When you measure your bike, do you ever feel certain that you’re right? That’s just one of the many things that can make estimating a stem’s diameter difficult.
The top of the page has two vertical references, and the space between them needs to be determined. If you want to learn more about how to measure your bike stem, keep reading this blog!
What About A Bike Stem?
The stem’s main job is to connect the handlebar to the fork steerer tube and, by extension, the rest of the bike.
One end of the stem has a hole that goes from top to bottom. This is the end that is closest to the rider when he or she is sitting on the bike. The pinch bolts hold the stem to the steerer tube. The steerer tube is held in place in the head tube by the stem.
Your handlebar is held in place by a faceplate that is bolted to the stem. There are two bolts at the top and two bolts at the bottom.
The part of the stem that connects the faceplate to the steerer tube is usually made of aluminum, carbon fiber, or titanium, but other materials are becoming more common.
By changing the length of the stem, you can make a big difference in how comfortable and easy to handle your bike is. Most stems have a small angle between the steerer tube clamp and the stem’s longitudinal axis. We’ll talk more about the importance of both of these things below.
That’s pretty much all there is to it, but there will always be exceptions and problems with bicycle parts.
How to Measure Your Bike Stem?
Extension
When figuring out how long your bike stem needs to be, the first thing you need to do is measure its stem extension. The stem length is the total distance from the center of the steering bore to the center of the handlebar clamp, rather than the other way around.
Reach
To extend one’s reach is to do something analogous to the length of an arm. It’s measured in the same way, from the same spots on the steering bore and the handlebar, but it doesn’t take rise into account. That is to say, it is simply the horizontal portion of your stem.
Angle
There are two common ways to describe an angle: Angle A and Angle B.
Determine the angle A by placing an imaginary horizontal line through your base. This angle is zero if the stem extends in a direction perpendicular to the column. An angle will be present if the stem of the plant curves ever-so-slightly upward.
The total angle between the stem and the steering column is denoted by angle B. The stem angle is the common name for this measurement.
Again, if the bike’s stem protrudes perpendicular to the column from which the rider steers, then Angle B would be 90 degrees.
However, if the stem is elevated by a small amount, you can calculate Angle B by adding A to 90 degrees.
Rise
The rise is the vertical distance traveled by the stem in response to the angle and length of the stem.
It is the vertical distance between the center of the handlebar clamp and a hypothetical horizontal line that is perpendicular to the vertical portion of the stem and the central point of the extension.
Height
This is the total length of the stem’s vertical portion.
Types of Bike Stems
“Threadless” and “quill” are the two main types of bike stems. Your bike’s headset and fork, which are either threaded or threadless (most forks today use a threadless steerer tube), will tell you what kind of stem you need.
Once you know what kind of headset your bike needs, you need to figure out the different compatibility factors, such as the diameter of the steerer tube and the diameter of the handlebars.
Threadless stems
Threadless steerer tubes come in standard sizes of one inch, one and a half inches, and one and a half inches.
These sizes match the sizes of the stems that go with them. The most common headsets right now are 1-1/8 inches. But since new trends come out all the time and old ones come back, this could change in the future.
Quill stems
Most threaded steerers have diameters of 1 inch or 1 1/8 inches, with quill stems that are sized down to fit the inside diameter of the tube. For many years, 1-inch threaded steerers were the standard.
They are still very popular in the world of vintage and retro bikes. They are still the most common and easiest to get.
The Geometry of A Bike Stem
Stem length
When looking to customize your bike, the stem length is a crucial variable to think about.
Typically, a road bike stem will be between 80 and 120 millimeters in length, while a mountain bike stem will be between 50 and 80 millimeters in length.
The standard height for a gravel bike’s stem is between 70 and 75 millimeters.
The handling of a bicycle can be altered by adjusting the stem length, head tube angle, and fork rake, among other variables.
In general, the shorter the stem, the quicker it can be handled, while the longer the stem, the slower and more predictable the handling will be.
Changing the stem’s length is one way to adjust the bike’s handling, but it’s important to keep in mind that the stem is not an independent variable and that doing so will also alter your riding position.
It’s worth noting that you can modify the distance from your saddle to your handlebars by adjusting the length of your stem.
If you’re feeling overextended, shortening the stem will shorten the reach and give you a more upright position. Contrarily, if you’re finding that you’re crammed onto the bike, a longer stem will extend your reach.
If you want to make subtle changes to your riding position or the way the bike handles, experimenting with a different stem length is a good place to start.
A professional bike fit, on the other hand, will help you zero in on the optimal setup by taking into account the effect of stem length on your overall position.
