bars and stem recommendation
03-12-08, 12:35 PM
#26
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Thomson X-2 Stem
Deda Newton Bars
I love them. Light, stiff and strong.
Deda Newton Bars
I love them. Light, stiff and strong.
03-12-08, 01:22 PM
#27
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It's a threadless stem. You put it on your steer tube and then ride.
You can get a 4 bolt, 31.8mm Reynolds Ouzo Race for $35. Only 134 grams.
Or you can spend $120 for the Deda which only saves you 10 grams.
Thomson X2 is $90 but weighs 175 grams.
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis $75 and saves you 15 grams.
You can get a 4 bolt, 31.8mm Reynolds Ouzo Race for $35. Only 134 grams.
Or you can spend $120 for the Deda which only saves you 10 grams.
Thomson X2 is $90 but weighs 175 grams.
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis $75 and saves you 15 grams.
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03-12-08, 03:14 PM
#28
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looks like i am going to go with the Ritchey Carbon Evolution sl and the
Ritchey Carbon 4-axis stem ,thanks for the comments
Ritchey Carbon 4-axis stem ,thanks for the comments
03-12-08, 03:17 PM
#29
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The most important thing in a stem is that it looks cool. The Deda Elementi Zero wins hands down
I almost got this but decided to go for the all carbon look. I may change my mind yet...
I almost got this but decided to go for the all carbon look. I may change my mind yet...
03-12-08, 03:18 PM
#30
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Good choice. I am leaning toward replacing my specialized bars with the evolution sl, but modified the position slightly and am giving them another chance...
03-12-08, 04:45 PM
#31
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It's a threadless stem. You put it on your steer tube and then ride.
[B]
You can get a 4 bolt, 31.8mm Reynolds Ouzo Race for $35. Only 134 grams.
Or you can spend $120 for the Deda which only saves you 10 grams.
Thomson X2 is $90 but weighs 175 grams.
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis $75 and saves you 15 grams.
[B]
You can get a 4 bolt, 31.8mm Reynolds Ouzo Race for $35. Only 134 grams.
Or you can spend $120 for the Deda which only saves you 10 grams.
Thomson X2 is $90 but weighs 175 grams.
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis $75 and saves you 15 grams.
my deda zero 100 stem cost $68. i agree with the other poster who says that it must look good. i'll pay slightly more if it looks that much better.
03-12-08, 04:58 PM
#32
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Saddle and bars are the two places on a bike where "feel" is WAY more important than weight. For the stem it must be stiff and have the correct length and angle to put the bars in the exactly correct location and have them stay there even if you are trying to rip them off the bike during a sprint.
03-13-08, 01:18 PM
#35
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carbon stem is just a waste of money and it doesn't save weight either. a good aluminum stem (like Easton's EA90) is a much better value for your money, oh and in the case of Easton, it's lighter than their most expensive carbon stem. But in any case, stem doesn't matter, and if you're dead set on carbon don't listen to me. Get what you can afford, what looks good to you and is in the length you need.
As for bars, what matters most aside from width, (even more than whether it's carbon or alu) is the style of bend you want in the drops, the reach from the drops to the levers, and the height. Basically, it's a very personal choice based on your comfort and hand size, so it might be worth trying a few bars out at a bike shop, if you're willing to buy locally.
Personally, I like aluminum better for cockpit components, because the bars are the first things you whack if you crash or your bike just falls over for whatever reason. I don't want the possibility of my bars snapping as I descend 2000 feet over two miles to haunt me in the back of my mind. Secondly, I have found some very comfortable aluminum bars (Ritchey BioMax) that weigh a ton, but just feel right to my hands. I'm no stranger to carbon components, but I kind of think it's a waste of money here.
As for bars, what matters most aside from width, (even more than whether it's carbon or alu) is the style of bend you want in the drops, the reach from the drops to the levers, and the height. Basically, it's a very personal choice based on your comfort and hand size, so it might be worth trying a few bars out at a bike shop, if you're willing to buy locally.
Personally, I like aluminum better for cockpit components, because the bars are the first things you whack if you crash or your bike just falls over for whatever reason. I don't want the possibility of my bars snapping as I descend 2000 feet over two miles to haunt me in the back of my mind. Secondly, I have found some very comfortable aluminum bars (Ritchey BioMax) that weigh a ton, but just feel right to my hands. I'm no stranger to carbon components, but I kind of think it's a waste of money here.
