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Carbon Fiber Stems PSA
While some may be actual full carbon construction, most of the time they are just an overlay and just add weight. Decided to cut this one in half. Self explanatory. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e71b43a7f.jpeg |
Carbon stems are a waste of money. They're not any lighter than aluminum stems, aesthetically indistinguishable and far more fragile.
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Originally Posted by Hiro11
(Post 20886130)
Carbon stems are a waste of money. They're not any lighter than aluminum stems, aesthetically indistinguishable and far more fragile.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...298fa0001.jpeg |
They're an even bigger waste of money when you cut them in half.
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Originally Posted by pickettt
(Post 20886216)
They're an even bigger waste of money when you cut them in half.
carbon fiber was peeling bad and the insides very corroded. Otherwise I would have sold for a couple bucks. Just letting people know know what they are most likely buying. |
This kind of puts me off a bit as I thought more highly of Ritchey components than this. For all the extra expense of a WCS stem one is probably just as well off with their Comp level.
Thanks for posting this! |
Thank you for the information! We can spend our money on something more valuable then.
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Thanks for posting, I would not have expected that at all. What a scam.
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I'm surprised that anyone would be surprised by this. Ritchey's carbon-wrapped aluminum stems are advertised as being carbon-wrapped aluminum, at least by Ritchey themselves.
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Originally Posted by HTupolev
(Post 20886351)
I'm surprised that anyone would be surprised by this. Ritchey's carbon-wrapped aluminum stems are advertised as being carbon-wrapped aluminum, at least by Ritchey themselves.
Do they also make carbon wrapped bikes? Is that what low end carbon gets you? |
There are monocoque carbon stems, like the K-Force Light or Shimano PRO Vibe Sprint, but they are not cheap. I have an FSA OS99 on one of my bikes, which is their "hybrid," carbon shell bonded to an aluminum inner. The advantage to this is that the aluminum can be much thinner, and the end stem stiffer without being bulky-- the Thomson X4 on my CX bike is every bit as stiff, but looks massive next to the OS99. Also, allows me to match the stem to the bars, which is nice. My OS99 weighs about the same as any other high-end aluminum stem of the same length/angle. Cost about the same, too. Prettier, though.
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Originally Posted by jade408
(Post 20886534)
That sounds like a waste of time.
Perhaps. According to Ritchey, it makes for a somewhat stiffer stem than their comparable aluminum options while costing considerably less than the full-carbon. They offer basically the same stem in all-aluminum construction at a much lower price point for those who'd rather stick with that. Personally, I'm not at all interested in Ritchey's carbon-wrapped aluminum stems. I just don't understand the concern and need for a "PSA." I'd imagine that most people looking into a $160 stem will read the manufacturer's description of what it is before they buy. |
Originally Posted by HTupolev
(Post 20886351)
I'm surprised that anyone would be surprised by this. Ritchey's carbon-wrapped aluminum stems are advertised as being carbon-wrapped aluminum, at least by Ritchey themselves.
Originally Posted by HTupolev
(Post 20886566)
Perhaps. According to Ritchey, it makes for a somewhat stiffer stem than their comparable aluminum options while costing considerably less than the full-carbon. They offer basically the same stem in all-aluminum construction at a much lower price point for those who'd rather stick with that. Personally, I'm not at all interested in Ritchey's carbon-wrapped aluminum stems. I just don't understand the concern and need for a "PSA." I'd imagine that most people looking into a $160 stem will read the manufacturer's description of what it is before they buy. Its obvious that a <1/64” layer of carbon isn’t doing anything. The 1/8” aluminum wall thickness is enough. And if you do enough research you find pretty much every aluminum alloy stem is lighter then the comparable “carbon” one. Unless you’re getting to 2-300+ $ USD stems I would put money that Ritchey’s carbon is just their regular aluminum alloy with a wrap of carbon fiber. Maybe you don’t see the need, but most people don’t have a band saw nor willing to cut a nice looking stem in half to see past a marketing ploy. Just sharing my findings. |
Originally Posted by 86az135i
(Post 20886596)
well this stem is advertised as a “matrix carbon alloy”.