Stem rise
The rise of a bicycle is the angle formed by the stem and the steerer tube of the fork. The standard range for this angle is 6–20 degrees, with most stock bike stems falling on the lower end.
The rise of the stem that comes standard on most mass-produced bicycles is about average. However, stems with more rise allow for more extensive handlebar adjustment.
Turnable stems are a common design feature. There is a stem that can be tilted down for a lower, more aerodynamic position, or up for a more conventionally upright position of the handlebar, depending on the desired amount of rise.
It’s important to remember that you can also adjust the height of your handlebars by using a riser bar or by adding or removing spacers from under the stem on the steerer tube.
Stem diameter
You must consider the diameters of the handlebars and the steerer tube when picking a stem.
We’ll move on to discuss the various quality levels of both now. The diameter of the bar is typically given in millimeters while that of the steerer tube is typically given in inches, which only adds to the already considerable level of ambiguity.
The standard diameter for steerer tubes is 1-1/8 inches, but 1-1/4 inches can be found on some bicycles.
It’s important that the faceplate on your stem is compatible with the diameter of your handlebars.
The standard diameter of a modern road bike bar is 31.8mm, while older bars were typically 25.4mm.
The standard size for mountain bike handlebars is 31.8mm, but you can also find bars with a 35mm diameter.
Tips to Choose the Bike That Suits For You
Durability
If you want your bike to last, you should buy high-quality parts that can be serviced and repaired if they break.
If you don’t want to learn how to maintain your bike and don’t plan on taking it in for regular servicing, a singlespeed or fixie, or a bike with internal hub gears (which aren’t exposed to the elements) and a Gates belt drive instead of a chain, are your best bet.
If you intend to ride your bike frequently, it is best to invest more money up front in a high-quality model that can handle your commute or school run.
There are some less expensive bikes available, but they are better suited to fair-weather cyclists who plan to use them for short rides on warm summer weekends.
Casing of Superior Quality
You’re well aware that there are numerous frame materials from which to choose, but you’re having difficulty deciding on one.
Aluminum, carbon fiber, titanium, and steel are just a few examples of general materials.
Each has advantages and disadvantages, and the decision will ultimately be based on cost and utility.
Stability of the wheels
These must be strong. To say that smaller wheels are always stronger than larger wheels is an oversimplification.
The answer lies in the materials used and the manufacturing process. However, in most cases, the smaller 26″ or 27.5″ circumference will be more durable than the larger 29″ circumference.
The rear wheel, which bears the most of your weight, should have at least 24 spokes.
Simply put, there are weight restrictions.
While a universal weight limit for bikes would be ideal, the wide range of styles, sizes, materials, and components makes this impossible. A bicycle’s typical weight limit is between 275 and 300 pounds.
Comfort
Touring bicycles and hybrids, while road-legal, are better suited to long-distance riding without a support crew due to their durability.
Touring bikes have a more upright riding position for the rider, but a drop handlebar for stability and control.
This is due to the fact that touring bikes already have attachment points for items such as pannier racks and mudguards.
Budget
Because new ideas spread so quickly nowadays, even the most basic road bikes are built with components comparable to those found on high-end race bikes from just a few years ago.
This is due to the fact that the best road bikes are equipped with the best road bike groupsets.
This indicates that performance boundaries are being pushed to their limits at the extremes of the spectrum, while the cost of a high-performance, reliable machine is decreasing.
FAQs
How is bike stem angle measured?
Stem angles are measured by resting the stem on a flat surface and calculating the degree to which it is tilted with respect to the horizontal.
Given that most treadless stems can be turned around, a stem that rises 10 degrees can be used as a stem that drops 10 degrees.
What angle should a bike stem be?
The standard stem angle is between -10 and +17 degrees. A rise is a positive angle on a stem. In common parlance, a “drop” describes a stem with a negative angle.
Is 110mm stem too long?
Most people agree that a stem between 100 and 120 millimeters is ideal for a road bike, but shorter stems are common. When designing a gravel bike, it’s common to shorten the stem significantly (e.g., to 70mm) and lengthen the relative frame reach.
How do I know if my stem is too short?
If you’ve set up the stem correctly, the handlebars will cover the front hub entirely. The stem is too short if the hub can be seen in front of the handlebar.
Conclusion
The stem of your bicycle will influence how it handles and how your upper body feels the road. While it is one of the most important bike parts in terms of comfort and handling, it is also highly customizable and upgradeable.
The bike stem can be of various shapes and lengths. Choosing the best stem for your bicycle is thus a difficult task. To get the best option, you must first understand how to measure bike stems.
BSXInsight believe that after reading this article, you will be able to handle it.
Thank you for your time.
