Stem length... What's it all about then?

So after looking at the 'De-ugly your Fuji' thread and hearing that the handlebars/stem and saddle are the biggest let downs on the bike, and being a total sheep, I've decided that I want to slap on a Cinelli XA stem and Cinelli Criterium handlebars. I'm not sure what exactly stem length means in the real world though. I assume that it has something to do with reach. I'm quite comfortable with my current setup on my Fuji but really I've not got a lot to compare to. Any information would be appreciated.

If you are comfortable, why change?
You could always experiment with other lengths to see if being more stretched out or more upright makes a diff. Costs money/time though.

I dislike the welds on the Fuji stem. It's purely a cosmetic change.

I don't have one but those adjustable stems look wicked for dialing in you handle bar position, one it is sorted adjust your sack height, and get a steam with the correct rise and length.

andrewleitch86 I dislike the welds on the Fuji stem. It's purely a cosmetic change.

So measure its length (centre to centre usually) and get one the same.
Make sure it suits the bar you have (normal, oversize, etc) and the steerer you have (1" or 1 1/8th).

I found a shorter stem is more comfy and upright for riding, a bit more awkward to get over the front wheel for skids n stuff though if thats ur thing?

very good idea to match cinelli bars to stem, as they have a weird 26.4 clamp ;)

dogsballs very good idea to match cinelli bars to stem, as they have a weird 26.4 clamp ;)

Yeah I've read about that. Soem of the stems come with a 26.0mm clamp so I'll have to watch out for that too although I read that it's possible to squeeze 26.4mm bars into a 26.0mm stem. Just doesn't work the other way around.

Can always shimmy shim shim.

andrewleitch86 [quote]dogsballs very good idea to match cinelli bars to stem, as they have a weird 26.4 clamp ;)

Yeah I've read about that. Soem of the stems come with a 26.0mm clamp so I'll have to watch out for that too although I read that it's possible to squeeze 26.4mm bars into a 26.0mm stem. Just doesn't work the other way around.[/quote]

Two or three wraps of nicely cut beer can does the trick.

Dicki wisely pointed out that a shorter stem gives you easier control of the bike, better for polo, for example!

Actually, hey conan did you re-clearcoat your pista after stripping off the decals? Mine is currently half-unclearcoated (on the 3 decalled tubes) and its WAY shinier than before...

Better low-speed control perhaps but if you're doing 80kph down a hill, the longer stem is going to feel more stable/less twitchy. 'course you can adapt and if you are used to it, it won't feel so bad.

i've had a different set up on pretty much every bike i've ridden, so everything feels equally odd. The long stem on the pista combined with the short wheelbase led to some amusing incidents though :)

i'm surprised no one brought this up: weight distribution...
bum/saddle vs. wrist/bars

He's already said he's comfy though?

Yes but hippy, as i know all to well, you think you're comfy, then you get a new bike and realise that you were in fact incredibly UNcomfy, especially if you don't know any better... like i don't :)

In which case, see the second line of the second post..

yeah i have, that's sort of how i realised. Glad i turned the stem the right way up!

TheBrick(Tommy) ... adjust your sack height, and get a steam with the correct rise and length...

I think we could have a whole new thread on this, Tommy!

;-)

...adjust your sack height???? tighter pants???

Hopefully you can source this bar/stem combo NOS?

It's prob twenty years old else, ie well past it's use-by date.

That said I used to race the Cinelli 65 Crit and it's a superb shape.

i am so comfortable on my Bridgestone now. It has the most random assortment of parts ever.
It might get more so.....
we'll see.....

kowalski Hopefully you can source this bar/stem combo NOS?

It's prob twenty years old else, ie well past it's use-by date.

That said I used to race the Cinelli 65 Crit and it's a superb shape.

freshtripe's got crit's NOS. cinelli milano stems NOS will cost a fortune... don't know about the 1A's, i got 2 used and they don't come cheap... and 2A's are extremely hard to find!

NYC messengers only uses 140mm long stems, deep drop of course, you should get them! ;)