it says 82/98 degree. The midpoint of those angles is 90 degrees. For a road stem, 72 -73 degrees is considered level. So for a road bike a 6 degree rise stem would be 78-79 degrees. If an mtb stem's reference point is 90 degrees = 0, then a 90 degree stem already angles upward, correct? So a 6 degree stem really angles up? And a 10 degree stem points almost straight up?
My observation is that 90 degree stems are normally perpendicular to the steer tube, so yes they angle up a bit. An 82/98 stem is more typically listed as a +/- 8 degree.
Thanks for the info...but I can't agree with your characterization. A 90 degree stem already angles up--and by more than what I would call 'slightly', because the head tube angles are slacker on mtbs. So 6 more degrees angles up a lot in my opinion, and a 10 degree stem is a smoke stack!
My observation is that 90 degree stems are normally perpendicular to the steer tube,
Thanks for the info...but I can't agree with your characterization. A 90 degree stem already angles up--and by more than what I would call 'slightly', because the head tube angles are slacker on mtbs. So 6 more degrees angles up a lot in my opinion, and a 10 degree stem is a smoke stack!
Like it or not, 5-10 degree stems are low rise in the mtb world. 40 degree is a high rise stem. You can flip one of the later if you really are bothered by your stem angling upward.
Thanks for all the responses. I put the steerer of my Fox Talas 36 1 1/8" through the head tube of my XL Santa Cruz Blur LT2, then I added the headset pieces, and on top of that I added 30mm of spacers, which the Fox manual says is the maximum. Then I set the center-of-bottom-bracket to top-of-saddle height to the same height as my road bike, and I eyeballed where my 6 degree, 90mm stem and 25 mm riser bars would put the grips, and I think I'm still 3-6cm below my saddle height. I spent two hours looking at all the stems at JensonUSA and Universal, and the only stem I could find with more than 6-8 degree rise was a Ritchey stem with 30 degrees of rise.
If all you need is another 6mm height and you have room under the stem, just add another spacer. 30mm max is not an absolute. I think 50 mm (2 inches) is fine, and think that is sometimes what is recommended.
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