how short a stem is too short?

[lph]

a stem recycling program is a good idea

To answer my own question: so far it seems I'm fine with a really short stem. I put on the itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny one (it SAYS 60 mm on it but is also sharply angled so it looks and acts even shorter) and tried it out on a long (75 miles) ride yesterday. It didn't seem to make handling too wobbly, and did make it easier to reach stuff. My neck still started aching after a while, but since I started looking for a new saddle I've become acutely aware of what's wrong with the one I've got, and spent a large part of the ride obsessing about that instead...

So I've got to get a new saddle before I start fussing around more with the bars, to make sure I know where I'm going to be sitting.

[HillSlugger]

a stem recycling program is a good idea

To answer my own question: so far it seems I'm fine with a really short stem. I put on the itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny one (it SAYS 60 mm on it but is also sharply angled so it looks and acts even shorter) and tried it out on a long (75 miles) ride yesterday. It didn't seem to make handling too wobbly, and did make it easier to reach stuff. My neck still started aching after a while, but since I started looking for a new saddle I've become acutely aware of what's wrong with the one I've got, and spent a large part of the ride obsessing about that instead...

So I've got to get a new saddle before I start fussing around more with the bars, to make sure I know where I'm going to be sitting.

Sounds like my stem, 60mm and 30 degrees. The angle makes it act like it's another 5mm shorter.

Glad that you are making advances in your biking comfort. Try not to change too much at once.

[Grog]

So I've got to get a new saddle before I start fussing around more with the bars, to make sure I know where I'm going to be sitting.

If you were to decide to change the bars, check out the FSA Compact Wing Pro. They actually bring the reach back quite a bit without a shorter saddle, and I found that the real estate lost on the handlebars was not a problem... I think the Salsa Poco (or some other Salsa bar) is the same...

This can be messy though - have you sought some help from a good bike shop? I find that having a person look at me from the side often helps...

[Ana]

I researched stems for a while too, since my reach was way to far. I found one site that said if you need too short of a stem, perhaps your bike is mis-sized and you should have a shorter top tube

[lph]

The thought has struck me... But my road bike was a great buy (used), with decent components for a very nice price, and she's RED! Perfect starter bike for me. And I'm not in huge pain or anything, but I can feel that things could be better for long rides. So I'm not giving up on her for a while yet

[HillSlugger]

I researched stems for a while too, since my reach was way to far. I found one site that said if you need too short of a stem, perhaps your bike is mis-sized and you should have a shorter top tube

I think you are absolutely right. I had a professional fitting on my 51cm Specialized Sequoia and was considering buying a 52cm Specialized Allez frame. When I compared the top tubes, etc I saw that I'd be able to get the same reach by putting a 60mm step on the Allez. Maybe not ideal, but I got a good deal on the frame and it's working out ok.

[madscot13]

I'm in the same situation! Overly long top tube but overly short body. Well you might not be as petite as me but it amounts to the same thing. I'm going to do two things: get a shorter stem and a Salsa poco. I think I am only going to shorten the stem by 10-20 mm and the poco will shorten my reach by 20mm. Also I'm going to pick up bars that are closer to my shoulder width and I might gain back some reach that way as well. I considered byuing bars that were 30mm shorter but that would probably be too dramatic. If I need to in the future I will, but as we say in Crew small adjustments...

[HillSlugger]

I've got poco's on both bikes. I was never comfortable on the hood with the stock Sequoia bars.

[Ana]

After my first long ride on my 60mm stem (17 degree rise), I felt cramped and I still had the neck pain (phoey)

So, I went to my LBS and they swapped (for free! ) it for a 70mm with 10 degree rise. I looooove it I took it around the block to "try it out" but I knew immediately that it was better

I'm excited for the chance to go on a longer ride This means that I'm within my 15mm limit from the stock stem. (which was 85mm, 17 degree rise).

Sweet!