stem can help.

Its all about transferring your weight backwards, the bike will lean back with your body to get the wheel up. Do not yank your bars with your hand! It needs to be a smooth movement. Set your bike up so it works well for trail riding, thats going to be the best setup. The hopping skill will come with technique.
 
#16 ·
mcbiko said:
I've heard raising the handlebars makes uphills much more difficult as its tougher to transfer weight over the front wheel..
Click to expand...
Not really. If the bars were a foot higher, maybe, but a few inches doesn't make a lot of difference. You just bend your arms a little more.

I guess it might make manuals and hops easier as it's a little easier to get your weight back but again, it's not going to be night and day. For me it makes the bike feel more comfortable and that translates into greater confidence I reckon but there is no magic part you can fit that will lift the bike off the ground for you.
 
#17 ·
I run 35mm stems on both my bikes. My ht Deff is to big. But the stumpy, it fits great but with a 90mm stem it felt like I was swinging the bars to turn. I like more inline steering. No matter what the body position.


Sent from my iPhone while my Heli plays with the gophers
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Yeah- saw that video. Still couldn't do it....I'll try again tomorrow. I also just noticed that the bike in the above video has a very short stem. The following video appears to indicate that stem length is a major factor.
 
#20 ·
For some reason a cartoon just popped into my head. Don't know why. Anyway, how did this go from bunny hops to manuals? You should be able to bunny hop regardless of stem length. Your height will have more to do with your ability to bunny hop. But, it looks like you figured out that you need a shorter stem. And, that is good as long as you fit your bike. Being shorter, you're really going to have to exaggerate the use of your arms and legs to bunny hop.
 
1 - 20 of 37 Posts
About this Discussion
36 Replies
13 Participants
Last post:
Mr Pig
Mountain Bike Reviews Forum
posts
16M
members
534K
Since
1990
A forum community dedicated to Mountain Bike owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about bike parts, components, deals, performance, modifications, classifieds, trails, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Discussion Downhill - Freeride California - Norcal Shocks and Suspension Passion