I haven't seen a set of CF bars break. But I don't doubt that it can happen too.
You're right on the money about the stem though.
03-22-08, 06:57 PM
#36
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I've seen two sets of aluminum bars snap in the past twelve months. One was when a guy jumped into a sprint and the right drop broke off in his hand. The second was up at a shop in Dahlonega the day before six gap; a guy brought his bike in because the aluminum bars snapped while he was climbing Brasstown Bald -- thankfully he was going up, not down.
I haven't seen a set of CF bars break. But I don't doubt that it can happen too.
You're right on the money about the stem though.
I haven't seen a set of CF bars break. But I don't doubt that it can happen too.
You're right on the money about the stem though.
The first two listed above, then add one last weekend at Perry-Roubaix when a gust of wind knocked a bike over and the bars snapped. Then add a second one when one of my teammates was racing in the 35+ field at Webster-Roubaix today and his bars snapped.
In all four cases galvanic corrosion was what caused the bars to fail.
03-22-08, 07:41 PM
#37
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It's a threadless stem. You put it on your steer tube and then ride.
You can get a 4 bolt, 31.8mm Reynolds Ouzo Race for $35. Only 134 grams.
Or you can spend $120 for the Deda which only saves you 10 grams.
Thomson X2 is $90 but weighs 175 grams.
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis $75 and saves you 15 grams.
You can get a 4 bolt, 31.8mm Reynolds Ouzo Race for $35. Only 134 grams.
Or you can spend $120 for the Deda which only saves you 10 grams.
Thomson X2 is $90 but weighs 175 grams.
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis $75 and saves you 15 grams.
I say Thomson, they are ridiculously overengineered.
03-22-08, 08:01 PM
#38
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If you like a flat top bar with a nesting place for your hands when riding on the hoods the FSA K-Wing is a good bar. It also provides some damping effect and can be found in a compact bend. But don't spend the extra money for the full carbon stem that adds 64 more grams of weight as the OS-115 aluminum stem is strong and light and works well with the carbon bars.
03-22-08, 10:38 PM
#41
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I ride Bontrager Race Anatomic bars w/ FSA 140 and it's a very stiff combination for sprinting with one of the lowest reach's only 75mm.
I also like the Bontrager VR bars with my thomson X2.
I've never found drop bars give me enough reach to the shifters when i'm sprinting, althouh i can't remember a time when i didn't make a shift when i wanted to when it mattered. Just wish it was, "better".
I've had my eye on the Deda stuff, always wondered about the 31.7 bar clamp though.
03-23-08, 12:19 AM
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[QUOTE=briscoelab;6329907]Zero stem if you want light and stiff/QUOTE]
no the zero-100 stem is VERY flexy
go for the deda newton 31
no the zero-100 stem is VERY flexy
go for the deda newton 31
03-23-08, 06:16 AM
#43
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As a ALU rider, i'm a little concerned here, mind sharing how and where the corrosion took place? Was it at the stem clamp?, or at the hood clamps? I use friction compound at the stem so i think i'm safe there since that would inhibit the conductivity, although i beleive both are aluminum, and all the bolts are greased. So i'm guessing it's at the hood clamps, somewhere i never even though to protect since it's under the cork tape. I guess it really is out of sight out of mind.
I ride Bontrager Race Anatomic bars w/ FSA 140 and it's a very stiff combination for sprinting with one of the lowest reach's only 75mm.
I also like the Bontrager VR bars with my thomson X2.
I've never found drop bars give me enough reach to the shifters when i'm sprinting, althouh i can't remember a time when i didn't make a shift when i wanted to when it mattered. Just wish it was, "better".
I've had my eye on the Deda stuff, always wondered about the 31.7 bar clamp though.
I ride Bontrager Race Anatomic bars w/ FSA 140 and it's a very stiff combination for sprinting with one of the lowest reach's only 75mm.
I also like the Bontrager VR bars with my thomson X2.
I've never found drop bars give me enough reach to the shifters when i'm sprinting, althouh i can't remember a time when i didn't make a shift when i wanted to when it mattered. Just wish it was, "better".
I've had my eye on the Deda stuff, always wondered about the 31.7 bar clamp though.
