Question Qorner: How Many Headset Spacers?

First off, let's explain what the heck we're talking about. Headset spacers are the metal rings that go above the headset and under the stem to raise the position of your hands.

We find that most riders prefer between 0mm and 60mm of vertical drop from the saddle to bars in order to achieve a riding position that's a balance between comfort, control, and power output. 

 

Headset spacers are one way to achieve that dimension, and while some riders "slam that stem" with 0mm of spacers. Most people will end up with 5-35mm. How many spacers are too many spacers though?

 

The general rule of thumb: No more than 40mm spacers below your stem.

Why is that? Even the nicest headset spacers have a bit of play, which causes the steerer tube to wiggle just a bit and can cause the headset to bind. So it's good to keep spacers to a minimum. But you still want your hands at a certain place... you can achieve that by using riser bars or a riser stem! If you're considering more than 40mm of spacers, this is a red flag. This might be an indication that the frame you're riding is too small, or you might need a different handlebar or stem.

If you have any questions about spacers, frame sizing, or anything else, please reach out and ask! We are happy to recommend the right size frame for you and we'll even make a custom drawing to give you a sense of the layout and dimensions of any one of our bike models. 

Thanks for reading!