531phile 

I know carbon steer forks (1.125") has a limit of 40mm for the amount of spacers, but is there any limit for a carbon fiber fork with an aluminum steerer? This is for a 1" threadless fork. I need about 65mm.

thirdgenbird

i have never seen such a limit on steel or aluminum steerers.

531phile 

yeah, I didn't think so, but I figure I'll ask anyways just to be safe.

531phile 

Oh and these spacers are going to be carbon. Is 65mm of carbon spacers kosher?

thirdgenbird

spacers only take a minimal compression load, material shouldn't really manner. in normal riding, all they are really doing is keeping prelaod on your headset to keep everything together. your stem/steerer interface is the load bearing joint.

fietsbob

Spacers do double the diameter of the steerer , externally, probably better to get one full length spacer
rather than a stack of separate ones..

I used Cane creek Intrlok spacers , they fit together like Legos, to function like a whole .
sold as machined aluminum,an each or Polycarbonate molded plastic. in a bagged set of a few thicknesses.
I have an 11cm stack of a 2nd stem, spacers, a wise cracker [bottle opener], a QBP 'locking spacer'
above the integrated headset on my trekking bike , below the stem with my trekking bars ..

May not be suitable on off road racing MTB or Cross, but aluminum steerer should be adequate,
reinforced with such spacers for recreational cycling..

Cane creek spacers and their headset can interlok together ,
but I think it is just 9/8 size.

thirdgenbird

carbon steerers fail due to a combination of the clamping and shear forces. your headset spacers will see none of this.

i am not sure it really manners if the spacers are one part or not. while it does increase the diameter of the steeerer, steerers fail where they are point loaded. at the headset or at the stem. this is right where the spacer would end anyway.

HillRider

I've never seen a published limit for the maximum spacer stack on an aluminum or steel steerer but 65 mm does seem like a lot. I have 40 mm of spacers on a 1" Cr-Mo steerer on one of my bikes and it looks (to me at least) awkwardly tall. I don't think I'd want 25 mm more spacers.

Can you use a higher angle stem to allow a shorter spacer stack?

thirdgenbird

i am asking, not arguing:

would that manner? as long as the bars are in the same position in relation to the top of the headset wouldnt the lever arm and force applied be the same?

HillRider

Good question and mechanically you are correct. However, part of the lever arm would be stiffer (the stem) and the more flexable part (the steerer) would be shorter. I dunno if it would make any difference. Maybe it's just aesthetics.

thirdgenbird

i think the problem is the force applied to the steerer at the top bearing. it should be the same as long as the bars are in the same place and this is typically where steerers fail.

not that i think it will manner with a quality metal steerer.

operator

65mm? Does the bike even fit you properly?

HillRider

Either the frame is too small or the OP wants to have the bars well above the seat.

531phile 

I fit best on a sloping geometry frame with about 110mm of headtube. 52.5cm top tube. This one is a traditional geometry has about 95mm of headtube. with 52cm top tube. I suppose I really need about 15-20mm of extra spacers. 55mm of spacers would work instead of 65mm. I'm more comfortable with my bars higher, not exactly even with the saddle, just slightly below it. I think 55mm should work, but I guess I am being conservative and saying 65mm. I will have to get spacers and find out how much I need. Don't want to cut it too short.