Broke my stem :(
 

I need a replacement stem for my steed. 22.2mm threaded fork with a 26mm handlebar.
I looked at the Salsa stems, but they all seem to be black. Isn't there anything in cromoly which is silver or aluminum colored?
This is the 2nd time in 15 years I broke the damn stem and I'm tired of it. I want a bomb proof stem right now. If there is no other solution than the Salsa stem, I will bite the bullet and get it.. but I thought I'd ask around first.
Here's a pic of the carnage:
http://gallery.geekazoids.net/d/13983-1/IMG3831.jpg

Two stems in 15 years is not a bad track record, especially with no injuries? I say Nitto forged Technomic Deluxe. It's $50, and well worth it. I thought all stems flexed until I got one. With the height you run, it will be money well spent.,,,,BD

It's long, but not as long as it looks. On a 60cm framed bike I have, it can be dropped to the point of looking normal.

http://www.velo-orange.com/nitedest.html

if you really can't stand a black salsa, you can always powdercoat sliver (or anything else) over the black PC...probably want to put a few things together to make the PC order worthwhile.

If the black is anodized you can take it off with oven cleaner, and then polish, polish, polish. Good to see you didn't kill yourself...

The Nitto doesn't seem to be a pop top stem. That's one of the reasons I like the Salsa, easy to replace in case it *gasp* breaks.
Given that I haven't really cycled from 1998 to 2006... and my current commute is sometimes over pretty rough road I need a good piece this time.

Maybe a threadless conversion is in order? I ride over some rough stuff too and have yet to break a stem. I just use the bars to steer the bike though, not jump it hehe.:D,,,,BD

You want a stem that will outlast your previous ones, and you're worried about whether it has a "pop top"? How often do you plan on removing and reinstalling it? There isn't really much to removing tape and lever on one side and reinstalling. I've never met a "pop top" stem yet that looked halfway decent. You may as well use a threadless type stem with an adapter. It won't be any uglier.

But if it's a long term kind of thing, like another 15 years, there are a few framebuilders around who will make you a nice chromoly quill stem.

Velo Orange... stem with a "pop top" and an adapter...

http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2008...m-adapter.html

Judging from the amount of exposure on your broken stem, the Nitto "Technomic Deluxe" [shown above] would allow over 3 inches of insertion, which would give lots more bracing than your busted stems, and you would still have over 4-1/2" of exposure above the headset. The Deluxe at 190 mm. in height may not look it, but is much taller than a typical road stem.

It is not even the tallest stem made by Nitto. Their "Basic" Technomic at 225 mm. is another 1-1/2 inch taller. Even with those taller stems, often exposed to some REALLY extreme heights (and used off-road), I have never heard of one ever breaking... and the "Deluxe" model uses an even better "cold-forging" process - making it even stronger.

Would definitely be my choice!

Dang, threadless stems are so ugly...

I put a black Salsa on my UO-8, and it really doesn't look bad, particularly with black handebar tape.

Hmm... hmm... thanks for all the suggestions. I'm still torn. The Nitto definitely looks like a nice piece. But the Salsa being CroMoly makes me think it will last longer this time.

Afraid I agree. The Nitto models are certainly very nicely finished, but I still have an issue with the fact they are simply designed to sit low atop a headset. Even with a taller stem adapter for a threaded steering tube they just tend to look "top-heavy". Threadless style stems are commonly tilted slightly or even steeply upward which to my eye looks awkward on a bike with basically a horizontal top tube. And this also makes the "effective" reach more difficult to judge than a simple traditional stem which is easy to anticipate the actual forward reach for your preferred handlebar height. :twitchy:

I do have to admit I really like the convenience of "front-loading" stems. It is unfortunate that most modern bikes are made for threadless steering tubes. This means that we will probably never see the evolution of a simple, fairly tall, traditional quill stem (like the Technomic Deluxe) made also with a front bolting bar clamp. :(

Now something like THAT would pretty much define my personal dream stem :love:

We should all start a company and make them.

New Nitto Technomic stem and new handlebar tape. I wrapped it myself and as this is my 2nd time only I think it came out OK. :thumb: This is my daily commuter so don't be too harsh on my setup :o
http://gallery.geekazoids.net/d/13991-1/IMG_3832.jpg

That is one sexy stem.

Yeah.. and now the stem is gone with everything else as my bike was stolen yesterday outside my office :cry:

That stinks. That bike is distinct enough that it has a chance of being identified and recovered.

Nice job on the stem and bar-wrapping! I'm sorry to hear of your loss though! Rats! Check all the pawn-shops and ads in the newspapers/local internet. And use Google, too. Their bots are fast to climb through the whole net in short order. I have a feeling you'll see your bike again.

Sorry your ride was stolen!

I'm wondering how the hell you break a stem while riding without crashing and burning right away??