Originally Posted by Smoothie104
i don't know which is more amazing to me. That the OP is so concerned about this, or that he can tell the difference in stiffness between to peices of rigid aluminum. That being said, maybe the increased stiffness is worth the slight weigth penalty?
Loaded statement so why don't you re-read...
I said I like the stiffness of the stem, and I'll probably keep it just for that. I just don't appreciate false advertising. The Deda Zero 100 advertised at 100 grams. Hardly anyone has a stem that light. Everyone has a stem in the 140-150 range. You think its OK that they advertise 100 grams when its really 140 grams? The primary selling point is the weight, making it "super-light", yet a false weight that is 40% off, and no lighter than a plethora of stems on the market.
The Oval Concepts stem...the distributor weighed one on the spot for me (10 cm shorter) and it was only 3 grams lighter. There's no way that factory tolerances ramble 40 grams over or under. Production costs are one of their promary considerations and manufacturers don't waste raw material because they're not paying attention.
My primary criteria for a stem is stiffness, and secondary is weight and price. Twenty grams one way or the other is negligable, and I can save 40 grams anywhere else easily. However, if I chose a stem I think is stiff, and it is lighter than others, and it is a reasonable price, I go for it. Weight is a consideration. I was using the stems as an EXAMPLE of an industry-wide practice of over-stating weight.
I understand the argument that I can go faster if I just dig a little deeper, or that a better rider and a lesser bike will kick my ass. I agree with that. But the purpose of this thread is not a meaningless debate on price per gram.
It is simply about the fact that manufacturers, wheather they are selling wheelsets, brake calipers, whatever, intentionally misstate the numbers. I don't like giving my money who are BSing me. Many of these companies are from overseas and they might get away with that, but I think we're better than that.
If you buy a wheelset that is supposed to be 1500 grams, but it really is 1650, and your OK with that, go for it...
That is all...