2024 Tarmac SL8
I'm making some adjustments to my fit & have dropped the stem.
Currently have 20mm of spacers above the stem while I'm testing this setup. Not ready to cut the steerer until I'm sure this will be comfortable.
Any problem with me having 20mm of spacers on-top? Want to make sure there's not a safety issue.
by OneTraining3576
16 Comments
If you put spacers on the top, than it is ok. I was riding like this for a month, before I have decided on the height.
As long as you put the spacers you removed back on top. Do not just put a top cap on and ride.
Yes, the ‘tower of indecision’
“Is this handlebar height correct?”
“Would cutting the steer reduce resale value”?
“Does the manufacturer require a 5mm spacer on top the stem?”
“How much shorter should my steer tube be than my spacer stack?”
> Concludes to not cut the steer tube down ’cause it’s not causing any problems.
It’s fine.
I would cut the steerer tube with the max stack height recommended by the manufacturer then play around with the spacers to find the right height for you. When it comes to carbon I just follow the manufacturer’s recommendation and work from there. If I had to guess the most you could run under the stem is 35 mm stack height.
It’s fine until you crash and take a smokestack to the sternum.
Yes it’s fine (but “ugly” temporarily). You have an SL8 and it comes with the new longer 2-piece compression plug. So even when you lower the stem, the pinch bolts are still around the CF steerer tube that is “reinforced” with the compression plug……. Once you determine the “right” height of the stem for you, you should cut the extra steerer tube but know that a cut steerer tube can lose resale value abit.
This is completely safe in all conditions until it isn’t.
In the short-term for bike fitting and testing yes. For your Nutz in the long-term..no 😉
You could always leave a small 5-10m above so it isn’t as noticeable and still have some room to go higher.
Solution:
Commit to the pro cyclist lifestyle and cut it after the handlebars are as low as it gets
Looks like Tarmac SL8. No not acceptable according to the manual. IMO fine for gentle testing rides but not serious riding.
“WARNING! Once the rider’s fit has been determined, the steerer tube should be cut 3 mm below the top of the stem. Alternatively, one 5 mm spacer can be placed above the stem with use of the open stem cover. There should not be more than 5 mm of spacers above the stem. Placing more than 5 mm of stem spacers above the stem is acceptable for fit purposes only. For actual riding, the stem requires full support from the expander plug inside the fork to function safely and as intended.”
No, not a safety issue. Although some may argue you could impale yourself upon over the handle bar dismount. Unlikely with a blunt object. Keep the extra steerer tube length if you want to sell it to a wider audience. Someone who is taller or wants to have higher handlebars may appreciate this. The fork can also be installed on a bigger, taller frame since the head tube will grow in length. No top spacer is needed. It’s just easier for some installer to add a spacer to create the 3mm spacing recommended for headset adjustment.
Sure…until you get impaled by it.
Get the Sawzall and coors light out, and chop it.
Sorry, no jinx intended – just trying to motivate you to cut the steerer tube!
They are ugly but I have regretted cutting down particularly when aging.