So i got a nice deal on a 70mm Race Face Deus stem. That is 40mm shorter than when i started. I was nervous that the big jump would feel very different and twitchy on my climbs. It feels great. I have been riding my only bike, Trance, for a few years now and had no prior experience to really know how a bike was supposed to feel. I'm even wondering if maybe at 6' if i should have gone with a Med. Anyways, with the shorter cockpit i feel like i'm riding a completely new bike with new abilities. Happy.
Is common in your early years to really trash a bike? My Trance has tons of chips and scratches. Pretty much every tech ride i go on adds a pretty good scar to the frame. I often long for a new frame, and am then reminded how much abuse it would have to take.