Road bike recommendations

convention is that ideally for a road bike you should be aiming for 10-12cm of stem

But they actually ride just fine with anything from 5-15cm if it's in proportion with the rest of the bike.

I switched from a 11cm to a 9cm stem, on my road bike, and I've got to say I was shocked at how much better the 11cm felt. I know I'll get used to it, but it did feel a lot more stable.

I'm hoping at some point to get a set of the nodder 3t bars which should bring the reach in a little and allow me to use a 10cm stem.