New Stem?

[SouthernBelle]

I have concluded that I need and want a shorter stem on my Giant. It came with a Easton EA50, but the specs don't give the exact size. Before I go measuring and ordering, I want to make sure I do this right.

1. Do I measure the stem from end to end flat?

2. How much shorter should I go? How do I decide?

If it helps, here are the specs on my scoot: Click me (http://www.giant-bicycle.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?year=2005&model=11142)

Nashbar has many on sale now, so thought it would be a good time.

TIA,

[DebW]

Stems are measured from the center of the steering tube to the center of the handlebars.

[velogirl]

Many stems also have the size (in mm or cm) and angle (in degrees) stamped on them. You may need to take it off the bike to find it. Don't forget that if you're getting a shorter stem, you could either get the same angle or a greater angle if you want to put yourself in a more upright position.

[indysteel]

The ideal stem length for you is a function of your reach. I'm assuming you want to change your current set-up because you feel too "stretched out." Have you had any measurements taken at your LBS to determine reach? I would be hesitant to order another stem before doing that. Also, your LBS can explain the pros and cons of getting a shorter stem. My understanding is that anything shorter than 90 mm can adversely affect handling. I have a 90 mm on my road bike and have been advised against getting an 80 mm for that reason, even though I'm a little stretched out too. I will note that my reach has lengthened as I've gotten stronger. Reach isn't really a static thing.....

Kate

[SouthernBelle]

I will check tonight to see if I can find the stamped length on the bars. (duh).

I've had this bike since August and this is the only fit problem I continue to have. At this point the bars are tipped a little so I can ride the hoods, sacrificing most access to the drops.

While the guys at my LBS are helpful as can be, I'm not sure they get fitting women.

But anyway, I'll see what I have, though I'm having dental stuff done this afternoon and may be a little drunk tonight. :o

[Pedal Wench]

In looking at the specs for your bike, I noticed that they mention the 'hub' test, where your bars should block you from seeing your hub. From what I've read, that test does not apply to women, because of the difference (generally) in our torso and arm length.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I agree with Pedal Wench about the hub view "rule". That rule seems to me to be possibly useful if you can't tell whether your reach is good by other means or by actually feeling good or bad on your bike.
For what it's worth, I had too much weight forward onto my hands with my 9cm stem. I felt like I was about to fall on my face, but I initially attributed that to my being a novice, not having core muscles, and simply "not knowing". I had been checked for fit by experienced guys by eye and by the "hub view test". They took measurements of my angles, had me peer at my hub and such, said I "looked good". Actually, I DID look good!...but I wasn't comfortable. :rolleyes:
After riding a couple of months and feeling too stretched out still, I switched it out to a 5cm, and I found my steering/handling was immediately IMPROVED because my whole body is now nicely balanced on my bike. I don't feel like I'm doing handstands anymore, so I have much more control. I didn't notice any of this "squirrely" issue people talk about. On the contrary, I liked the fact that my arc/swing of the handlebars was now tighter, so I don't have as much side to side swinging while steering. Now I feel GREAT on my bike. :)
So I just want to say that the idea that any stem less than 9cm will automatically give you bad handling is not necessarily true. It wasn't for me anyway.

[indysteel]

Lisa, I'm encouraged to know that you haven't had any problelms with a 50 mm stem. I, too, continue to feel like a bit too much weight is in my hands. I tend to place my hand just in front of the hoods; I'd just as soon keep them in the hoods. I've actually had a professional fitting, and the fitter wanted me to ride the bike with the 90 mm stem for a while before readdresssing the reach issue. I think I may reapproach the issue with him next spring. My core has gotten stronger and, assuming that I'm keepoing my back flat and "lifted" from my hips," I don't feel as stretched out. All the same, I would like to try to a shorter step.

But back to the original poster. I'm sorry to hear that your LBS doesn't know how to fit women. My advice would be to try another LBS (if you have one). I, personally, am a bit of an LBS "*****." I've shopped or talked to the guys at about five of the stores in my area. Each one of them has provided helpful advice/service and none of them have batted an eye over the fact that I didn't buy the bike from them. Even if your LBS doesn't understand female fit, explain to them that you're experimenting with reach and that you'd like to try a couple different stem sizes. See if they'll let you try them out before actually buying one. Short of that, just go ahead and buy with a stem that's 10-20 mm shorter than the one currently on there. Generally speaking, it's better to make changes to fit/set up gradually so that your body has time to adjust.

Good luck w/ the stem (and dental work). I'll be interested to hear what you decide.

Kate

[bike4ever]

Susan - What size OCR C3 do you have?

[xeney]

I am also using a 5cm stem, and while I think it looks ridiculous, I find the steering differences pretty easy to adjust to. The bike is harder to control on bumpy pavement if I ride with my hands on the top bar, but now that I can reach the hoods I hardly ever do that anyway.

[SouthernBelle]

Mine is a medium. Though I'm just a shade over 5'5". I'm very leggy. Probably part of the problem.

Maybe a good way to think about it is when you are on the hoods, how far out in front should your hands be in relation to your shoulders? Of course, I'm talking in the saddle. I feel like my hands are way out there. Probably isn't as extreme as I feel.

The guys at my LBS are very nice and when I want something, they jump on it. Of course I've got the want to do it myself bug too. ;)

[DebW]

If you ever climb out of the saddle or think you may someday, also consider your out-of-saddle position when chosing a stem length. If you get the stem too short, you'll feel cramped out of the saddle. Your knees may come within striking distance of the bars. You may be climbing with your shoulders almost in front of your hands, resulting in poor balance and control.

