Road bike stem sizi...
 

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[Closed] Road bike stem sizing question

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Posts: 193
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Just started road biking and seem to be getting some neck/shoulder pain. Thinking I should try a shorter/higher stem as I think I may be on the lower limit of my frame size. Current stem is 110mm. Would a switch to 90mm with more rise help?


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 8:26 pm
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Give it some time if you've only just started. I had the same issue when I got my first road bike. Stuck with it (mainly as I was too cheap to buy a new stem) and was used to it within a hundred or so accumulated miles.

What are yours and your bikes dimensions?


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 8:31 pm
Posts: 17209
Full Member
 

Assuming your saddle is positioned correctly, are your shoulders hunched on the hoods? that gave me neck pain so I dropped 20 mm off the stem to a 100 mm. An easy check is to place your hands on the hoods, lean forward as if riding hard into the wind. The angle of your elbows should be 90-100 degrees. More than this and your stem is too long. Try not to go below 80 mm unless you have a small (sub 54 cm) frame.


 
Posted : 16/07/2014 9:21 pm
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Adjust spacers, flip the stem, rotate the handlebar further up. These are some possible free solutions. I know it's very general but see if your handlebars cover the front hub. If they do, stem length probably isn't the issue.


 
Posted : 17/07/2014 10:06 am
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If you've just started it's more likely you just haven't learnt how to relax enough yet. Try to make a concious effort of relaxing, not gripping too tight, dropping the shoulders etc. If you post a pic of your bike (even better with you on it) from the side you'll probably get a load more useful (mostly) advice.


 
Posted : 17/07/2014 10:18 am
Posts: 1704
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It might help.. Not really enough information to say it will. Try flipping the stem over to get a bit of height. It could be the opposite and you need to stretch yourself out more. Very difficult to say really.

I think you need a 130mm stem or longer for the pro look though.


 
Posted : 17/07/2014 11:29 am

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