Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - deep drop/ rise stems

I'm looking at stems for my TK2 so I can remove the spacers and and eventually cut the steer tube. What are other deep drop stems that are out there besides the Deda Newton Pista and Cinelli Pista? I would be using the stem up side down to achieve a risen angle. Of these two so far I'm leaning toward the Deda.

I have a LOOK Ergostem. It's absolutely amazing. It's as stiff as any and I can achieve just about any angle/length combination that's feasable.

http://www.bikyle.com/images/Parts/LookErgoStem_08.jpg

It's $300, though ($200 or less used if you can find one). It is the last stem you will ever have to buy...ever. I use it on the track. I'm a pretty big guy. I'm very heavy and I pull on the bars really hard (I've actually broken a Thomson X2) and I have no problems from the Ergostem. These come stock on LOOK track bikes, too.

http://images.google.com/images?q=look%20ergostem

The Thomson X2 comes in a high angle.

Adjustable stems aren't uncommon. I've seen Ritchey 1-hinge adjustable stems in stock at a Performance store.

http://www.google.com/products?q=adjustable+stem

That Look stem looks nice. If I went for adjustable I'd probabley go Look since th Ritchey doesnt have that extra hinge for length. Since the Deda is about $140 I'll consider holding out for a little bit and see about a used Look stem. thanks.

I can recommend the Deda Newton Pista. Carleton's good experience notwithstanding, I don't feel comfortable with all the extra bolted pieces in the adjustable stems.

I can recommend the Deda Newton Pista. Carleton's good experience notwithstanding, I don't feel comfortable with all the extra bolted pieces in the adjustable stems.

have you heard of poeple having bad experiences with this stem? What length is your stem? my current stem is 120mm with +/- 8 degrees
I would like to be able to keep the same distance forward but with a higher handlebar. Around much closer in would the handlebar be with a 120mm wih the 65 degree rise?

I think the Deda is a great stem.

As far as the change in bar placement, bust out the trigonometry book :)

It's a 67 degree stem, so the rise is 90 - 67 = +/- 23 degrees. This is 23 - 8 = 15 degrees more than your current stem. This will move your stem approximately (ignoring the head tube angle) (1 - cos(15)) x 120mm = 4mm closer to you, which is really not very much, however, it will raise the handlebar approximately (sin(15)) x 120 mm = 31mm, which is quite significant. When you factor in the head tube angle, the first number will be a bit larger and second number will be a bit smaller. Since raising the handlebar also effectively brings it closer to you, you might consider getting a 130mm stem, especially if you already feel a little cramped.

thanks for the mathematics... don't fully understand the equation but it helps. If I go the Deda route I'll probabley try out the 130mm and 140, just in case.

To work out the bar placement, try this calculator:

http://alex.phred.org/stemchart/Default.aspx

To work out the bar placement, try this calculator:

http://alex.phred.org/stemchart/Default.aspx

That is the most awesome thing ever.

That calculator is great. So it looks like the OP would want at least an increase of 10mm in stem length. My simplified calculation significantly underestimated the impact on reach.

thanks for the calculator, pretty cool. Has anybody used one of these? http://www.bbbparts.com/stems_bhs24.php I saw it on velodromeshop.org.uk

thanks for the calculator, pretty cool. Has anybody used one of these? http://www.bbbparts.com/stems_bhs24.php I saw it on velodromeshop.org.uk

Never used it. I'm not familiar with that brand. You can probably find something similar by visiting 2 or 3 shops in the area. The steepest non-adjustable stem that I've used on the track was a 17 degree Thomson X2.

You are aware that if you cut your steerer tube, you lower the resale value of your bike.

Never used it. I'm not familiar with that brand. You can probably find something similar by visiting 2 or 3 shops in the area. The steepest non-adjustable stem that I've used on the track was a 17 degree Thomson X2.

You are aware that if you cut your steerer tube, you lower the resale value of your bike.

I'm not planning on selling it and I'm not going to cut the steer tube untill I ride on it for the season. It'll look funny but I want to make sure it's what I want before I cut it.

Velo Orange has 17 degree stems that you can run upside down. I think Ritchey, Dimension and 11-81 (?!) have them too.,, they are designed to raise road bars, but you could use them to get track bars low too.

I'm not planning on selling it and I'm not going to cut the steer tube untill I ride on it for the season. It'll look funny but I want to make sure it's what I want before I cut it.

I kinda get the feeling that you are over-thinking this.

If you aren't set on the height, then using spacers is a good thing. You can effectively lower the bars in 0.5cm increments when you get more fit and comfortable in a deep-drop position by removing spacers. But, if you buy a stem and position it right on top of the head tube you will have to buy a different stem if you want the bars slightly lower.

I had a custom bike made and by design, I still left 1cm of spacers under the stem in case I finally lose this belly and get a little more aerooooo...

I kinda get the feeling that you are over-thinking this.

If you aren't set on the height, then using spacers is a good thing. You can effectively lower the bars in 0.5cm increments when you get more fit and comfortable in a deep-drop position by removing spacers. But, if you buy a stem and position it right on top of the head tube you will have to buy a different stem if you want the bars slightly lower.

I had a custom bike made and by design, I still left 1cm of spacers under the stem in case I finally lose this belly and get a little more aerooooo...


I probabley was thinking into it too much. After acctually getting out onto the track I have decided that I will probabley need more height than slamming the stem all the way down, even with a deda stem. Using the stem chart I'v decided I'll probabley have 1cm of spacing between the stem and head tube. I will not cut the steer tube like you advised. I was wondering about the handling effect of increasing the length of the stem. I've read that longer stems make the handling akward. A 140mm Deda newton pista has 8mm more reach and is 1cm higher (without spacers) than my currect 120mm, 8 degree rise stem with 30mm of spacers. With the Deda it has close to the same reach as my current setup. Is the akward handling the effect of extra reach of the stem or the length of the stem regardless of its angle?

I am running Deda newton pista but for $30 you can get an Profile Aris from Jensen.