I might be developing a stem cap fetish!
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I might be developing a stem cap fetish!
As I’ve been sitting around for about 5 weeks now waiting for the various bits needed to complete a new bike build, I’ve had plenty of time to obsess on every aspect of the bike, and think of ways to fine-tune or customize it. Bits like aluminum and titanium bolts in various anodized colors, getting the right type of matte finish on headset spacers and seat clamp...stuff like that. Most surprising to me, though, has been my discovery of a new world of headset caps!
I’ve paid headset caps mind before, so that there are options didn’t surprise me, but that my go-to supplier, Kustom Kaps, was out-of-stock on what I wanted lead me to explore other options, and boy, there’s a wild world of headset caps out there bigger and more extensive than I knew! I’ve got color matched caps, caps with contrasting bolts, custom lettered caps, and a one-piece, concave cap/bolt combo from Absolute Black, but if you don’t know, there are tons of multi-color, laser etched, patterned and textured stem caps out there!
Long story short, I found the perfect cap for my purple Paul Boxcar stem, and it has a matte finish checkerboard to match the frame finish and headset spacers! I got it from some folks called PurelyCustom.com.
I never spent so much on a cap and bolt before, but they look great and I’m all in now, looking at my older bikes’ stem caps with some disappointment!
I’ve paid headset caps mind before, so that there are options didn’t surprise me, but that my go-to supplier, Kustom Kaps, was out-of-stock on what I wanted lead me to explore other options, and boy, there’s a wild world of headset caps out there bigger and more extensive than I knew! I’ve got color matched caps, caps with contrasting bolts, custom lettered caps, and a one-piece, concave cap/bolt combo from Absolute Black, but if you don’t know, there are tons of multi-color, laser etched, patterned and textured stem caps out there!
Long story short, I found the perfect cap for my purple Paul Boxcar stem, and it has a matte finish checkerboard to match the frame finish and headset spacers! I got it from some folks called PurelyCustom.com.
I never spent so much on a cap and bolt before, but they look great and I’m all in now, looking at my older bikes’ stem caps with some disappointment!
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KustomKaps is where all the ones i have were purchased. My kids have em too- they geek out on little personalized things like that. The color matches your stem which is for sure a sigh of relief when you opened the package.
That stem's cnc'd lines are interesting. The angled lines look like they were done by hand since they dont exactly align with the straight lines, yet they are all perfect relative to the other angled lines. I cant stop looking at them because they are imperfect yet perfect. Very neat visual.
That stem's cnc'd lines are interesting. The angled lines look like they were done by hand since they dont exactly align with the straight lines, yet they are all perfect relative to the other angled lines. I cant stop looking at them because they are imperfect yet perfect. Very neat visual.
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KustomKaps is where all the ones i have were purchased. My kids have em too- they geek out on little personalized things like that. The color matches your stem which is for sure a sigh of relief when you opened the package.
That stem's cnc'd lines are interesting. The angled lines look like they were done by hand since they dont exactly align with the straight lines, yet they are all perfect relative to the other angled lines. I cant stop looking at them because they are imperfect yet perfect. Very neat visual.
That stem's cnc'd lines are interesting. The angled lines look like they were done by hand since they dont exactly align with the straight lines, yet they are all perfect relative to the other angled lines. I cant stop looking at them because they are imperfect yet perfect. Very neat visual.
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KustomKaps is where all the ones i have were purchased. My kids have em too- they geek out on little personalized things like that. The color matches your stem which is for sure a sigh of relief when you opened the package.
That stem's cnc'd lines are interesting. The angled lines look like they were done by hand since they dont exactly align with the straight lines, yet they are all perfect relative to the other angled lines. I cant stop looking at them because they are imperfect yet perfect. Very neat visual.
That stem's cnc'd lines are interesting. The angled lines look like they were done by hand since they dont exactly align with the straight lines, yet they are all perfect relative to the other angled lines. I cant stop looking at them because they are imperfect yet perfect. Very neat visual.
Untitled by Stuart Black, on Flickr
Untitled by Stuart Black, on Flickr
I had a much more elaborate cap made for my Moots using a Moots stem cap as a guide.
Untitled by Stuart Black, on Flickr
I even had handlebar plugs made. Those were a bit trickier since I wanted the alligators to both face forward. The left one was the tricky one to design.
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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As I’ve been sitting around for about 5 weeks now waiting for the various bits needed to complete a new bike build, I’ve had plenty of time to obsess on every aspect of the bike, and think of ways to fine-tune or customize it. Bits like aluminum and titanium bolts in various anodized colors, getting the right type of matte finish on headset spacers and seat clamp...stuff like that. Most surprising to me, though, has been my discovery of a new world of headset caps!
I’ve paid headset caps mind before, so that there are options didn’t surprise me, but that my go-to supplier, Kustom Kaps, was out-of-stock on what I wanted lead me to explore other options, and boy, there’s a wild world of headset caps out there bigger and more extensive than I knew! I’ve got color matched caps, caps with contrasting bolts, custom lettered caps, and a one-piece, concave cap/bolt combo from Absolute Black, but if you don’t know, there are tons of multi-color, laser etched, patterned and textured stem caps out there!
Long story short, I found the perfect cap for my purple Paul Boxcar stem, and it has a matte finish checkerboard to match the frame finish and headset spacers! I got it from some folks called PurelyCustom.com.
I never spent so much on a cap and bolt before, but they look great and I’m all in now, looking at my older bikes’ stem caps with some disappointment!
