Stiff Adjustable Stem = Myth?
08-21-07, 10:24 AM
#1
big ring
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Stiff Adjustable Stem = Myth?
I'm looking for an affordable adjustable stem that is stiff. Does such a thing exist? By affordable, I mean: not the $200 LOOK Ergostem.
08-21-07, 11:00 AM
#3
lv2mtnbike
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I have an adjustable stem by Dimension that works perfectly. It comes in 25.4mm, 26.0mm and 31.8mm bar clamps and can be set to any angle between 70 and 130 degrees. It has been very solid for me. I bought mine at the bike shop, but it can also be found online.
08-21-07, 11:05 AM
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I think the Nashbar adjustable stems are fairly stiff once they are tighten. They are heavier than other stems, but they are affordable.
08-21-07, 11:43 AM
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08-21-07, 11:48 AM
#6
Call me The Breeze
Your LBS won't let you try a couple different sizes to see what works for you? I'm sure they've got some spares lying around you could borrow in return for buying the one that works (or ordering a new one in the same size)
08-21-07, 12:25 PM
#7
Making a kilometer blurry
Just get a handful of Performance Forte' stems of various lengths. I got one just to try out a new size, but I like it well enough that I never replaced it with the WCS I was planning on.
Swapping stems doesn't take much longer than adjusting them, but you can't do it mid-ride unless you carry them in your pockets
Swapping stems doesn't take much longer than adjusting them, but you can't do it mid-ride unless you carry them in your pockets
08-21-07, 12:35 PM
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Specialized makes a stem that can be adjusted from -16 to +16 with three shims they provide. I have one. It is stiff enough for me. They are not expensive, I got mine for $36 from their website. I like it because it looks like a normal stem.
08-21-07, 01:04 PM
#9
Making a kilometer blurry
This stem is a great way to go. I didn't even think about buying one as a loose part.
08-21-07, 02:09 PM
#11
big ring
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Just get a handful of Performance Forte' stems of various lengths. I got one just to try out a new size, but I like it well enough that I never replaced it with the WCS I was planning on.
Swapping stems doesn't take much longer than adjusting them, but you can't do it mid-ride unless you carry them in your pockets
Swapping stems doesn't take much longer than adjusting them, but you can't do it mid-ride unless you carry them in your pockets
08-21-07, 03:53 PM
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08-21-07, 07:05 PM
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I have a Ritchey adjustable that works just fine for me and seems pretty rigid. It has come in handy over the years to adjust my position as I have become less aerodynamic.
08-22-07, 06:11 AM
#14
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+1
I got fat, my bars went up, happened to get a new frame so it was all good. I got thinner, I needed to lower them. But I already had zero spacers, a flat (73 degree) stem, so before I got a new frame I wanted to make sure my new position would be acceptable. So I got the Ritchey adjustable (120 mm), pointed it down pretty aggressively. Trained a lot on it, raced on it a few times, then finally got a new frame that fit me better.
I hate flexy bikes to the point that after I got my first carbon framed bike, I did a sprint in a group ride and promptly stopped to check the frame as I thought a lug was broken. Ends up it was just flexy. Sold it shortly after that. Nowadays I use an old school heavy and stiff bar, Ritchey stems, etc. I had no problems with the Ritchey adj stem.
cdr
I got fat, my bars went up, happened to get a new frame so it was all good. I got thinner, I needed to lower them. But I already had zero spacers, a flat (73 degree) stem, so before I got a new frame I wanted to make sure my new position would be acceptable. So I got the Ritchey adjustable (120 mm), pointed it down pretty aggressively. Trained a lot on it, raced on it a few times, then finally got a new frame that fit me better.
I hate flexy bikes to the point that after I got my first carbon framed bike, I did a sprint in a group ride and promptly stopped to check the frame as I thought a lug was broken. Ends up it was just flexy. Sold it shortly after that. Nowadays I use an old school heavy and stiff bar, Ritchey stems, etc. I had no problems with the Ritchey adj stem.
cdr
