superslomo

I need to replace the stem (threadless) on my bike, and was looking over the options...

Other than weight, is there any brand/configuration to look for and/or stay away from?

I currently have a four-bolt front plate, and wasn't sure whether 2 or 4 bolts are more secure...

Currently using non-oversized bars.

Any advice much appreciated.

badkarma

I was just going to say, make sure the stem you buy will fit non-oversized bars.

I love Thomson stems, but that's just me.

zimbo

Well, obviously the two diameters (both the steerer diameter and the handlebar diameter), the length, and the angle are all important factors. I know that's probably a "duh, of course" kind of answer but I accidentally bought a stem with the wrong bar diameter once. Oops.

--Steve

barba

Make sure that the angle and length are suitable for you. I seem to be sensitive to small changes in my bars, anyway.

I have a Ritchey Pro that I think is about as much stem as I really need. Light and stiff. I also have a Thomson Elite that I think is cool (and it comes in silver). I would avoid carbon unless you have money you are itching to blow.

superslomo

I have a 120mm length on it right now, and it's just too much of a stretch to get to the bars. I feel like I'm rolling my pelvis too far forward and locking my elbows a bit to get to it lengthwise. Was thinking about going to 100... just feels like when I grab the bars I end up being about an inch back from the hoods before I'm actually comfortable.

HAMMER MAN

I would go with a 110 first then if that does not work go to the 100. i went through the same problem just feeling too stretched out and went from a 110 to 100. The smallest change can make a real big difference.

krazyderek

Well if you feel comfortable roughly an inch (25.4mm) back from where your hands should be on the hoods, then 100 would make sense. Beware though the shorter the stem you go the more you pull the top of the bars back aswell, so you may run into problems with your knee's hitting or just grazing the tops when going up steep hills out of the saddle. This is where it get's fairly tricky to find just the right position. One option instead of changing stems might be to use bars with really low reach, like 75, or 85, instead of 100-115, but this is often offset if people don't have the horizontal part of the drops parallel to the ground.

I like the thompson on my synapse, and the 2 bolt design is simple and fast. The ritchey wcx 4axis is supposed to be really nice, and FSA also make some nice stems, some even with carbon faceplate's for that bling effect without the wasted money side effect. Other then that, i'd probably just try and find a good deal on one of the higher end stems made by the above, or the variety of brand names that all make decent stems, bontrager, controltech, itm, easton. Buy what fits and is the most cost effective for you.

fogrider

I found that many of the lightweight stems flex too much for me...but thats me. I have a steel stem on one bike (old style w/o a removable faceplate...like the salsa) from IRD, a steel ritchey, a 3T less stem, and a thomson. the 3T is the lightest and it is still stiff enough for me, but the thomson is rock solid!
I would recommend the 3T. it has 2 bolts and carbon faceplate...never had a problem with it coming loose.