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Conference noted::bicycle

Title: Bicycling
Notice:Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:JAMIN::WASSER
Created:Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3214
Total number of notes:31946

1063.0. "STEMS" by WMOIS::C_GIROUARD () Thu Mar 23 1989 09:47

    I couldn't find a TITLE specific to stems although they have been
    discussed by manufacturer here and there.
    
    Help with this one; I needed a longer stem (SCOTT BARS) to raise
    the height of my bars. I had a TECHNOMIC stem installed. Any one
    have anything on this one?
    
    Chip
    
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1063.1What do you want to know?NAC::KLASMANThu Mar 23 1989 10:3617
< Note 1063.0 by WMOIS::C_GIROUARD >
                                   -< STEMS >-

>    the height of my bars. I had a TECHNOMIC stem installed. Any one
>    have anything on this one?
    
What is your question?  The Technomic stems are probably the best for use with 
Scott bars.  I recently put one on one of my bikes with Scott bars and I 
actually had to chop about an inch off of the bottom to get it down far enough 
(about 1/2 in below my seat height).  Its a good quality stem.  I had to 
spread the clamp just a little bit to get the Scott's in.  I've also used 
cheaper Sakae stems, but these needed to be reamed out a bit to fit.

ATB stems are also recommended for this purpose, tho they all seem to have a 
long reach, and I need a very short reach stem (my Technomic is 50mm)    

Kevin
1063.2FINISWMOIS::C_GIROUARDThu Mar 23 1989 14:553
    That's what I was looking for. Thanks.
    
    Chip
1063.3Sakae AHLEVERS::LANDRYFri Mar 24 1989 16:128
	I'm using a Sakae AH stem with Scott bars.  Essentially the
	same geometry as the Technomic (230mm long, 60mm extension),
	half the price ($10.90 in Nashbar), and I had no problems
	installing it (no reaming, no spreading).

	chris

1063.4Why do all the pro's opt for Long Stems?GSFSWS::JSMITHChromed CannondaleFri Aug 24 1990 15:4013
    
    	I recently went thru an old cycling calendar and picked
    up a peculiar point.  It seems that the majority of the
    pros (Greg included) have stem lengths that appear from the
    photos to be in excess of 150 mm (old style, not TT, Aero
    or Clip On's).  One can only assume that this allows you to
    stretch out more and thus lower your wind resistance, but
    I can't imagine riding in a tight pack with such a twitchy
    front end created by all that extension on the bars.  Is
    this just the trade off you pay for increased speed/performance
    or are there some obvious benefits to having a long stem
    (lets keep this topic non-sexual) that I am unaware of?
    					_Jerry
1063.5Stem only affects handling a littleSVCRUS::CRANEFri Aug 24 1990 16:3312
    
      The length of the stem does not really impact the handling of
    the bike that much.  The angles of the frame, the wheelbase and
    the amount of fork rake all combine to give a bike its handling
    charactaristics.  Most bikes used by the Pro are more layed back
    slower handling bikes.  Stability is more important to a road bike
    than super fast handling unless you ride Crits for a living.
      It is also more comfortable to achieve a low aero position by
    stretching forward than to scrunch down into lower deep drops.
    
      John C.
    
1063.6Long TorsoWECARE::PAMMERFri Aug 24 1990 17:141
    For someone who has a long torso, it helps get their back flatter.
1063.7The basic equation they useCIMNET::MJOHNSONMatt Johnson, DTN 291-7856Mon Aug 27 1990 19:295
    
    Longer stem => 
    	Shorter top tube => 
    		Tighter triangle => 
    			More responsive frame
1063.8Two more reasonsCIMNET::MJOHNSONMatt Johnson, DTN 291-7856Mon Aug 27 1990 19:3310
    o Wider range of hand positions.  Many riders like to have two
      hands close together on the bars, on either side of the stem.
      The longer stem makes this seem more natural, and less "crowded".
    
    o Weight is placed proportionally further forward, relative to
      the wheels.  Especially for bikes with laid back seat tubes 
      (the classic road bike style), this is important to prevent
      "whippy" handling on descents.
    
    MATT
1063.9less twitch, less fillingSHALOT::ELLISJohn Lee Ellis - assembly requiredMon Aug 27 1990 19:367
    
    By the way, yes, the affect on steering might in fact be very
    little, but the effect of a longer stem would be *less* twitchy,
    more stable steering (because you would be steering at a greater
    radius from the axis of rotation).
    
    -john
1063.10How is stem pitch measured?MAY18::bobFor Internal Use OnlyFri Jul 21 1995 16:524
Center of handlebar to center of headset?

b