Bicycle Mechanics - Steertube/ stem spacer between headset and stem

I could spend $7 plus shipping and tax for a carbon spacer/shim to place between stem and headset, but I'm betting there are more practical and resourceful ways to fill this gap than spending the 1000% mark-up on a piece of plastic. My steer tube is 1 and 1/8 inches in diameter. Any ideas? I could probably purchase an 8-foot section of carbon tube for the same price if I knew the original source, then slice it into 20 mm bits to sell (just like the retail guys).

Take care,
VM

I could spend $7 plus shipping and tax for a carbon spacer/shim to place between stem and headset, but I'm betting there are more practical and resourceful ways to fill this gap than spending the 1000% mark-up on a piece of plastic. My steer tube is 1 and 1/8 inches in diameter. Any ideas? I could probably purchase an 8-foot section of carbon tube for the same price if I knew the original source, then slice it into 20 mm bits to sell (just like the retail guys).

Take care,
VMWell, CF isn't plastic, but a cheap azz could probably scrounge something suitable.Try trolling around wallymart or HD if your time is worth nothing.LBS probably has one for even less than the $7+

Does anyone have a source for 1-1/8" spacers in larger than 20mm?

Go find an LBS and pay $1 for one in black anondized aluminum.

Go find an LBS and pay $1 for one in black anondized aluminum.

The largest I've seen at any of my LBSs are 20mm ones. Do your local shops have larger ones?

We can get 'em up to 40 mm in carbon or alu; something in a 40 is something of a rare bird and will be closer to the $7 you originally mentioned

You can buy 2024 aluminum tube by the foot. This one should work for you:

http://onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=12842&step=4&showunits=inches

It is about 14 bux per foot, but is very strong stuff. You'll need a good way to cut it perfectly flat, but you can have any length you want! They'll even do custom cuts for you if you, too (though you pay a premium for that, a 1.5" piece is about 2.50$ for instance).

Unless you have a very special need, it probably makes sense to go with a cheap standard spacer from the LBS. I'd only make my own if I had some very bizarre situation I was dealing with.

peace,
sam

It's not an especially special need, but I'm running probably 120mm or so of spacers at the moment, and would like to make that out of as few spacers as possible to minimize the wiggle.

Waldo - what's your source?

I could probably purchase an 8-foot section of carbon tube for the same price if I knew the original source, then slice it into 20 mm bits to sell (just like the retail guys).

CF tube is kinda hard to get. it comes up from time to time on the framebulder's list. I think the mfg's are afraid to sell to the little guys.

Any decent bike shop should have some spares left over from builds. You may try asking if you have a friendly LBS.

It's not an especially special need, but I'm running probably 120mm or so of spacers at the moment, and would like to make that out of as few spacers as possible to minimize the wiggle.

Waldo - what's your source?

QBP, Olympic Supply, and a couple other distributors, hence most any shop can get them. Wheels Manufacturing makes a 40 mm in either carbon or aluminum; I don't know of any other manufacturers that do off-hand, but I'm sure someone will chime in if there are other sources.

You are running 12cm of spacer?? Wow, thats a lot! Maybe it would make sense to make custom one, to prevent yourself from having to run THREE 40mm spacers. If you've already ruled out conventional solutions like high rise stems or bars, then I'd say buy a foot of aluminum and cut your own! That onlinemetals.com place I linked above will cut you 4.75 inches (12cm) of the tube for 8ish bucks plus shipping, or you could buy a foot for about 14$, or a 'random' length between 10" and 12" for 10$ (probably your best deal). It would be unfinished aluminum, but that 2024 alloy is aerospace buff stuff, and very lightweight for its strength, I'd have no qualms using it as a spacer. Just deburr well, polish the outside for looks, and rock your mondo spacer. It would weigh about 106 grams, not too bad.

I'm not sure where to buy composite tubing raw, at least not in those dimensions. If anyone finds a place, let me know, I maintain a bit of a list of places that will sell to hobbyists, since you never know when you might need a li'l somethin somethin for your project. :)

peace,
sam

You could do it through this shop with three 40mm spacers. I bought two- perhaps like you, I'm not as comfortable in the drops unless my seat and handlebars are about level.

http://stores.ebay.com/Bicycle-Supply

You could do it through this shop with three 40mm spacers. I bought two- perhaps like you, I'm not as comfortable in the drops unless my seat and handlebars are about level.
http://stores.ebay.com/Bicycle-Supply
So you're suggesting that he pay $1 more per spacer than he would at the LBS, plus shipping? :rolleyes:

Why use spacers at all? Oh wait threadless is where it's at now. ha ha ha suckers.