To recap
We want the distance between your bottom bracket and handlebar grips (the “rider area”) to be such that when you’re standing fully upright with the bars at your hips, your arms are straight. This distance gives you a nice combination of range of motion with your arms and power with your hips.
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We can adjust the rider area by changing:
- Reach. The horizontal distance between your bottom bracket and grips.
- Rise. The vertical distance between your bottom bracket and grips.
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Reach
This is easy and relatively inexpensive.
If your rider area is too long (this is likely the case), try a shorter stem.
If your rider area is too short (this is rare), try a longer stem.
As stems get longer, bike handling gets compromised. If you need a stem that’s longer than 70-90mm, it might be time for a longer frame.
Most modern modern mountain bikes that fit correctly work best with a short (35-50mm) stem.
On a BMX bike, you can rotate the bars backward and forward. If you move the bars more than a couple inches in either direction, you might need a different size frame.
If the rider area is still not correct, try the next step:
Rise
This is also inexpensive, but it’s a bit more involved than changing the stem.
If the rider area is too long, try a lower stem or move spacers from below the stem to above the stem. You can also try a handlebar with less rise.
If the rider area is too short, try a taller stem or move spacers from above the stem to below the stem. You can also try a handlebar with more rise.
If the rider area is still not correct, try the next step:
Frame size
This is the last resort. If reach and rise adjustments don’t work, look into a shorter or longer frame to create the rider area you want.
Most of the time, if you’re on the correct size frame, switching to a shorter stem creates a great fit. If you’re a small person with big wheels and/or fork, you’ll also need to drop the bars.