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How much does putting a shorter stem on really effect climbing? I like how my bike climbs now, and wouldn't really want to change that.
What length stem on what bike with what fork? You'll need to change your position relative to how much shorter the new stem is, but whether on not that is problematic depends on several factors. If you climb seated, you may have more problems than if you stand.
I like how my bike climbs now, and wouldn't really want to change that
then why you asking the question? if you have a 120mm stem on and swap for a 40mm you'll notice it a lot and probably hate your bike.
A shorter stem will cause your weight to move back, to a point you can compensate by leaning forward.
Depends why you're thinking about changing the stem, and whether you think the other benefits will outweigh the altered climbing handling.
I've recently changed bikes, and gone from a 90mm stem to a 50mm on a frame with a slacker head angle.
I've had to adapt my climbing position on steeper hills, and in some instances has made climbing trickier, but it handles a lot better going downhill. For me, it was worth the trade-off.
Use the following Formula:
Fork axle to Crown Dimension = FA
Head angle = HA
Rider Height = RH
Riders Hand span ( outstretched little finger to thumb tips) = HS
Riders shoulder width = SW
Optimum Stem Length = SL
SL = (FA x HA) / (RH x 0.125) - (HS/SL)
Honest...
What mrmo said.
I found I needed wider bars with the shorter stem and they move your weight forward enough to compensate.
I have 140 travel, high rise bars and a 50mm stem on my 2010 P7 and it climbs reasonably well. it's just how you ride it that makes the biggest difference. if its really steep I have to bend right over and keep my elbows low (nearly hitting my knees) and my ass forward on the seat.
It's perfectly posible to make a bike with a short stem climb as well as the the one wit a long stem. You just have to work a bit harder at it.
Effectively you end up asuming the same position as you would with the longer stem, which puts more emphasis on core strength and gives your triceps a work over too, as your arms are tucked further back.
Give it a try, worst that can happen is that you don't like it and swap back.
I don't think stem length has any effect on climbing. How far you lean forward does. And my elbows mean I can lean forward independantly of where my hands are.
Seat angle, seat position, seat height - all affect climbing performance in terms of "wheel lifting".
I guess if you're talking about "stood, out of the saddle" climbing then stem length does have an effect, but I don't do much of that - prefer a winch and grind.
Effect on COG is minimal and so effect on climbing is mostly perceived rather than real, and can be amply compensated by moving the saddle forward.
heh Brant beat me to it.
Great minds eh? What do you think of my carbon/ti frame work recently? I reckon I have a future as a designer.
Changed from a 90 to 50 stem. Its only become an issue on the steepest of inclines i'm capable of which are usually short anyway, and even then its just a case of altering body position.
'smore about dropping the wrists when it gets vertical, innit
A lower, wider bar will make you lean forwards bit more which I have found benefical to going up and also down and also along and also across.
get cheap stem off classifieds, try it for yourself for a bit?