Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - stem options for 25.4 bars

Ok,

I jsut got a set of nitto bars and they are 25.4. I've been running a Cinellie 2A stem and this isn't working with the new bars. What options do I have for a new stem that maintains about the same angle? 1" threaded by the way

shimzzzzzzzzzz

Option 1: Drop $150 on the steel Nitto Jaguar stem. It comes in similar angle to the Cinelli 2A and has 25.4 clamp.

Option 2: Get a pair of Cinelli 67-39 Pista bars with a 26.4 clamp. My opinion is that these are superior to any bar Nitto makes.

Option 3: Shim. Get an old aluminum can and cut out a few narrow strips the width of the stem. Or you can spend $10 on the Nitto shim, but that will only get you .6. They're designed to take you from 25.4 to 26.0.

Nitto Technomic is an option if weight is no object.

Doesn't have the same angle drop as a Cinelli 2A stem.

Nitto Dynamic stems are a good option. They are available in 25.4 as well as the more common 26.0 diameters. Angle is around 72 deg. Quite hard to find, bought some from Freewheel, SF a while back.

Lots of the older ITM quill stems have a clamp of 25.8 which means they work well for 25.4 and 26.0 bars. Have this option working for me right now. ITM made stems with all kinds of drops/angles including track specific stems.

What is up with the beer can shim? It simply does not work for me. The aluminum is too soft, and sheers away at the gap where the binder bolt holds everything. I'm trying to shim 26.0 bars to the 26.4 Cinelli 2as. ****

go custom...

What is up with the beer can shim? It simply does not work for me. The aluminum is too soft, and sheers away at the gap where the binder bolt holds everything. I'm trying to shim 26.0 bars to the 26.4 Cinelli 2as. ****
How about a Diet Coke can shim? I don't mean to be a smart azz, but maybe there's something there. All I know is that I've been using the aluminum can shim system for years (MTB diameter bar in a road stem) and my bars have never slipped. Of course in my case I'm wrapping the bars about 3 or 4 times with the aluminum. If you're dealing with just 1 or 2 layers perhaps that's why the stem is able to rip it when you torque the bolt. So try GENTLY prying your stem open enough to allow a few more wraps of aluminum. Either that or drop too much on a fancy shim.

DanO

thanks for the nitto Dynamic tip. I'm not knocking shims, I just seem to have bad luck modifying anything.

Of course in my case I'm wrapping the bars about 3 or 4 times with the aluminum.

If you pay a visit to your local hardware store they usually carry a nice selection of copper and aluminum stock suitable for making proper shims, that is one layer.

Try hitting up your local machine shop.


And a tip from Rivendell



Tip: Put the shims in the stem, then grease the center of the bar and slide the bar in. It is sometimes helpful to pry the stem open some. We have stem-pry for that, but it's not worth it for one use only, and you don't always need it. The main thing is: Shims to into the stem before the bar.