Subject: Re: Stem Measurement Posted by: jo on August 27, 2006 at 07:45:53: In Reply to: Re: Stem Measurement posted by Chris on August 26, 2006 at 09:55:16:

Message: >>>My lower back is consistantly sore when I riding for long periods of time. After some research I discovered a longer stem may aid in relieving that pain. My question is...how do I measure the stem I currenlty have on my bike? >> Actually, a sore lower back indicates that your stem is likely already too long. You need one shorter, not longer. Don't make a drastic change initially. 1 or 2 cm is plenty. >>A stem is measured from the center of the fork steerer (i.e., the center of the bolt on the top cap of the stem) to the center of the intersection between the stem and the handlebar. > >You really think a shorter one would be better for my back? I have very long arms and I feel as if I'm not able to stretch out to my full length because I'm so hunched over. I don't think one can tell from your description what the entire problem is, but it is a "classic" situation that, if one is having a lot of low back pain, an overly long stem is frequently the culprit. But if you are feeling "scrunched up," that is another issue, although feeling "scrunched up" generally doesn't cause low back pain, in my experience. You may also see if saddle height is the culprit. If your saddle is too high, that also can cause lower back pain. Another cause of low back pain is being way too far back on the saddle relative to the cranks. Another cause of pain is leaning too far over. Raising your stem and increasing front end height might help. The best for you might be getting a custom fit, where someone can really look at your position, and your bike, and make recommendations. Quality bike shops almost always offer that service. From what you say it does sound like you would benefit from a longer stem, and possibly one with more rise, but it also doesn't sound like that would necessarily alleviate your back pain.