TTULaw

I have a $300 credit at my LBS. I need a new stem for my bike. I have the 3T Doric LTD (Carbon) seatpost. I want a 3T stem to match. The LTD carbon stem weighs 118g and costs $272. The Team alloy stem weighs 120g and costs $65.

I'm trying to convince myself to buy the carbon stem, but every argument I come up with is stupid (other than the LTD matches my seatpost better than the Team, but I suppose that argument is stupid too). Can anyone help me with a better argument?

Neccros

Aluminum.... then give me the rest of the credit... LOL

urbanknight

Matching may not be a logical reason, but it is a reason.

Neccros

get a stem like the FSA OS-115 thats Alum and has a carbon face plate and Ti bolts... you get your carbon and its cheaper

TTULaw

Do y'all try to match your components. I have an FSA handlebar and crank, but a 3T seatpost. Everything else is SRAM. I thought if I had the 3T stem, it would balance out. Then down the road I could purchase the 3T handlebar and all the cockpit would be 3T. Gosh, I sound OCD. My wife would die if she knew I worried about such things.

phallenthoul

ARX LTD is a lot stiffer than ARX Team.
take the carbon IMO

urbanknight

Nope. It might be nice, but I don't have the money or the desire. My bike has 8s Ultegra brakes and front derailleur, 10s Ultegra rear derailleur and brifters, Truvativ bottom bracket, RPM cranks, Ritchey stem, 105 chain, Alpha-Q seatpost, and Cane Creek headset. Very little matches and the only poorly performing part on the bike is the rider.

umd

I have the Doric ltd post and the arx team stem. They match close enough except the color of the stripe. Besides, the arx limited wasn't available in the angle I wanted

TTULaw

UMD, have you had problems with the clamp on the Doric ltd? My thigh rubbed a lot where the edge was sharp. I put a thin strip of electrical tape on the clamp to smooth the edge out. Just wondering if I was the only one with this problem?

BikesAreCool123

matching is a perfectly good reason!

Flash

I have the 90mm version of this FSA OS-99 stem on my aluminum bike, claimed 103g. No complaints:

umd

No, but it may depend on the saddle and where you have it clamped on the rails. I must rub a little because the black finish is polished off, but I've never noticed...

sijray21

you know if you carry 3 paper clips in your pocket then you're already negating the weight difference of the carbon stem

paying $207 for stiffness or to match? not worth it IMO, but the purchase will likely help that bike shop

ch3n207

aren't aluminum components usually stiffer? If so and your a sprinter you should get the aluminum it will save you $$$ and there's only a 2 gram deficit.

ptle

The carbon stem is supposedly suppose to cut down on road vibrations. Whether this is true or not I don't really know. I have also heard aluminum is going to be stiffer than most carbon. This might not be true for the high end 3T carbon stem though.

umd

Not necessarily...

newb242

Matching stem came with my frame.

Glad i didn't have to pay separately

https://edenbicycles.com/product/time...em-47117-1.htm

Retro Grouch 

I don't know. I think that esthetics as a reason is perfectly logical - until you try to convince yourself that the reason is something other than esthetics.

If every time you look at your bike you think "I wish I had bought the other stem." That's a good reason.

garysol1 

That is awesome....
.....Unless your like 90% of the riders out there who need a stem swap either up or down for proper fit......

audi666

^^ mmh


in Lubbock?

TTULaw

That would be me. Everytime I looked at it I would think, my bike is almost perfect. Thanks, I think you made my decision.

TTULaw

Yes, graduated from Texas Tech Law. Got stuck here. I suppose there are worse places. Anyone...Anyone?

Patriot

Unlike CF handlebars, CF stems don't really eliminate much vibration from the road. If anything, alloy tends to be a smidgeon stiffer, which helps with steering and sprinting, in a minute way. So, CF stems really are an aesthetic item in general.

However, there's alot to be said about aesthetics.

briscoelab

FYI:
Excel Sports has some Arx Team stems with a white stripe on them, for dirt cheap right now. If they have your size, buy one of those. It will match your post and they are like $60.

Then use the $300 to get something else at the LBS

TTULaw

We have a winner!!!!
Thank you so much. I just ordered it. My LBS said they could not get that stem and certainly could not get it for $60. Oh well. So what do I spend my money on now?