Yeah, right - I'm guessing that a lot of n00bs mess up by not preloading and wonder why their front wheel wiggles.

So why are you making fun of someone that made a mistake?

I'm not - I'm disagreeing with the premise that stems take less mechanical ability than most other parts of the bike.



Oh, and let's not forget those that improperly tightened and cracked a carbon steerer or bars. Or the other direction - those that didn't tighten enough and took a spill when their bars rotated out from under them. You have to have some idea of what you're doing with a stem.

You must be a big hit at parties.

I'm sure that I'd pale next to you with your brilliant wit paired with an inability to take the lightest criticisms.

Well, I guess I'm curios enough to ask. How did I display 'an inability to take the lightest critisms'?

Length and angle when dialing in a new bike.

Nothing. As with all manufacturers, there are different levels and price points. 99% of the Bontrager trashing you hear is from the Trek hater crowd who have noting concrete with which to back up their drivel.

Agreed. While I wouldn't use every Bontrager component out there, they do have some good products.

If your not changing it for fit reasons. It's just b/c you've run out of thing to upgrade, apparently.

Not sure they make stems that short.

I'll give you a third.

I bought a used bike that had horrible (aka classic-bend drop) handlebars. They had to go, immediately. They had a 26 mm clamping area, and modern bars are 31.8 mm. Replacing them meant a new stem ... which was on the house, thanks to LBS.

I like classic drop bars...

Then you are going to need a different excuse to upgrade your stem.

I 'upgraded' mine to match my seatpost. I 'upgraded' my seatpost because I wanted more setback, to centre the saddle on the rails.

See? It's so easy to come up with excuses!