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Hi, i'm thinking of getting a shorter stem on my 2011 anthem x4, i currently have a 105mm stem and while it stops my front wheel from lifting on the uphills going down i find im struggling doing tight turns and going down very steep parts
I feel like my body weight is too far forward and it wants me to go over the bars.
Apart from this the set up is great, i can go for all day epics without any aches and pains and im reluctant to change anything too much because of this.
Im wondering if getting a slightly shorter stem, ie 80-90mm would make a difference?
Any other anthem owners changed their stem?
I have a 70mm stem but thats what suits me. For me 105mm is far too long for XC riding.
Could you get a loan of a shorter stem to try it out first?
75mm stem for me - feels nicely balanced.
plenty do, as unless racing many find the standard fit too long.
I'd get a couple of cheapy stems in different lengths, and then stick with the one you prefer, or get a shinier stem of the same length.
carboncycles.cc are good for cheap stems for experimenting.
70mm here, with the occasional 40 just for fun
I have a 90mm on my large frame. Suits fine for XC. If I were riding more technical stuff more frequently I'd probably look at a 70mm.
Must be alone in being happy with the standard stem...
I do always have the saddle rammed back as far as it will go to get as much weight rearward as poss - stretched out riding position is one of the appeals of the Anthem IMO
I've got a 75mm one on a large frame. I put it on when I built up the bike because it was al I had. However, I think it fits me great, I swapped the slightly layed back post I was on for a Thompson inline one, so it now really fits my lanky legs and stubby arms. Good on the climbs (it'll out climb anything else I've ridden against in an 'flipping over the back' type ascent - shame my legs can't keep up!) and stunning on the single track and descents
Oh, and I'm running a 120mm fork up front so the shorter stem speeds up the handleing that the slighlty longer foks slow down
The 110mm stem on my L was way too long,so I swapped it out for a 90mm.(I`m 6ft).Reach is perfect,nice balance between flickability and stability.
Might yet be tempted to try an 80mm butI think anything less would be too twitchy for me,especially given the Anthem`s geo.
Cheers for the replies, as i'm 6ft and a large as well i've gone and bought a 90 mm stem from merlin, they have some brilliant deals on easton ones.
If i still find thats too long it'll buy a 70mm-ish one and swap between depending on what im doing.
Thanks again.
100mm, -5 degree here. I feel with anything shorter it'd be too lively, and, well, it is an XC bike. My other bikes run 50s.
5'11" on a med with 90mm feels fine to me, might actually try a 100mm to stretch me out a little more.
120mm on mine, had a 110mm but was too cramped. size L and 6'2 though, with long arms.