Tandem Cycling - Lightweight stoker stem?

We are in the process of putting together a new "lighter weight" tandem. We will likely use the adjustable stoker stem from our current tandem as a starting point, but would like to lighten up a bit with a fixed length stoker stem once we get her riding position dialed in (handlebar clamp size 31.8).

My questions are:

What is the availablitly for a fixed length stoker stem? Are there tandem specific fixed length stoker stems? or can you just use a LONG road stem?

Or is anyone making carbon stoker stems (i.e. pick up where Bob Davis left off)?

Lastly I do understand that Craig Calfee can fabricate a fixed length stoker stem integrated with carbon bars... hmm sounds cool - but would be the costliest option.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

You'll find a few stems at these sites

http://www.stealthcycling.com

http://www.precisiontandems.com

After you get the riding position dialed in, it seems that the chances of getting a fixed-length stem with the right length and rise is pretty slim. I'm sure that any custom frame-builder would fabricate a stem for you (for a price.)

What is the availablitly for a fixed length stoker stem? Pretty limited for the most part.

Are there tandem specific fixed length stoker stems? Again, mostly custom. You might check with daVinci as I seem to recall that they offered a few fixed length sizes.

Can you just use a LONG road stem? For some teams, yes... but it pretty well means that the stoker's handlebars would normally fall under the captains saddle relative to a proper fit and that would suggest somewhat tight quarters, even if they had really long arms.

Or is anyone making carbon stoker stems (i.e. pick up where Bob Davis left off)? To my knowledge, only the Calfee Bar-Stem option which basically costs about the same as you'd pay for an ariZona / Bob Davis Stem + carbon wing bars ($$$$).

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As swc7916 suggested, the best bet for a fixed stem is to get your stoker's riding position sorted out with an adjustable model and then use that to establish the length and rise for a custom, fixed-length chromoly stem. They aren't usually all that much more expensive to have made than the better quality adjustable stems, and can often times be as light or lighter than some uber stem you might be able to buy. However, -- and this is intended for the broader audience -- be darned sure that your stoker's basic fit and riding position (saddle set-back, etc.) are properly dialed in. It's amazing how many stokers end up having their saddles pushed all the way forward or backward on both zero set-back and set-back seat posts without regard to what their saddle set-back should really be. If that's not right, then there's little hope that they will ever be truly comfortable and/or as efficient as they could be.

The sites mentioned above *may* have some left in stock, but those were Zona stems built by Bob Davis.
As stated above, be darn sure when you get a non-adjustable stoker stem that's exactly what stoker wants (for now).
Stoker Kay, on a couple of occasions, has asked to adjust her stoker stem by 1/8 to 1/4 to a quarter of an inch. So we stick with an adjustable stem for that reason.
If someone twisted Craig Calfee's arm a bit, he may do adjustable c/f stoker stems . . . never hurts to inquire!

I have a similar problem. My wife has some wrist problems and wants to raise the bars. Probably not much, maybe an inch or two. We have a newish (2006) Co-Motion. The stoker stem is maxed out in extension and is all the way up the seat post. What is the least amount of change I need to do to get the bars up a little higher? The seatpost is 29.8, the bars are 31.8, and the adjustable stem joint mates at 29.8. The seatpost to stem axis angle is 55 degrees.

I looked at the above sites, but nobody seems to give enough dimensional information to know where any of these will end up relative to what I have. Seems like a pretty pricey thing to experiment with. Any ideas appreciated.

First post, take it easy.
--J

jgg3 what I had to do for the wife is get a set of Profile Design Stoker bars she also has problems with carpal tunnel and these were the only bars that helped her out.

Sorry, I should have mentioned the bars. They are "bull's horn" or whatever they call it. In fact, they might be the same as you mention. She just wants to lean forward a little less to not load the wrists (she also wears wrist braces and sits up a good chunk of the time - awful for aero and stability).

Suggest you take those bullhorn bars and turn them around . . . so the 'horn' part faces toward her giving her a less lean-forward hand position.

Any ideas appreciated.

The tandem speciality dealers stock a wide range of stoker stems, booms, and risers that can be used to address just about any bar placement. You'll find a sampling of the array that are available depicted on Tandems East's Website: http://www.tandemseast.com/parts/stems.html

In additional to Mel Kornbluh, Mark Johnson at Precision Tandems also has a very detailed, on-line catalog listing of alternatives: http://www.precisiontandems.com/catalogpartsweb.htm#stkrstems

There is also an extension called the ASX-50 (as is 50mm) that provides a lot of adjustability between your stock stoker boom and handlebars, regardless of bar type so long as you're working with a 25.4mm bar. Both of these dealers, along with several others will usually have one in stock.

http://www.precisiontandems.com/cat_pics/smasx50.jpg

Lots of options... just think outside the box, look at some of the offerings, get it in your mind what it is you'd like to end up with in terms of both fit and aesthetics and then give one or two of the dealers a call to discuss what they can do for you.

Suggest you take those bullhorn bars and turn them around . . . so the 'horn' part faces toward her giving her a less lean-forward hand position.

Thats what I had to do it seems better to her gota keep her (stoker) happy she also sits up more than I'd like also but you gota do what you gota do!

Rodriguez stems are made of three pieces: the part that clamps onto the captain's seatpost, a post that slides into the first piece, making it adjustable for length. For height, a conventional stem of any length is used. See photo if my description doesn't make sense to you.

What is the availablitly for a fixed length stoker stem? Are there tandem specific fixed length stoker stems? or can you just use a LONG road stem?

My 2 cents worth: use a standard Ahead stem (available up to at least 150 mm) and use a shim to fit it to the captain's seatpost. Light, easy, affordable.

My 2 cents worth: use a standard Ahead stem (available up to at least 150 mm) and use a shim to fit it to the captain's seatpost. Light, easy, affordable.
Unless you have a Santana with a 29.6?? I think seatpost then the standard 1 1/8 stem is too small.
I think I'm going to have to go custom. We have the stock adjustable stem that came with the bike all the way in and dropped down to the top of my seatpost collar and it fits her perfectly.
Don't need the adjustable nor like the looks of one so need to find a fixed length with the same angle and extension. Someone suggested buying a standard stem and having it bored out? Not too comfortable with that idea.

Or, shim your seat tube so you can use a 28.6 seat post. Then, if you can find a long-enough direct-connect stem, you've got it made.

Or, shim your seat tube so you can use a 28.6 seat post. Then, if you can find a long-enough direct-connect stem, you've got it made.Yeah I thought of that too but then I'd need to buy a new seatpost as well as the shim. I would want to have front and rear match so another seatpost and shim. Finding the right stem should be cheaper and simpler.:rolleyes:

Unless you have a Santana with a 29.6?? I think seatpost then the standard 1 1/8 stem is too small.
I must admit I was only thinking about our own 27.2 mm seatposts ...... Then again, there is still a fair amount of 1.25" stems out there, these should measure about 31.8.

I must admit I was only thinking about our own 27.2 mm seatposts ...... Then again, there is still a fair amount of 1.25" stems out there, these should measure about 31.8.Got any links for 1 1/4 stems? All I've found are the basic Santana stems.