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I'm just back from hols and hired what was pitched as an endurance road bike (Berrier Bellador) for a day. Did a 90km road ride with a bit of climbing and whilst the bike was sized by the rental shop based on the stack and reach of my Giant Revolt, I was slightly more stretched out and found my shoulders were a lot happier after 4 and a bit hours... This may be down to the smooth Mallorcan tarmac and narrower bars...
My Revolt has a 70mm stem and I'm right at the top end of its medium size range at 5'11, I sit relatively upright on it which has been fine for off road riding but I do bang my knees on my Alpkit Stem Cells when fitted for bike packing when out the saddle. I've also had a few shoulder issues lately on longer rides and find myself shuffling about on the saddle to change position a lot after a few hours.
I dropped a 100mm stem on from the parts bin this morning, a ride around the cul de sac felt fine although I will have changed the handling, slowing it down a bit... I'm aware that the shorter stem on the gravel bike is to offset the slackish steering angle... Will take it out for a proper spin later. I'm finding I ride on roads about 3x more than gravel of late..
I've seen threads on shortening gravel bike stems, but has anyone increased the length by such a jump and found the affect on handling ok? Ie. Will my first high speed descent be terrifying 😀
TIA
Not a revolt but a TCX. For gravel I prefer a longer stem to put me in a more road bike style position.
For cross, I prefer a shorter stem for faster handling in single track etc.
Thanks, feel like I'm trying to make a gravel bike into a road bike.... I guess I can always swap back.. Next ride planned Sunday.
feel like I’m trying to make a gravel bike into a road bike
Or trying to get your gravel bike to fit you better, which can only be good.
And there was me thinking this would be like a dropper post for the handlebars…
I bought a Camino frame a few years ago and if you buy the complete bike I think they come with a 70mm stem for a large (off the top of my head). I just stuck a 100mm stem on it as that's what I always use and it's been fine, not noticed it being any worse for the sort of riding I do (southern bridleways) albeit I didn't run a shorter one before so maybe I wouldn't...
On the contrary I'm about to shorten mine because the reach is too long for me and I'm getting pain between the shoulders and in the breast bone.
I've ridden a 100mm stem off road for gravel duties for three years on that bike and handling wise no issues, so from that point of view I can't see a reason for you not to go for longer.
Cheers all, good to sanity check these things...
Have ridden to work a couple of times, after an initial few seconds of this feels a bit different, all fine.. (the quick rack and pannier on the back makes more difference...)
Following with interest as looking to go the opposite way and go from 70 to 50mm
My Tempest came with a 70mm stem, the first thing I did was to go to 100mm. I always ride a small frame with a longer stem....probably breaking all sorts of rules - but as an ex roadie its just part fort the course!