How To Perform A Bike Fit - Reach And Stem Length For Road Cycling

Bike fit for road cycling can be complex. We visited Oli Beckingsale of BW Cycling in Bristol to find out more about steam length and reach.

The more you cycle, the more important the right fit is. A tiny change can result in big performance gains or a huge increase in comfort.

We listened to a few of your questions about our How To Perform A Basic Bike Fit video and asked bike fit expert, Olympian and former national champion, Oli Beckingsale of BW Cycling about reach and stem length.

Both of these factors have a huge affect on your back, shoulders, and the control that you have over your back. By experimenting with your position or visiting a bike fit expert you can come up with the position for you and your riding.

Is there anything you would like to know about bike fit? Comment below and let us know.

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to GCN - you could see your question answered.

Huge thanks to Oli and BW Cycling.

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Leave us a comment below!

Music licensed by Cue Songs
Music - licensed by Cue Songs

[evahnyird]

It looks like you're drawing the angles differently before and after the fit.

[gcn]

Hi Julio, Your shoulders to your upper arms normally sit at a bit under a 90° angle to your chest when on the hoods. Your shoulders should be relaxed across your back and not being pulled in towards your chest - as Oli talks about at 0:50.

Hope this helps!

[gcn]

Hi Lee, this is just one of many videos about bike fit that will feature on GCN. We've covered some of your points already in a previous video, but we'll add the others to our "to do" list.

[gcn]

Haha, let's keep this quiet, but I've left the spacers under the stem and put my 130mm back on. Dare I say it, I kind of like it. – Simon

[jrrojas]

I replaced a 100 mm bike stem for a 75mm and now I feel more comfortable, when riding.

[diegoleiva]

I bought a used bike for a way too good price, but it's an L frame and I'm 5 foot 9. Replaced the stock 110 mm stem with an 80 mm and so far, so good.

[bikeanddogtripsvirtualcycling]

I just returned from a bike fit.raising the seat 1 cm and reducing the stem from 120mm to 90mm changed my power output from 235 to 479. Need to get used to the new feeling. Would certainly recommend a fitting if you do at least 150 mile a week.I used watt bike at giant Liverpool. Lasers.

[gcn]

They tend to have a measuring rig that travels with the team mechanics truck so that they can repeat the same measurements each time. Without a rig, it's a bit more difficult, but there are a few key measurements that you can take - seat layback, saddle height, reach and drop. We'll have to do a video!

[yourischepens]

What about the bike-fitting in case you have a MTB?

[palmer]

Si, did you feel more comfortable on the bike after his alterations or have you gone back to your old set up?

[funnights]

Excellent video, everything well explained. I had a pro bike fit recently and it has made a huge difference to my performance and my comfort on the bike. I'm getting more out of every pedal stroke with seemingly less effort. I would thoroughly recommend a proper fitting to anyone considering it.

[urfoolingmyleeg]

Hi, what program was used to create the angles over the images?

[dshmoney]

Im 5"10 235lbs male i think i prefer a shorter stem with my drop bars i had a long stem on my drop bars felt like i didn't have any control while riding drops hopefully the shorter stem does justice

[leedorney]

What wasn't discussed crank length ???? and saddle length, also - a very understated subject !

Soo many bikes now are soo fixed in geometry - I'm surprised that wasn't discussed either - hence my choice of 'custom ;)

Best line of the video: 'Simon's getting a bit older now - going into his older years' CLASSIC

[steva_nolimits]

How pretty that bike was and how fast it looked...

[billm]

@josephbourne....it does not have to be that high tech.  you can really feel this in your body...how does your reach feel?...how does your bottom feel?...how do your shoulders feel?...sometimes we want to look like the pros, but it's actually better to come back a bit...relax...move the bike in ways that make sense to move your body so it does not hurt....that said, this is the 2nd GCN video I have watched and they are amazing.  This stuff is golden.  &  remember it is all a process...  I ride a very different setup than I did years ago, and that was different from even more years ago.  ups and downs....

[simonjames]

Great vid; I’ve just bought my first gravel bike and according to my height am at the top limit for a M frame and just within the start of the ML frame. I am overreaching and can feel it in my lower back. An M frame would have been too short but I think a 2 cm shorter stem will sort it - just need to check my seat is in the right position before spending $$$!

[richardsherwin]

Great video as usual! I have a 56cm frame with a 57cm top tube length. I feel that maybe the reach is a bit far as I tend to not grip at the end of the brake hoods. But a cm or so further back plus I can see the front axle spindle in front of the handlebar whilst resting on the hoods. My question is :- I have a 110cm stem at the moment on a few spacers, should I just go to a 100cm? I'm worried that I'll change/spoil the handling if I go too short? What do you advise chaps? Thanks :-)

[thisisbenji]

How do you determine which points on the body to measure angles from? It seems like depending on where you measure the torso angle could have a huge affect on what angle you get.

[jmack]

@Global Cycling Network. When I use the plumb line method I find my vastus medialis fatigues almost to the point of DOMS after the ride, should I just stick with it and build the muscle up or should i stay sat slightly further back?