How to Measure a Road Bike Stem

Bicycle fit is something that is as individual as fingerprints and can only be determined correctly with experience. Part of fitting a bicycle correctly is knowing how to measure the components to determine if you need to buy different ones to get the correct body alignment. Measuring a road bike stem (the part that holds the handlebars in place) is easy and should take less than a minute to complete.

Things You'll Need

  • Metric tape measure
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Have a friend hold the bike upright, lean it against a wall or put it in a repair stand. Make sure that it is as close to perfectly upright as possible.

    • 2

      Place one end of the tape measure on the center bolt of the stem cap (the end closest the rider if mounted on the bike).

    • 3

      Measure the number on the tape as it crosses the front handlebar bolt in the middle of the handlebars with your metric tape measure.

    • 4

      Convert the centimeter measurement you just took to millimeters by multiplying the number you just read by 10.