Spacer on top of stem
#1
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Spacer on top of stem
I've read some posts that at least one spacer is required on top of your stem. Other posts said it was bike dependent. I have an old trek 5000 ... Do I need to keep a spacer on top of the stem or could I raise the stem all the way up?
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See middle of the article: https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...ion-threadless
#3
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What I have read and seen on-line: For carbon steerer tubes, the top of the tube should be no lower than the top of the stem clamp. This avoids asymmetrical forces on the fragile carbon steerer tube as one tightens the stem bolts and which could crush the end of the tube. A spacer keeps the end cap from touching the top of the compression bolt cap; if they did touch, it would be difficult if not impossible to secure the steerer tube inside the headset.
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What I have read and seen on-line: For carbon steerer tubes, the top of the tube should be no lower than the top of the stem clamp. This avoids asymmetrical forces on the fragile carbon steerer tube as one tightens the stem bolts and which could crush the end of the tube. A spacer keeps the end cap from touching the top of the compression bolt cap; if they did touch, it would be difficult if not impossible to secure the steerer tube inside the headset.
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Having the steerer long enough to need a spacer above the stem is a real good idea for future fitting options, independent of steerer material. All my threadless bikes have this and they are all steel steerers. Andy
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AndrewRStewart
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#6
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Ten days ago I purchased a new Cervelo Aspero from my LBS. I asked them to swap the Easton EA50 stem that came with the bike for a shorter one, but they would only do it if I paid full price for it (no credit for the perfectly new OEM stem already on the bike). A bit miffed at this, I declined and bought myself a new Easton EA70 stem on line and installed it myself. What I found when I swapped the stems is that the shop had cut the carbon steerer tube too short. The top of the steerer tube was about 8 mm below the top of the stem clamp. That's not a good thing with carbon tubes, The only way to correct this is to remove a few spacers from below the stem (there were no spacers above it - the top cap was installed directly on the top of the stem) but this would, obviously, lower my stem by about 1 cm.
Normally I wouldn't care, but I bought the bike because it fit me just right. With a lower stem - not so much. I don't want or need to be that low. This is a gravel bike, not a racer.
When I took the bike back to the store today the owner was there, and he acted like I was crazy. I showed him the Enve Composites video on their YouTube channel that recommend exactly what I was telling him (put a spacer above the stem, avoid clamping on a carbon steerer tube that is beneath the top of the stem clamp) but he didn't care.
I just cannot win.
Normally I wouldn't care, but I bought the bike because it fit me just right. With a lower stem - not so much. I don't want or need to be that low. This is a gravel bike, not a racer.
When I took the bike back to the store today the owner was there, and he acted like I was crazy. I showed him the Enve Composites video on their YouTube channel that recommend exactly what I was telling him (put a spacer above the stem, avoid clamping on a carbon steerer tube that is beneath the top of the stem clamp) but he didn't care.
I just cannot win.
#7
Non omnino gravis
If your EA70 is a current model, it can be run as either +7º or -7º. If you currently have it set as -7º, you can flip it, and would need to remove a handful of spacers to get it back to the same height.
The trusty Stem Comparison Tool will help you.
The trusty Stem Comparison Tool will help you.
#8
Banned
Carbon steers need it ,
Metal you put a spacer over the stem to lower the bars , knowing when you are old you might want them higher again,
so don't cut it down,,
Because, you realize, it won't grow back..
...
Metal you put a spacer over the stem to lower the bars , knowing when you are old you might want them higher again,
so don't cut it down,,
Because, you realize, it won't grow back..
...
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--Shannon
#10
Full Member
Thread Starter
If your EA70 is a current model, it can be run as either +7º or -7º. If you currently have it set as -7º, you can flip it, and would need to remove a handful of spacers to get it back to the same height.
The trusty Stem Comparison Tool will help you.
The trusty Stem Comparison Tool will help you.
