At the moment i am running a 50mm stem – the lads i ride with reckon its too low, it does feel a little arse up head down but if i run it higher the front end wanders.

Would fitting a stem 20mm longer help? Thinking longer = higher as more weight over the front?

I think that might be the answer to the wandering front, but will change the handling a bit too. Personally, on most bikes 50mm is too short for me for similar reasons.

Would’ve thought a longer stem would just stretch you out making the arse up more pronounced?? Steering would certainly be more stable though, less twitchy perhaps, which might mean you can get away with running the stem higher, or a riser stem to get the front end up higher.

A longer stem will only stretch you more, but 50mm does sound a little short. Try a 70mm with a 10 degrees rise!

Try a 70 or 80 depending on your riding style with a bit more rise than what you’ve got now, that will keep the front down , you could even try a riser bar to give a more head up position.

I have a riser bar already – thats a given!!

Thinking a longer stem run a touch higher will put more weight over the front on climbs and stop the “going over the bars feel”

just bought a cheap 80mm 6 degree rise stem to try
£13 may prove to be a bargain 🙂

Are you using a zero degree stem at the moment?

Think so yes. Pro frs 50mm

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44971

5 degree rise

I had same feeling on 50mm 0 Degree Rise stem and went to a 70mm 10 degree rise – job done! (for me anyway!)

Beat me to it , a quick search shows 5 deg, I would go for a ten or 12 rise to feel a difference

Ralph,
Consider some maximum rise 765mm Nuke Proof bars !, this will give you loads of play by spinning the bars to suit, NP also do a lovely 65mm stem to suit. This is what i run, pulls you into the bike but the extra width also gives you loads of stability.
Kev

any more thoughts? how do i know the stem height/bar height is correct? is it comfort only or some hard/fast rule?

Just gone from 90mm to a 70mm on my 29er. Has made a positive difference. Bike feels better in technical stuff. Shame the 70mm Thomson Elites only come in zero rise though, would have liked a 15deg. Cant stand too much weight on the bars.

Surely you can usually add or remove spacers to change handlebar height, rather than changing the stem angle?

Ive just gone from a 90 riser stem to a 50 flat stem and don’t feel as if there is too much weight over the front. Actually feel as if the weight is naturally further back on techy downhill bits too with better balance.

racing_ralph – Member

“any more thoughts? how do i know the stem height/bar height is correct? is it comfort only or some hard/fast rule? “

IMO there’s no right answer, it’s all personal taste and style. I’ve ended up with a range of cheap stems in the garage, I can make an educated guess what’ll work but I still get surprised.

grrrr – i hate trial and error!