Racer Tech Thread
#1802
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90mm -17 right now. the only reason i think switching to a positive stem may fix things is because it would result in the entire stem "stack" interfacing with the steerer tube as opposed to having a few mm above the steerer, which may be made worse by the fact that the stem has a single-bolt tightening mechanism.
#1803
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#1804
Killing Rabbits
I'm pretty sure the topcap isn't an issue. There's a few mm of stem above the top of the steerer (I know it's better to have a spacer on top of the stem but this is how the bike shop built my bike. If i can't get this issue worked out I may see if using a positive rise stem slammed with a spacer above would help). Part of the issue was the compressor plug pulling up, but I think I've handled that now (is there a recommended torque for that?)
#1805
the shop that built the bike...it was originally built with a different stem with a smaller stack height, but yeah I would have rather they didn't cut it without asking me first.
is the lack of a spacer above the stem such a significant thing that I should swap it out tonight? i kind of thought it was just "recommended" that you have a spacer above but wasn't a huge deal.
just checked and it's actually a 10mm spacer below the stem...not that that should matter.
is the lack of a spacer above the stem such a significant thing that I should swap it out tonight? i kind of thought it was just "recommended" that you have a spacer above but wasn't a huge deal.
just checked and it's actually a 10mm spacer below the stem...not that that should matter.
Last edited by mike868y; 06-16-15 at 01:03 PM.
#1806
Senior Member
90mm -17 right now. the only reason i think switching to a positive stem may fix things is because it would result in the entire stem "stack" interfacing with the steerer tube as opposed to having a few mm above the steerer, which may be made worse by the fact that the stem has a single-bolt tightening mechanism.
Yes, indeed. Super dangerous, I don't know, but as I mentioned earlier, threadless headsets are not supposed to be set up with the top of the stem protruding above the steerer. I thinking switching to something like a -8 degree stem and moving a 5mm or 10mm spacer from underneath to on top of the stem would be a good idea. It may or may not fix the headset problems as well.
#1807
i know it's not how the system was "designed," but don't plenty of people run no spacers on top of their stem? It's not like half the stem is above the steerer, just 5mm or so.
anyway, i'll swap it out with the stem from my cross bike tonight. looks like i'll still be coming in with my bars slightly higher, but it's probably a negligible difference in the grand scheme of things.
sorry for posting so much on this but i'm bored, at work, and **** like this gives me crippling anxiety (not joking).
anyway, i'll swap it out with the stem from my cross bike tonight. looks like i'll still be coming in with my bars slightly higher, but it's probably a negligible difference in the grand scheme of things.
sorry for posting so much on this but i'm bored, at work, and **** like this gives me crippling anxiety (not joking).
Last edited by mike868y; 06-16-15 at 01:33 PM.
#1810
Senior Member
I have a bunch of spacers above my stem.. Basically because I recently got one of those slammed headset caps.. Besides gotta leave some for the next owner.. And I have 2 forks anyways.. Maybe I'll slam the other one, once it gets painted
#1811
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Yeah, I kept my steer tube intentionally long on my race bike, thinking it would be better if I ever decided to sell it. That probably will never happen but I just can't get around to cutting it down properly.
#1813
Senior Member
#1814
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I once raced with my front wheel skewer only finger tight, basically the lawyer tabs kept the wheel from coming off. I didn't figure out the brake rubbing and weird corner feeling until after the race.
It probably wasn't as unsafe as I think, but I don't need additional risk in a sport where I need two hands already to count the number of guys I know who have suffered fractures in their spines.
Hence, you could probably leave 5mm of space on the top of the steerer and never crash from it, but why the **** would you do that.
Also, 5mm is a lot in a what, 35mm system?
It probably wasn't as unsafe as I think, but I don't need additional risk in a sport where I need two hands already to count the number of guys I know who have suffered fractures in their spines.
Hence, you could probably leave 5mm of space on the top of the steerer and never crash from it, but why the **** would you do that.
Also, 5mm is a lot in a what, 35mm system?
#1815
Senior Member
A dude going down my hill hit a bump and his front wheel came off. The ambulance took him the rest of the way down.
#1817
how, though? as grolby pointed out, once the stem is tightened, the top cap (and thus the plug) should be extraneous, at least if my understanding of the system is correct.
#1818
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is your stem tight? I mean, the space has to come from somewhere... Are your spacers the kind that are ridged to fit together/ maybe they were misaligned when tightened, and have since fitted themselves into the grooves and created wiggle room in doing so?
#1819
Yeah, stem was torqued to spec. After looking at it again I think my original hypothesis - that not enough stem was on the steerer may have been accurate. Switched the spacer to be above my stem so hopefully that helps.
photos (on my phone so don't feel like embedding):- Album on Imgur
photos (on my phone so don't feel like embedding):- Album on Imgur
Last edited by mike868y; 06-16-15 at 06:35 PM.
#1820
Killing Rabbits
Pick up some 5mm, or even 3mm, spacers so you can fine tune that.
#1822
Senior Member
Yeah, stem was torqued to spec. After looking at it again I think my original hypothesis - that not enough stem was on the steerer may have been accurate. Switched the spacer to be above my stem so hopefully that helps.
photos (on my phone so don't feel like embedding):- Album on Imgur
photos (on my phone so don't feel like embedding):- Album on Imgur
Wow I didn't realize I had two spacers.
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"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
#1823
Ninny
Agreed. If the shop cut the steerer like that, with the 10mm spacer under the stem, they screwed up. There was a decent risk of cracking the top of the steerer with that setup, too.
[edit] sorry, now I remember you said it had a different stem originally. Anyway, that steerer is cut too short for a 10mm spacer under that particular stem.
#1824
Killing Rabbits
#1825
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will be curious to see what happens for the official release.
i figured whatever they released would be more aero than the s5, but i'm disappointed that it seems they had to resort to proprietary front brakes and BB-mounted rear brakes to get there.
i suspect there are hydraulics somewhere in there (could be a converter box) to deal with those apparent bends. those levers do not appear to be shimano's hydraulic levers (i have both styles--the hydraulic ones are very bulbous).
i was excited to maybe buy a new frame this summer; seems i may not.