Carbon Fiber Stems PSA
#26
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#29
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Meanwhile, this stem costs $25 and is lighter https://www.ebay.com/itm/KALLOY-UNO-...p7A7D3A804PvJQ
nail polish remover and 15 seconds of rubbing removes the decals since a plain stem is always better looking than any stem with a bunch of graphics.
Lighter and cheaper than the Ritchey WCS and most any other aluminum or carbon stem ive come across.
The Ritchey WCS stems do have that unique holding shape that apparently reduces stress on the bars. So thats cool.
I have bikes with Ritchey cockpits...minus stem since, you know, $25 and 113g is better than $160 and 126g.
nail polish remover and 15 seconds of rubbing removes the decals since a plain stem is always better looking than any stem with a bunch of graphics.
Lighter and cheaper than the Ritchey WCS and most any other aluminum or carbon stem ive come across.
The Ritchey WCS stems do have that unique holding shape that apparently reduces stress on the bars. So thats cool.
I have bikes with Ritchey cockpits...minus stem since, you know, $25 and 113g is better than $160 and 126g.
Last edited by mstateglfr; 04-16-19 at 03:00 PM.
#30
Cycleway town
Here we can get carbon wrapped stems delivered for ten quid. That's three pints of beer. I have one but i don't use it, as it doesn't rake up at enough of an angle to me - like yeah, spend 200 quid saving 10g only to have 50g in a needlessly long steerer tube and spacers...
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#32
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Meanwhile, this stem costs $25 and is lighter https://www.ebay.com/itm/KALLOY-UNO-...p7A7D3A804PvJQ
nail polish and 15 seconds of rubbing removes the decals since a plain stem is always better looking than any stem with a bunch of graphics.
Lighter and cheaper than the Ritchey WCS and most any other aluminum or carbon stem ive come across.
The Ritchey WCS stems do have that unique holding shape that apparently reduces stress on the bars. So thats cool.
I have bikes with Ritchey cockpits...minus stem since, you know, $25 and 113g is better than $160 and 126g.
nail polish and 15 seconds of rubbing removes the decals since a plain stem is always better looking than any stem with a bunch of graphics.
Lighter and cheaper than the Ritchey WCS and most any other aluminum or carbon stem ive come across.
The Ritchey WCS stems do have that unique holding shape that apparently reduces stress on the bars. So thats cool.
I have bikes with Ritchey cockpits...minus stem since, you know, $25 and 113g is better than $160 and 126g.
#33
Sunshine
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#34
Senior Member
Full carbon MTB stems are extremely rare for a reason. I'm not saying they can't work, just that they don't work any better than a far cheaper aluminum stem. I stand by what I said. If you're looking to shave weight off of a bike, pretty much anything else is a better idea.
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#37
Senior Member
Nice thread. I'm not sure I'd trust a full-carbon stem anyway. I mean, I'm sure they could be engineered strong enough, but I'd be worried about a lightweight carbon stem being engineered for light weight not for strength.
As I write this, my avatar bike has a full carbon tiller and handlebar. But it has a kevlar layer, and I'm not putting my weight on it. So, completely different situation.
As I write this, my avatar bike has a full carbon tiller and handlebar. But it has a kevlar layer, and I'm not putting my weight on it. So, completely different situation.
#38
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I don't know why people won't trust a carbon stem when they trust carbon handlebars, hubs, steerers and wheels and frames.
Guys jump off cliffs with carbon mountain bikes. It can be engineered strong enough.
-Tim-
Guys jump off cliffs with carbon mountain bikes. It can be engineered strong enough.
-Tim-
#40
Junior Member
Some of the carbon is peeling on my carbon wrapped stem. To me it looks like an aesthetic issue only and not a structural/safety issue.
Looking closely at the aluminum I can't see anything more than some chipped paint, it appears to be structurally sound. Additionally, the carbon that's peeling is very very thin its peeling straight back on a horizontal line making me think it was just a single piece of carbon laid on a normally spec'd aluminum stem.
Anyone familiar with carbon-wrapped stems able to weigh-in? aesthetic or structural?
Looking closely at the aluminum I can't see anything more than some chipped paint, it appears to be structurally sound. Additionally, the carbon that's peeling is very very thin its peeling straight back on a horizontal line making me think it was just a single piece of carbon laid on a normally spec'd aluminum stem.
Anyone familiar with carbon-wrapped stems able to weigh-in? aesthetic or structural?
#41
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Some of the carbon is peeling on my carbon wrapped stem. To me it looks like an aesthetic issue only and not a structural/safety issue.
Looking closely at the aluminum I can't see anything more than some chipped paint, it appears to be structurally sound. Additionally, the carbon that's peeling is very very thin its peeling straight back on a horizontal line making me think it was just a single piece of carbon laid on a normally spec'd aluminum stem.
Anyone familiar with carbon-wrapped stems able to weigh-in? aesthetic or structural?
Looking closely at the aluminum I can't see anything more than some chipped paint, it appears to be structurally sound. Additionally, the carbon that's peeling is very very thin its peeling straight back on a horizontal line making me think it was just a single piece of carbon laid on a normally spec'd aluminum stem.
Anyone familiar with carbon-wrapped stems able to weigh-in? aesthetic or structural?
When you get to 10 posts, post some pics of your stem. It's hard to diagnose some issues without actually seeing what it looks like.
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#42
Zip tie Karen
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Carbon wrapped stems exist because of the aesthetic value, not the improved durability or even lighter weight. I have used them on three bikes only because of how they complete a particular look.
"It is not how you feel, but how you look. And you look marvelous."
"It is not how you feel, but how you look. And you look marvelous."
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