Reach..new stem?

[Lynn39]

Hello Everyone..

How do I know if the reach is correct on my bike? I think I might need a shorter stem. I currently have a 100 mm stem. I'm thinking about going with a 90 or 80 mm.

Someone told me that when my hands are on the hoods, the handle bar should block the view of the front tire hub. I can get into that position, but it doesn't feel quite natural, like I'm stretching a little too much.

I'm new to road biking and I'm trying to get use to the different riding style. Should I ride longer before I make changes? Is it just a feel thing?

Thanks..

[KnottedYet]

I rode for about 2 months before I decided I really needed to get a shorter-reach stem.

Maybe give yourself a little riding time to check it out?

The way each of my bikes is set up now, yes, the bar blocks my veiw of the hub when my hands are one the hoods. With the old stems, I felt stretched out.

(I did this with both my bikes: one now has a quilled Nitto Technomic stem, the other has a threadless Dimension 130-degree stem.)

[onimity]

Same advice here... I ended up shortening my stem but only after a couple months on my bike. My LBS let me try out a shorter stem for 30 days to see how I liked it.

I'd get some time in the saddle and a professional fit before you start tinkering with the stem, though, if you haven't already. Make sure that your seat position is correct, etc.

The bar blocks my view of the hub when I'm on the hoods too.

Anne

[indysteel]

I've heard that same adage--regarding the bars obsurring the hub. You might also look at your elbows when you're in the hoods. Do they have a slight bend to them or are they straight and locked? You want some bend in your arms.

I agree that you might want to ride the bike as is for a bit before tinkering with the stem. When I first got my road bike last summer, I was a bit overstretched. As I got fitter and more flexible--from both riding and yoga--I got more flexible and now it fits just right.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you don't feel uncomfortable right now, don't change anything.
Just keep riding. The longer you ride the more you will be able to tell if something is not right. Plus, your muscles and body are just starting to adapt to being on your bike- they will stretch and strengthen. Let them do that.

Forget the "rule of thumb" about the hub and your line of vision. All bikes have different geometry and our bodies have different proportions too. Plus, remember that rule was created by a man for men's bodies and men's bike fit.

I had an LBS owner insist on putting my hoods in "the correct location". He was using a t-square ruler. I showed him how that position would NOT work for me and my hands and my body shape. I made him move the hoods 1/2" so I could actually use them. He told me not to tell anyone he had put them there because it would embarrass him for them to know he didn't locate the hoods "by the book". Ugh. I told him "the book" might be written a bit differently by a woman for women riders.

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Just ride and ride, and observe over time whether you feel uncomfortable or in pain anywhere.

[KnottedYet]

I didn't go deliberately trying to block my hubs, I played "air handlebar" on my bike where I thought I wanted the bars (where my hands wished the bar really was).

My LBS dudes looked at where my hands wanted the bar, and got me stem that would put it there.

Only just checked, and yup, the bar blocks the view of the hub.

Pretty funny! The old adage might actually work for my bod.

[indigoiis]

I have the opposite problem: mine is too short! I can see the hub. It kind of bugs me. I ride fairly comfortable with it this way, but would like to eventually try a bit longer stem.

I'll trade ya.

[onimity]

I just checked about the hub thing as I wrote the post too...I wouldn't have changed a thing if I'd seen otherwise b/c I feel *really* comfortable on the bike.

Lisa, that stinks about your LBS guy! I would have probably smacked him with his "book"! Mine was fantastic with the fit & made sure I realized that there were a few ways to determine a fit & that numbers were meaningless if they suggested a position that wasn't comfortable. At my initial fitting the first thing he asked was my impressions of the fit. As we went through he'd say things like, you could move your seat forward as much as 2 inches, but if it feels comfortable now stick with it. Likewise about the shorter stem.

At that point I was still adjusting to the road bike position but was reasonably comfortable, so I didn't make the changes, only a few to my cleat position. Once I was better able to fine-tune I had him make a few adjustments. I really liked that I had time to think about possible adjustments and that the LBS guy didn't measure much at all but instead looked at the angle of my arms, the position of my knee relative to the pedals, etc.

[Trekhawk]

[B]
Forget the "rule of thumb" about the hub and your line of vision. All bikes have different geometry and our bodies have different proportions too. Plus, remember that rule was created by a man for men's bodies and men's bike fit.

As Lisa said the "rule of thumb" does not always work. Remember this method will also be affected by fork rake so may not be reliable for everyone.

[aicabsolut]

The hidden hub thing works for me. My LBS tried to sell me a shorter stem at first for some reason. What I really wanted was narrower bars (my bike came with 42cm, I have 38cm now). For a while, I thought about lengthening the stem. Instead of doing that, I dropped the stem angle waay down from +8 (I think) to -16. If your elbows aren't locked and if you don't feel like you're about to fall on your face, then they're probably ok. Ride them for a while and see if it still gets to you after you've gotten more used to being on a road bike in general.

[Lynn39]

Thanks to all

I will wait before I make any changes to the stem. My bike is a 58 cm (I'm tall, long legs and arms). There was a 120mm stem on it originally, the LBS put the 100mm when they fit me. I do try to keep a flex in my arms (sometimes I have to remind myself). I'm pretty comfortable on it so far, just feel a tad stetched. But, I think you guys are right that I need to give my body more time to adjust. I've only had it 3 weeks...

I'm in my first organized ride on Sunday. So excited.. Signed up for the 25 mile, my neighbor who is a cyclist wants me to the 50 mile with him. Don't know if I'm there yet...we'll see...

I just want to say that I love this site, everyone is so helpful and encouraging.