Too many risers or an unorthodox stem can adversely affect the handling, aerodynamics, and structural integrity of a bike. Not to mention they can adversely aff

Too many risers or an unorthodox stem can adversely affect the handling, aerodynamics, and structural integrity of a bike. Not to mention they can adversely affect the aesthetics. While other measurements (wheel base, trail, rake, bottom bracket drop, etc.) may more significantly affect the performance and handling characteristics of a bike, no measurements are more important to the correct sizing of a bike than stack and reach. Dan Empfield has written extensively about this at Slowtwitch.com if anyone out there wants to read more about why stack and reach are essential measurements when correctly sizing a bike.