I’ve paid headset caps mind before, so that there are options didn’t surprise me, but that my go-to supplier, Kustom Kaps, was out-of-stock on what I wanted lead me to explore other options, and boy, there’s a wild world of headset caps out there bigger and more extensive than I knew! I’ve got color matched caps, caps with contrasting bolts, custom lettered caps, and a one-piece, concave cap/bolt combo from Absolute Black, but if you don’t know, there are tons of multi-color, laser etched, patterned and textured stem caps out there!
Long story short, I found the perfect cap for my purple Paul Boxcar stem, and it has a matte finish checkerboard to match the frame finish and headset spacers! I got it from some folks called PurelyCustom.com.
I never spent so much on a cap and bolt before, but they look great and I’m all in now, looking at my older bikes’ stem caps with some disappointment!
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I was pretty impressed by the details, finish, and beauty of this Campagnolo top cap:
I also like the simplicity and light weight of this unit:
absolute black top cap
I also like the simplicity and light weight of this unit:
absolute black top cap
#10
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This is one of my faves, the literal encapsulation of my thoughts as I struggle to hang on the back of my fast group rides!
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As I’ve been sitting around for about 5 weeks now waiting for the various bits needed to complete a new bike build, I’ve had plenty of time to obsess on every aspect of the bike, and think of ways to fine-tune or customize it. Bits like aluminum and titanium bolts in various anodized colors, getting the right type of matte finish on headset spacers and seat clamp...stuff like that. Most surprising to me, though, has been my discovery of a new world of headset caps!
I’ve paid headset caps mind before, so that there are options didn’t surprise me, but that my go-to supplier, Kustom Kaps, was out-of-stock on what I wanted lead me to explore other options, and boy, there’s a wild world of headset caps out there bigger and more extensive than I knew! I’ve got color matched caps, caps with contrasting bolts, custom lettered caps, and a one-piece, concave cap/bolt combo from Absolute Black, but if you don’t know, there are tons of multi-color, laser etched, patterned and textured stem caps out there!
Long story short, I found the perfect cap for my purple Paul Boxcar stem, and it has a matte finish checkerboard to match the frame finish and headset spacers! I got it from some folks called PurelyCustom.com.
I never spent so much on a cap and bolt before, but they look great and I’m all in now, looking at my older bikes’ stem caps with some disappointment!
I’ve paid headset caps mind before, so that there are options didn’t surprise me, but that my go-to supplier, Kustom Kaps, was out-of-stock on what I wanted lead me to explore other options, and boy, there’s a wild world of headset caps out there bigger and more extensive than I knew! I’ve got color matched caps, caps with contrasting bolts, custom lettered caps, and a one-piece, concave cap/bolt combo from Absolute Black, but if you don’t know, there are tons of multi-color, laser etched, patterned and textured stem caps out there!
Long story short, I found the perfect cap for my purple Paul Boxcar stem, and it has a matte finish checkerboard to match the frame finish and headset spacers! I got it from some folks called PurelyCustom.com.
I never spent so much on a cap and bolt before, but they look great and I’m all in now, looking at my older bikes’ stem caps with some disappointment!
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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I have an AB from a few years back, without the concentric circles machining. I bet that extra work shaved at least a gram! 😉
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...No one seems to have noticed that OP has the world's best headset, too.
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My guess is there is a few of us here maybe one or two who enjoy beverages typically topped off with a bottle cap:
https://ninerbikes.com/products/yawyd
https://ninerbikes.com/products/yawyd
#16
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How 'bout the old René Herse stem caps with the owner's name engraved?
https://www.renehersecycles.com/the-...se-randonneur/
https://www.renehersecycles.com/the-...se-randonneur/
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As I’ve been sitting around for about 5 weeks now waiting for the various bits needed to complete a new bike build, I’ve had plenty of time to obsess on every aspect of the bike, and think of ways to fine-tune or customize it. Bits like aluminum and titanium bolts in various anodized colors....cut
cyccommute i saw your dean photos on Flickr and it's amazing , definitely one of the most unique customization i've seen in a while. good job
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My guess is there is a few of us here maybe one or two who enjoy beverages typically topped off with a bottle cap:
https://ninerbikes.com/products/yawyd
https://ninerbikes.com/products/yawyd
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The stem cap doesn’t do much of anything after the stem is tightened. Loosening the cap won’t have any effect on the bearings. The stem holds the bearings at the preload you’ve set it at.
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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My guess is there is a few of us here maybe one or two who enjoy beverages typically topped off with a bottle cap:
https://ninerbikes.com/products/yawyd
https://ninerbikes.com/products/yawyd
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That is a purdy cap. I might have to seek out this Bell's Third Coast.
Who me??? Lil' old innocent me? Not me? I would never post anything
Also if a cop stops you while drinking you can just say you are decorating your bike. That isn't a crime...heheheh
Who me??? Lil' old innocent me? Not me? I would never post anything
Also if a cop stops you while drinking you can just say you are decorating your bike. That isn't a crime...heheheh
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#24
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Thanks! Looks like a cool idea but wouldn't want to mess with the headset bearings. Since it is that easy, I just might look into it!
A friend has used these guys. Cool stuff, a bit expensive but customized letters etc.
https://kustomcaps.com/collections/graphic-caps
A friend has used these guys. Cool stuff, a bit expensive but customized letters etc.
https://kustomcaps.com/collections/graphic-caps
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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#25
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Was in a hiking shop recently and noticed the Suunto Clipper compass. Clip part removed I thought it would make a cool stick on (velcro?) over my gravel bikes' top cap.
Have seen other cheap looking compass top caps.
But then I think maybe the compass will not play nice with the phone in the top tube bag.
Have seen other cheap looking compass top caps.
But then I think maybe the compass will not play nice with the phone in the top tube bag.