Also, make sure your bottom bracket to saddle setback is right before thinking about changing your stem. If you get that right, you should be able to hold your upper body in balance on a trainer while padaling if you let go with your hands (at least briefly).

[xeney]

SouthernBelle, my husband rides a medium, and I am 5'6" with long legs, and I would definitely a 5-7 cm stem to even think about being able to ride that bike. With the seat up high enough it fits me okay in the legs, but my upper body is just way too short for that reach.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks Deb, I just swapped out the seat, but haven't been riding because I have had the rambling crud in my head and chest AND a yeast infection. The WTB I replaced that pretty Selle Italia with should get me out of the saddle. The nose is shorter. Just got to double check the placement on it on my next ride.

If I measured correctly, the current stem is 10 cm.

I'll probably play with it a little Saturday, straighten the bars back to where they should be and see how I ride.

Xeney, thanks for the point of comparison!

[DarcyInOregon]

I recently purchased a Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD. When I first took the bike out I loved everything about it except that I felt I didn't have the bike under control. I finally figured out it was the stem and handlebars, that the strech was too long for me. I have arthritis in my back, and a few ruptured disks, so I will never have a normal stretch. I called the LBS. He ordered a new stem for me, and new handlebars. The LBS made the stem shorter to bring the handlebars closer. However, he decided the WSD bars were too big for me, as strange as that may seem, because I am 5'9" and 50 pounds overweight. He said the drops should be in line with my shoulders, but the drops on the original handlebars were too far out to the sides. We scrapped the original handlebars and the LBS ordered smaller bars. Don't ask me for sizes because I don't remember. I requested additional brake levers in the front, which is how I rode decades ago. Once the new bars and stem arrived and were installed and I was out on the road again, the riding was awesome. Oh, and I had the bars wrapped in pink. I really love having the additional brake levers.

[SouthernBelle]

Thanks Darcy. Hadn't really thought about the bars being too wide for me, But I will look at that too. Of course pink would clash with my orange trimmed bike. :p

[xeney]

I just remembered that my husband -- who is a little over 5'8, maybe 5'9 -- had to swap out the stem on his Giant to a 9 cm because he was getting backaches. You guys have the exact same bike, I think -- a medium 2005 OCR C3. It's just on the verge of being too big for him so I'm not at all surprised that you feel like you need to swap out the stem.

His other bikes are 54 cm and 56 cm and they fit him fine; he had a lot of problems with the geometry of that Giant.

[wannaduacentury]

I just remembered that my husband -- who is a little over 5'8, maybe 5'9 -- had to swap out the stem on his Giant to a 9 cm because he was getting backaches. You guys have the exact same bike, I think -- a medium 2005 OCR C3. It's just on the verge of being too big for him so I'm not at all surprised that you feel like you need to swap out the stem.

His other bikes are 54 cm and 56 cm and they fit him fine; he had a lot of problems with the geometry of that Giant.

I have the Medum OCR 2 and I'm 5'8 and leggy, long arms avg torso for a gal. I have that adjustable stem on mine and I'll eventually swap it out for a shorter one. I want to ride a little more to fine tune my fit. I'm a little stretched, but I enjoy the ride so it doesn't really bother me right now. I like the geometry-it was a big selling point for me anyways. Jennifer

[SouthernBelle]

I think the geometry on that bike works well for women overall, might even be hard on a guy's proportions.

A friend on another board asked me if I had tried flipping the stem. (Another duh). So I'm going to drag it into the living room, garage has gotten strangely cold, tonight and give that a shot. May just make me too upright.

I got a coupon from Nashbar too, so If I'm going to do this I don't want to wait too long.

OK, I'm occasionally thrifty.

[SouthernBelle]

I ordered a stem and will report back on the results.

[limewave]

Darcy,
I love the additional brakes! What a great idea. When I was pg I always rode in that more upright position. I was always really nervous about having to make sudden stops because I had to move my hands to brake. Next time I get pg, I'll have to see if they can make that addition to my bike as well.

[SouthernBelle]

Just wanted to say my new stem came in last night (mail ran at 5:30!). I got it on but haven't been able to try it out yet. It looks so short and fat. :p

[SouthernBelle]

Finally got to ride with the new stem today, and it is an improvement. It's a 65mm. I'm also looking at new bars, trying to decide between 40 and 38 cm Salsa Poco. I've got an alert set up on ebay, which if anyone is interested has a 36 for 10.00.

[suz]

Hi,

My first post here, but I couldn't help but offer my two cents (about what it's worth!).

Did your LBS fit you to a size medium without trying a small first? I'm 5'7" and fit bikes with a top tube of anywhere between 53cm to 54cm coupled with a 100-110mm stem. I'm also leggy (80cm inseam) and ride with a fairly flat back and stretched out position. If I'm not mistaken, the top tube on a medium Giant is 55.5--way too long even for me. I don't know why you would have been sized to a medium unless you had issues of not enough saddle setback or the need of a taller headtube, etc. Riding a bike that's so big that you have to use a very short stem (<80mm) and shove the seat far forward to obtain a comfortable reach can adversely affect your weight distribution and create handling problems.

In any event, I hope you resolved your fit issues and are out there riding and having fun :)