Spacer above stem or not

[lulubel]

When I built the Surly, I mostly followed the instructions in Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance to get everything put together properly.

In one of his Pro Tips, he writes:

If the fork has a carbon steering tube, always place one spacer above the stem. That way, the entire stem clamp is clamped onto the steerer and there is no chance for the upper part of the clamp to pinch the end of the steerer. This is a good idea for a steel or aluminium steering tube as well.

I duly followed these instructions, and cut my steerer to the appropriate length.

Since changing my bars, and getting out for a quick ride today, I've found they're a little lower than I'd like. I've also noticed that no bike I've ever bought has had a spacer placed above the stem.

Should I just go ahead and swap the stem and the top spacer over, and assume that Surly aren't going to make a steerer that's going to be damaged by the stem clamp?

 

[BimblingBee]

Yep, you will be fine. You don't need to go nuts when tightening either- surefire way of breaking a carbon steerer!

A bi-product of having a spacer above is it keeps the steerer longer and improves resale value if you choose to sell fork on (it will fit a wider range of frames).

 

[TheDoctor]

Worth flipping the stem (if it's not flipped already!) as this will win you a little height.

 

[lulubel]

Thanks, guys. I'll swap them over, then.

Yes, it's already pointing upwards. I think I might have to go for a stem with a bit more rise eventually because these bars are quite radically different from the ones I had and they feel like they need to be higher, but I'll do what I can with what I've got for now, and try it for a couple of weeks before I go spending money.

 

[boydj]

Make sure the top of the steerer is just below the top of the stem so that the top cap is tightening onto the stem.

Edit - I'm sure you know this anyway.

 

[MacB]

having trimmed a few Surly steerer tubes, Xcheck and KM forks, I would say that their beefiness far outweighs any level of tightening you'd achieve via the stem. Though like above I try to be careful not to overtighten the stem.

 

[lulubel]

having trimmed a few Surly steerer tubes, Xcheck and KM forks, I would say that their beefiness far outweighs any level of tightening you'd achieve via the stem. Though like above I try to be careful not to overtighten the stem.

That was what I thought. It took me over half an hour of patiently working away with a hacksaw to cut the steerer down.

I always try not to overtighten things, but I've just got a set of long hex keys, and I've noticed things have started getting rather tight since I've been using them all the time. I think I'll have to go back to the short ones for anything sensitive!

 

[MacB]

That was what I thought. It took me over half an hour of patiently working away with a hacksaw to cut the steerer down.

I always try not to overtighten things, but I've just got a set of long hex keys, and I've noticed things have started getting rather tight since I've been using them all the time. I think I'll have to go back to the short ones for anything sensitive!

if it helps I've always used the long T handle hex keys when I've done stems and I tested my normal tightening when I got one of the little Park Tools beam torque wrenches. My nipping up was consistently below the permissible torque values stated on the stems.

 

[Smurfy]

Rule 45 applies in this case.

I'll leave you to read the other 'Rules', determine whether 'The Rules' are a load of clap-trap, and decide whether you want to be a heretic.

 

[Rob3rt]

Just sling that spacer from on top of the stem under it and see if it fits better.

Honestly, I like the aesthetic of a slammed stem with either no spacers or just the 1x5mm above the stem, but getting the thing to fit right is more important.

 

[lulubel]

Rule 45 applies in this case.

I'll leave you to read the other 'Rules', determine whether 'The Rules' are a load of clap-trap, and decide whether you want to be a heretic.

I'm already a heretic. I'm riding a cross bike with 32mm slicks and flared drop bars on the road.

And I wear trainers and use flat pedals.

 

[lulubel]

Just sling that spacer from on top of the stem under it and see if it fits better.

Honestly, I like the aesthetic of a slammed stem with either no spacers or just the 1x5mm above the stem, but getting the thing to fit right is more important.

That's exactly what I did this morning, and it feels better, but still not quite right. I think I'll be looking for a stem with a bit more rise before long.

This is what you get for cutting down the steerer tube before you decide you want to change the style of the bars.

 

[Smurfy]

I'm already a heretic. I'm riding a cross bike with 32mm slicks and flared drop bars on the road.

And I wear trainers and use flat pedals.

Join the club! I posted that link as a rather tongue-in-cheek response. One of my rides is a cross bike. The first thing I did was remove the knobblies and fit 25mm road tyres. No doubt some people think I'm a bit weird, but everything about the bike was perfect for me apart from the tyres, so it works well for me.

 

[Rob3rt]

That's exactly what I did this morning, and it feels better, but still not quite right. I think I'll be looking for a stem with a bit more rise before long.

This is what you get for cutting down the steerer tube before you decide you want to change the style of the bars.

TBH, I have bothered to have mine cut. All 3 of my bikes have uncut steerers (as in room for a few spacers, not a massive long steerer).

 

[lulubel]

TBH, I have bothered to have mine cut. All 3 of my bikes have uncut steerers (as in room for a few spacers, not a massive long steerer).

The Surly's steerer tube was so long I would have been in danger of poking my eye out if I hadn't cut it at all!

I've currently got 35mm of spacers under the stem, and I've just ordered a new stem with more rise, so I can get the bars a bit higher again. I'm not sure why I need these bars so much higher/closer than the old ones - possibly the extra width at the hoods? - but I know it isn't going to be comfortable for long rides as it is.