REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

just went to 50mm stem and...

43370 Views 118 Replies 32 Participants Last post by C.M.S, Mar 15, 2016

kneetowaist

Discussion Starter · Feb 14, 2011

Would like to know what you think. Coming from 90mm on gt force. Have not gotten the stem yet (in the mail). Will it be too short for the XC portion of AM - I care more about the downhill and jumps/drops (even though I don't go big, 3-4 ft max). I heard if u adjust arm position climbing is almost the same. Your thoughts..thanks!

1 - 20 of 119 Posts

womble

· #2 · Feb 14, 2011

I think you just just throw it on and then decide if you like it.

Whether it works or not is going to depend on lots of variables- cockpit length vs your body size, your terrain and your skill.

CharacterZero

· #3 · Feb 14, 2011

Couple it with a wider bar.

The wider bar/shorty stem combo will pull you back out further, as your arms will be spread more and your torso will have to come lower.

Also, be prepared to change up technique on climbs a bit - keep those elbows low. I have cleaned every techy climb on my 50 that I ever did on my 90.

michaelsnead

· #4 · Feb 14, 2011

+1

CharacterZero said:
Couple it with a wider bar.

The wider bar/shorty stem combo will pull you back out further, as your arms will be spread more and your torso will have to come lower.

Also, be prepared to change up technique on climbs a bit - keep those elbows low. I have cleaned every techy climb on my 50 that I ever did on my 90.

Hi Folks,

I added bar ends to this formula and the two solutions provide me with all the climbing prowess required while still keeping the DH bias! IMHO it's the best of both worlds!!

Enjoy yourself...however you choose to get dirty!!!

Michael:thumbsup:

Huck Pitueee

· #5 · Feb 14, 2011

Technically not a bad idea except chicks won't want to have your baby.

michaelsnead

· #6 · Feb 14, 2011

Huck Pitueee said:
Technically not a bad idea except chicks won't want to have your baby.

Hey Mr. Pitueee,

Given that I'm ancient, and was never attractive when I was young, that is a foregone conclusion that has nothing to do with bar ends!

However, it does free me up to use the best technology, IMHO, to get the job done!!

Old As Dirt...And Proud of It

Michael:thumbsup:

polymathic

· #7 · Feb 14, 2011

Just went from a 90mm to a 50mm stem too. I think you will love it once you adapt your pedaling up hill a bit--getting low and loose.

As CZero said, I've also been able to clear all of the steep stuff I could do with the 90mm without a problem. And where I live there is a lot of climbing. This weekend alone I rode 47 miles that included 17,000 feet of climbing, all on my 50mm stem. No issue.

And now a manuals are so easy, and tight switchbacks much easier to navigate. My back is also much happier.

Evan55

· #8 · Feb 14, 2011

hrmm....making me regret ordering the 85mm haven stem yesterday...

keen

· #9 · Feb 14, 2011

Its all about personal preferance. I started mtb'ing on 100mm + stems. I have settled on 65-75mm stems. Personally anything less than 65mm and I felt like I was loosing a bit of mechanical advantage & I do run 30" wide bars. Frame geometry, riding style, personal preferance - lots of variables.

mimi1885

· #10 · Feb 14, 2011

Going with shorter stem on AM bike is like getting wider bar it's addictive.

lew242

· #11 · Feb 14, 2011

Personally I think going 90mm to 50mm is a bit far, not crazy, but 60mm-75mm would have been better IMO. Make sure your bar is 680mm plus or it might be too narrow, and could be too twitchy for you, but it does depend on your build and personal taste and style.

zebrahum

· #12 · Feb 14, 2011

Short stems and wide bars are the way to go. You have it ordered, you might as well give it a try. Before you know it you'll be ditching your clipless pedals and defending how much you love those decisions on internet forums because everyone else hasn't tried it but doesn't like it.:thumbsup:

pfox90

· #13 · Feb 14, 2011

The thing that is nice about ordering different stems is they are pretty cheap to continually swap out and find a length that fits you best. Much different when trying to find a size bike you like.

TNC

· #14 · Feb 14, 2011

womble said:
I think you just just throw it on and then decide if you like it.

Whether it works or not is going to depend on lots of variables- cockpit length vs your body size, your terrain and your skill.

I totally agree with this...so many variables. The bike, how/where you ride,rider physiology, technique, preference, etc., etc.

fotu

· #15 · Feb 14, 2011

Your stem size should be chosen to fit you to your bike. There is a little wiggle room for riding style, but ultimately, stem size is like frame size, or shoe size. You need to pick the size that fits your physical form to your physical bicycle.

polymathic

· #16 · Feb 14, 2011

I'd also add that some of us are on the cusp between too sizes. I'm about 5'11, and that puts me between a M and L SC BLur. Went for the L, which felt a tad big and not that nimble with the 90mm stem. With the 50mm stem it fits like a glove and is responsive.

And I also went back to platforms for a while. That was nice. Everybody should go back to platforms for periods of time at least. Just put my clipless back on this weekend, and much of my platform confidence and smoothness transferred back to the clipless, too. (For instance, I no longer unclip for the trickiest switchbacks. On platforms, I realized I never took my foot off--all in the head.)

Legbacon

· #17 · Feb 14, 2011

fotu said:
Your stem size should be chosen to fit you to your bike. There is a little wiggle room for riding style, but ultimately, stem size is like frame size, or shoe size. You need to pick the size that fits your physical form to your physical bicycle.

I don't agree with this way of fitting an mtb, especially an all mountain style. Get the proper size frame and then go with the stem and bar combo to get the handling you want. I won't go over 70mm anymore and I used to ride 120mm and gradually worked my way down to 50-70mm. Fitting with stem length works for road bikes (and mtb that are ridden like road bikes) but once the trail gets steep and or techy the shorter stem aids a great deal in the handling dept. It depends on what you are looking for out of your bike but for me I want an AM bike to get to the top, be good enough on flatter single track and to rip on the DH almost as well as a DH bike. You are not going to get this with a 100mm stem. For me it's 50mm on AM/DH and 70 on XC/SS.

fotu

· #18 · Feb 14, 2011

Travis Bickle said:
I don't agree with this way of fitting an mtb, especially an all mountain style. Get the proper size frame and then go with the stem and bar combo to get the handling you want. ....

Well, if you think this is true, you are a total goon. The proper way to fit an mtb is to buy the smallest frame available, and then compensate with a carbon fiber stem.

CharacterZero

· #19 · Feb 14, 2011

fotu said:
Well, if you think this is true, you are a total goon. The proper way to fit an mtb is to buy the smallest frame available, and then compensate with a carbon fiber stem.

So is that a redaction with and edge of light-heartedness?

Becuase I am with Travis and Dave Turner and the like. Stem isn't a fit tool.

dumbaSS

· #20 · Feb 14, 2011

Travis Bickle said:
I don't agree with this way of fitting an mtb, especially an all mountain style. Get the proper size frame and then go with the stem and bar combo to get the handling you want. I won't go over 70mm anymore and I used to ride 120mm and gradually worked my way down to 50-70mm. Fitting with stem length works for road bikes (and mtb that are ridden like road bikes) but once the trail gets steep and or techy the shorter stem aids a great deal in the handling dept. It depends on what you are looking for out of your bike but for me I want an AM bike to get to the top, be good enough on flatter single track and to rip on the DH almost as well as a DH bike. You are not going to get this with a 100mm stem. For me it's 50mm on AM/DH and 70 on XC/SS.

And one more vote for this, spot on.

1 - 20 of 119 Posts