First 100 miler flip stem

[Jason.T]

Got my first 100 mile sportif on Saturday, I'm going to flip my stem so I'm more upright and hopefully more comfortable

Does anyone know what torque settings the bolts of my stem should be?

I've got a debda stem on alloy handlebars

Every where else on the bike states the torque settings but the stem doesn't

 

[vickster]

If you Google deda stem torque estting a bunch of hits come up. Depends which stem, there's a PDF for the Elementi if it's that one

 

[TissoT]

Should say on the Stem....if not 5nm Alloy steer to a Alloy stem

 

[simon.r]

I understand your thinking behind flipping the stem, but I'd caution against making any set up changes before a long ride. Better to try changes out on relatively short rides, where there's no pressure and you can stop to tinker with the settings if you need to. Same goes for new equipment.

 

[Broadside]

Should say on the Stem....if not 5nm Alloy steer to a Alloy stem

I agree with this, but would also caution on playing around with your setup so close to a big ride, unless you plan on doing some distance tonight/tomorrow to check that the change is advantageous and will not cause some other unexpected issue...

 

[Jason.T]

I tend to get lower back pain and sometimes hip pain at about 40 miles into a ride

If I put my finger tips on the bars and sit more upright the pain tends to go away

It's not particularly painful just slight niggling but even a slight pain on the rest of the 60 miles could get annoying

It's strange as I don't always get pain, I did a 80 miler last month with no pain but the last twice I went out I did have a little pain

I have changed my saddle recently but it's exactly the same hight etc, would that have made a difference in causing pain

 

[vickster]

Is the saddle in exactly the same fore/aft position too, i.e. no change in your reach. Are you sitting further forwards or backwards on the saddle perhaps?

 

[Jason.T]

Is the saddle in exactly the same fore/aft position too, i.e. no change in your reach. Are you sitting further forwards or backwards on the saddle perhaps?

I think I might be sitting a little further back, the saddle is shorter that the previous one, I can bring it forward but not by a great deal but I don't feel I'm sitting a great deal further back either

Would a small difference like that have an affect? I'm maybe 1/2 inch or just over further back

 

[vickster]

Half an inch? That's equivalent to 1-2cm on a stem...that's a fair change I'd say

 

[Jason.T]

I've never had a bike fit but set it up through YouTube vids etc

I had it so the bottom of my knee cap was level with the pedal axel as per YouTube & websites but yes I am a little further back now,

To be honest thinking about it probably was more comfortable before changing my saddle so tomorrow I shall get a plumb line and set it up as it was before

 

[Old Plodder]

With recurring back pain, you'll want a slightly shorter stem. (Been there, done that.)

 

[User6179]

Check out pelvic tilt , wrong type of saddle for your sit bones or to much pressure on your bits can make your pelvis tilt back causing low back pain as you hunch over , the handlebars then appear further away and you look to shorten stem or push seat forward when in fact you need to tilt your pelvis forward .



http://bikedynamics.co.uk/backpain.htm

 

[screenman]

With recurring back pain, you'll want a slightly shorter stem. (Been there, done that.)

Disagree, a longer one sorted it for me.

 

[fossyant]

Don't mess with the position for a long ride, you may regret it. !!

 

[Kies]

You really should have sorted this out earlier, it sounds as if your saddle change has changed it's relative position, to reach and pedals. I hope any changes you make in the 11th hour don't cause you too much discomfort on your long ride.
Next time get everything set up (including any equipment changes) a couple of weeks before the ride.

Good Luck