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im currently running a 70mm stem on a 710mm wide bars, i find on some switchbacks especially downhill ones, im struggling to manouver(sp?) the bars quick enough, almost feels a bit unresponsive even though my brains engaging to do it quicker (as in i know what i want to do on the switchbacks)
will i notice much difference on a five going from 70mm to 50mm? and maybe going from 711mm wide bars to say 750mm?
any thoughts at all?
1. Should be doing most of the turning with your body/leaning the bike.
2.Itll no doubt be the length of wheelbase, just amont of bike you have to turn remidied by point 1.
3. If its that tight, i either resort to either sliding rear wheel round, an "enduro" pivot as i like to call them, if nethr of them work, you need to rethink your entry/exit lines and or points.
Spot the theme here? Rider error. Not saying im a riding god or anything, i always tend to blame myself abd technique rather than my equipment.
IMO 750/50 is the perfick combo. with the changes you make, the bike will be more stable, and should be slightly flicky-er. cba to explain why, sorry! To notice the changes, do one before the other.
i always tend to blame myself abd technique rather than my equipment.
But having the best kit for the job helps. No amount of technique is going to get a rigid singlespeed down a dh course as fast as a dh bike. extreme example, but it all counts. esp when it comes to controls.
PS different bar and stem may put your body in a better position to tell the bike what to do, itll be that rather than how quickly you can turn the bars.
too shorter stem is all about having too much weight over the front wheel. This will in turn make the bike handle more slowly in the steering department. Something about radius/lever/etc:
pull the weight back and IME the steering feels sharper, more controlled.
Tbh your probably right most of it is user error but dunno if I do feel abit stretched out sometimes on some stuff descending steeply
Could be worth a shot as a test can always sell it if it doesn't suit, was thinking of trying some 750 bars too but not sure on that either
Doesn't a shorter stem slow the steering down further, similarly to running wider bars?
Doesn't a shorter stem slow the steering down further, similarly to running wider bars?
No.
too shorter stem is all about having too much weight over the front wheel. This will in turn make the bike handle more slowly in the steering department. Something about radius/lever/etc:
pull the weight back and IME the steering feels sharper, more controlled.
Eh? Don't you mean too long a stem?
Shorter stem should quicken the steering surely.
Does quicken the steering IMO...but need to get yourself a bit further forward when climbing as the front wheel can pop up on really steep climbs.
^that certainly would be my findings (dropped from 90 to 50mm stem on my fs)
Going wider in the bar helped balance the steering out and, for me at least, has made it easier to get that little extra required weight forward for steep climbs.
Depending on how steep the head angle is, you might not want to speed up the steering as you may find that the bike won't go in a straight line! A wider bar would help here though too. DH bikes work because the slack head angle and wide bar gives stability, yet a short stem allows the bike to be flicked about.
Don't know the science of it but I switched to 70 50 and it feels so much better on the twisty technical stuff. Had a go on a mates bike with a long stem afterwards and it felt awful, it oversteered massivly
You need an enduro stem, like a trial stem but not fun. It will make you corner much more seriously.
Short stem and wide bars are this seasons fashion; just stick with it and you'll rock until it changes.