Technical Q&A: Tall handlebar stems

Originally published: April, 2002

Question: Here’s a question from one tall rider to another: I am wondering if you can recommend a tall stem for a road bike, one with the long quill (+200mm) and long extension (+12cm).

I am 6’9″, rebuilding a big old frame, and trying to get the bars up as high and out as far as possible. Having a hell of a time making this thing fit.

Someday when I have more cash I’ll have to order a Zinn Project Big frame! The biggest I’ve been able to find so far is the Nitto Technomic, (non-deluxe) 25.4 clamp 225 mm quill at Rivendell.

-Nick

Nick,

Sad to say, that’s about the biggest one I know of, now that Salsa doesn’t make custom stems anymore. Anyone else have any suggestions?- Lennard

FILED UNDER: Bikes and Tech / Road / Technical FAQ TAGS: bike fit / FAQ / Lennard Zinn / Nitto / position / quill / Rivendell / Salsa / stem / technomic

Lennard Zinn

Lennard Zinn, our longtime technical writer, joined VeloNews in 1987. He is also a frame builder, former U.S. national team rider, and author of many bicycle books including Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance, Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance and Zinn’s Cycling Primer: Maintenance Tips and Skill Building for Cyclists. He holds a bachelor’s in physics from Colorado College. Readers can send brief technical questions to Ask LZ.

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