Russ Roth

I haven't seen too many of these and I'm not aware of a special name but I need to find a stem that doesn't have the bolts located in the back for the steerer tube.

Local Jr's dad dropped off a used frameset and boxes of parts, I'd actually suggested the build group for this, but didn't notice that the stem recessed into the top tube leaving no space between the steerer tube and the frame for the typical stem with bolts in the back. Unfortunately the original owner of the frameset didn't include the stem, no idea why, and I can't find a listing for the company that made the frame, guessing chinese open mold from alibaba. I have a nice, German made adjustable stem that I can use to build the bike, and worst case could send the bike out with but I'd like to have something better looking and more in line with the bike's ascetics when it leaves. Any special name for this type of stem that I'm not aware of to make a search easier or suggestions of stems that would work?

13ollocks

Google “side clamp stem” and you should find a few

Camilo

Out of curiosity, I'd like to see a photo of what you're talking about.

choddo

So would I. Is it like Look’s integrated stem thing?

joejack951

Would an aero stem like this fit?
https://ciclicorsa.com/shop/vinci-integrated-stem/

icemilkcoffee 

You mean something like this:

https://www.sim.works/collections/st...nna-lee-s-stem

smd4

God that's an ugly stem.

Trakhak

Agreed. I'm used to looking at sleek aluminum or carbon stems. That cromo stem is unsightly.

It works fine, though, undoubtedly. If it were on a bike of mine, I'd probably just use it.

Russ Roth

Slim chance, I have a Thomson which has a slim profile in the back similar to that where the bolts go through and it doesn't quite squeak it.

Yes, but more fitting to a time trial bike.


Thanks for all the replies so far, unfortunately searching for side bolt stems produced only old fashioned styles like the above.
Searching for aero frame stems and then following 15 pages of results produced the following.


Kinda liking this one except I couldn't find an 80 or 90mm so it might be too short. Not really aero but it should fit and is a two bolt system so major bonuses there.



This one isn't carbon steerer friendly according to one of the reviews, I'm guessing it means its a form of pinch system like thomson used to use, I really like the clean look this kind of stem offers. I've ordered it to see how the system works since this bike has another odd feature, there's an aluminum sleeve shoved into the steerer tube. You can see in the pic above of the steerer tube the narrower section sticking up, this is aluminum and has an actual star nut hammered in it. This would reinforce the steerer from being crushed by a wedge system so this might work and comes in 90mm.


Hopefully the pics give a better idea of what I'm dealing with, and maybe someone has some further suggestions of what will work. It'll be a sweet build when done, specced it with 11sp ultegra throughout except DA bar end shifters. Profile design bars, brake levers, tape, and DT 1600 wheelset.

choddo

Yeah it does look a bit like the Look 795 frame - though that doesn't have the stem quite so embedded. Wonder if theirs would fit? https://www.lookcycle.com/us-en/prod...-2021-frameset

ShannonM

That "SuperSIX" headset makes me wonder if this was a Cannondale frame, or did somebody else use their integrated headset design?

If I'm right about that, I'd bet that compatible, Cannondale-branded stems wouldn't be too hard to find. Slapping their name on every part they could and pushing really stupid answers to questions nobody was asking was pretty much their entire business model for about 10 years, after all.

--Shannon

CrimsonEclipse

I've seen a few frames like that, is there a point to raising the top tube like that?

choddo

makes it look like you’ve dropped the stem and gone super aero?

Russ Roth

Good possibility.

That'll give me something to narrow down on ebay. I was trying to remember if it was felt who had done something like this but c-dale might be the better search.

Its would seem to be to move the airflow around the stem to around the frame. Being a specifically time trial/tri bike I'd guess that proper positioning is adjusted more with spacers under the arm rests than spacers under the stem.

Garthr

The no longer made but available as used and NOS, the TTT Forge Ahead threadless stems use an internal clamping mechanism that tightens with one bolt on the left front side. I bought one when they were dirt cheap from planet bike .uk some years ago. When clamped the bolt is near, but not quite totally flush.

CrimsonEclipse

Introducing a frame weakness to slightly increase aerodynamics is an interesting trade.

MudPie

I like that. Real clean look and I assume the mechanism is wedged and pushes against the steerer tube, instead of clamping around the steerer tube. Do you know if that's recommended for a carbon steerer?

oldbobcat

I wouldn't use any of these on a carbon steerer. The reason every other stem puts the binder bolts on the back is to facilitate an even split top-to-bottom. This ensures even pressure over maximum clamping area. The wedge systems localize the compression at the wedge itself, and the partial-split systems at the bottom.