bicycle stem

[EPOCycle]

I just bought a shorter stem for a road bike but now my handlebars won't fit. Is there any way I can fix this? Or do I need to buy right size stem for the handlebars?

 

[bonj2]

if the handlebars are too fat for the stem it's likely that you have bought a stem for 26mm diameter bars but your bars are 31.8mm. Take the stem back to the shop you bought it from unused and ask for a refund or a swap for a 31.8mm stem.

 

[Paulus]

Hi there EPO, handlebars come in different sizes, so measure the diametre of your bars and go back to your LBS, explain, and I am sure they will swap the stem over for you.

 

[bonj2]

exactly. 26mm and 31.8mm are the most common sizes but measure with vernier calipers to make sure. better still take the bars to the LBS and make sure it fits there and then.
incidentally one of my bikes is 31.8mm and the other two are 25.4mm, but the 'standard' for road bikes is 26.0mm and 'oversize' is 31.8mm. I'd go so far as saying most road bikes are actually oversize.

 

[jimboalee]

+1, except those really quaint old bikes where the handlebars and stem are a welded 'one peice' unit.

The stem is held steady in the steerer tube with a lever clamp and there is a length of cable from the stem which loops around the front brake bolt inside the fork crown.

You won't have this arrangement, but I have