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
Ten days ago I purchased a new Cervelo Aspero from my LBS. I asked them to swap the Easton EA50 stem that came with the bike for a shorter one, but they would only do it if I paid full price for it (no credit for the perfectly new OEM stem already on the bike). A bit miffed at this, I declined and bought myself a new Easton EA70 stem on line and installed it myself. What I found when I swapped the stems is that the shop had cut the carbon steerer tube too short. The top of the steerer tube was about 8 mm below the top of the stem clamp. That's not a good thing with carbon tubes, The only way to correct this is to remove a few spacers from below the stem (there were no spacers above it - the top cap was installed directly on the top of the stem) but this would, obviously, lower my stem by about 1 cm.
Normally I wouldn't care, but I bought the bike because it fit me just right. With a lower stem - not so much. I don't want or need to be that low. This is a gravel bike, not a racer.
When I took the bike back to the store today the owner was there, and he acted like I was crazy. I showed him the Enve Composites video on their YouTube channel that recommend exactly what I was telling him (put a spacer above the stem, avoid clamping on a carbon steerer tube that is beneath the top of the stem clamp) but he didn't care.
I just cannot win.
Normally I wouldn't care, but I bought the bike because it fit me just right. With a lower stem - not so much. I don't want or need to be that low. This is a gravel bike, not a racer.
When I took the bike back to the store today the owner was there, and he acted like I was crazy. I showed him the Enve Composites video on their YouTube channel that recommend exactly what I was telling him (put a spacer above the stem, avoid clamping on a carbon steerer tube that is beneath the top of the stem clamp) but he didn't care.
I just cannot win.
#12
Senior Member
If the steerer is carbon you have to put a spacer on top and the steerer should be cut slightly above the stem.
If the steerer is metal, you don't need a spacer on top.
If the steerer is metal, you don't need a spacer on top.
#13
Non omnino gravis
With CF steerers, it depends. For instance, Cervelo explicitly states not to put any spacers above the stem, and that the top of the steerer should in fact be 3mm below the top of the stem.
#14
Senior Member
Is that on their US website? Because I searched and searched and could not find any statement to that effect. I have sent them a query via their on-line customer service form, but have yet to heard back.
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I'm imagining all the non-C&V folks wondering "go French? "
#17
Non omnino gravis
That’s from the manual that comes with the bike, with the instructions on how to cut the steerer and glue in the aluminum sleeve. I’d get a photo of it, but I’ve no idea where it is, as I glued in my sleeve back in 2017. Same stem has been on there, 3mm above the top of the steerer, for ~13k miles.
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I like having a small spacer above the headset just in case I want to move up a touch. Not always needed aside from on carbon steerer tubes.
#21
Senior Member
That’s from the manual that comes with the bike, with the instructions on how to cut the steerer and glue in the aluminum sleeve. I’d get a photo of it, but I’ve no idea where it is, as I glued in my sleeve back in 2017. Same stem has been on there, 3mm above the top of the steerer, for ~13k miles.
For whatever reason Cervelo mandates that the top of the carbon steerer tube be 4 mm below the top of the stem. Everything that I've recently read about carbon forks says the opposite: don't clamp a steerer tube above the tube's top edge. I wonder what's so different about Cervelo fork tubes from the Enve, Specialized, Cannonade, etc tubes...
#22
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All bikes I've seen and had with carbon steerers had a spacer on top and the manual stated it was mandatory.
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I am very surprised that some forks do not allow a spacer above the stem.That would be a total deal breaker for me.
#24
Non omnino gravis
I favor the way Cervelo does it-- the aluminum glue-in insert is over 3" long, so no matter where the stem is on the steerer, it's fully supported. If someone is running a wedge expander with a spacer above the stem, maybe the wedge is supporting the whole stem, maybe it isn't.
Aesthetically, I don't care for a spacer above the stem at all. Looks unfinished.
Aesthetically, I don't care for a spacer above the stem at all. Looks unfinished.
#25
Senior Member
I favor the way Cervelo does it-- the aluminum glue-in insert is over 3" long, so no matter where the stem is on the steerer, it's fully supported. If someone is running a wedge expander with a spacer above the stem, maybe the wedge is supporting the whole stem, maybe it isn't.
Aesthetically, I don't care for a spacer above the stem at all. Looks unfinished.
Aesthetically, I don't care for a spacer above the stem at all. Looks unfinished.