just like every other value “full carbon” stem out there. Unless you’re getting to 2-300+ $ USD stems I would put money that Ritchey’s carbon is just their regular aluminum alloy with a wrap of carbon fiber. Maybe you don’t see the need, but most people don’t have a band saw nor willing to cut a nice looking stem in half to see past a marketing ploy. The Ritchey WCS Carbon Matrix C220 84D is a carbon-wrapped alloy stem that's super stiff and features a 6-degree positive or negative rise and a C220 clamp. You really can have it all—the new WCS C220 stem rivals the performance of the revolutionary C260 stem design, but it's quicker and easier to install and remove, thanks to a press-fit handlebar clamp interface and forward-facing hardware. First proven on the Ritchey TRAIL stem, the C220 handlebar clamp design creates a more secure interface by wrapping a full 220-degrees over the handlebar. Bolt forces are aligned with the clamp so that the stem body 'embraces' the handlebar, which is less prone to damaging lightweight bars. This clamp design allows for a lighter faceplate and stem body with no sacrifice in strength or stiffness. The Carbon Matrix stem body is forged 7075 aluminum with a stiffness-enhancing carbon exoskeleton which makes this 12% stiffer than the WCS alloy C220 stem. Premium quality CRMO steel bolts are used throughout.
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Many handlebars, and probably other parts, are also aluminum wrapped in CF.
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Originally Posted by 86az135i
(Post 20886286)
Just letting people know know what they are most likely buying. No consumer warning alert needed. |
Originally Posted by HTupolev
(Post 20886634)
Okay. What does that mean? Why would I interpret it to mean "full carbon"?
What stems claim to be "full carbon" while actually being carbon-wrapped aluminum? Ritchey charges $270 for their full carbon stem. And this is the item description: And here is the specifications page: |
If you're getting one for the looks, who cares? Aluminum is safer. Having a "real" carbon stem snap while riding is the last thing I want to worry about.
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Originally Posted by 86az135i
(Post 20886161)
they aren’t more fragile because almost all are just wrapped. |
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Originally Posted by HTupolev
(Post 20886634)
Okay. What does that mean? Why would I interpret it to mean "full carbon"?
What stems claim to be "full carbon" while actually being carbon-wrapped aluminum? Ritchey charges $270 for their full carbon stem. You don't need to use a bandsaw or cut a stem in half to read text on the internet. Every single major text box description of the item on Ritchey's website explicitly says that the carbon-wrapped aluminum stem is carbon-wrapped aluminum. On Ritchey's website, this is the flavor text on the stems page: And this is the item description: And here is the specifications page: I wanted to make people aware of what they are getting most of the time on a cheaper "carbon" stem. That it's not just a little aluminum here or there where the fasteners are. It's the whole component. If you don't like what I have to say, or what I do. I don't give a crap. |
Originally Posted by TimothyH
(Post 20886798)
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Originally Posted by 86az135i
(Post 20886100)
While some may be actual full carbon construction, most of the time they are just an overlay and just add weight. Decided to cut this one in half. Self explanatory. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e71b43a7f.jpeg In the aircraft industry, we have to take great pains to galvanically isolate aluminum from carbon fiber. It's one of the reason we use the much more expensive titanium fasteners in CF applications. In theory, the wrap could increase the strength since CF has a much higher tension modulus, but 1) I don't think torque on a stem is ever enough to warrant it, and 2) the way it looks like it was done, that's just asking for a short lifespan with a corrosion failure. |
Originally Posted by Notso_fastLane
(Post 20886883)
Is that carbon wrapped around aluminum? That's a corrosion problem just waiting to happen.
In the aircraft industry, we have to take great pains to galvanically isolate aluminum from carbon fiber. It's one of the reason we use the much more expensive titanium fasteners in CF applications. In theory, the wrap could increase the strength since CF has a much higher tension modulus, but 1) I don't think torque on a stem is ever enough to warrant it, and 2) the way it looks like it was done, that's just asking for a short lifespan with a corrosion failure. |
Originally Posted by HTupolev
(Post 20886634)
You don't need to use a bandsaw or cut a stem in half to read text on the internet. Every single major text box description of the item on Ritchey's website explicitly says that the carbon-wrapped aluminum stem is carbon-wrapped aluminum.
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