Need some stem options / advice

[tuscanyswe]

Im ordering a steel bike and im currently thinking of having a stem painted to match the bike.

I have today in the box an enve 120 +- 6 degrees that im thinking of using but im bit tired or seeing enve stems and seatpost on every bike.

The design for the frame isent even on the way yet so i have some time to think about this but what other lightweight stems are out there that looks less chunky? Dont think the enve stem is really that chunky but i wish the rear end would end more roundly around the steerer. Sleeker i guess.

Im also toying with the idea of having the headtube just a tad taller and going with a stem that has bit more angle to, mainly cause i have an idea that with a level(ish) toptube the minus 6 degree may look less fluid with the frame than a -12 or similar degree stem .

And yes i know im anal :)

If anyone has some good picture of an enve stem on a bike with a level(ish)
toptube id love to c it!

Thanks

[reggiebaseball]

First,
I am not completely sold on the idea of painted to match stems.
They can work, but they often look like 'too much' to me, and detract from the frame.
bleh.
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=103525



That said, I have a couple of thoughts about stems I like, as I like thinner tube steel bikes, and thick stems can look totally wrong.

1. 3T ARX stems, this would limit you to using a -6, or adding 2.9 CM to either your HT or spacers and using a -17 stem. These stems are really light, and really thin looking, and acetone takes off all the logo graphics in 5 seconds.

here is a bicycle with 2CM of spacers and a -6 3T Team or Pro, cleaned with acetone.

http://nycsportspics.com/moots/meatballsmarcelo1.jpg


I have been thinking lately that I prefer the look on a level TT to have a -17 stem. There is a C50 in ST01 in the galleries that shows the same bike with a slammer -6 and then with a -17 with spacers, and I like how the spacers look.
Here:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=127781


Also, I have used Thomson stems. They look awesome, very thin and short stack height. Thomson is available in a -10.
http://nycsportspics.com/moots/moots%202066.jpg


Look, enough with ENVE stems, ok? They are chunky. There is no reason for a stem to be made from carbon, no weight savings even. Your bike is steel anyway.

[Dallez]

I'm going through a similar exercise on my new build, a steel Ritchey Logic 2.0. I don't have a pic for you, but you can see plenty of painted enve stems on Speedvagen builds and some Baum builds.

I agree that the enve stem looks chunky, especially on skinny tubed bikes. I am most likely going to end up ordering a Ritchey stem that I will have painted. But currently, I have a Zipp Service Course SL stem on my Allez that is very sleek. In my opinion it would match quite nicely with steel frame. I'd use the Zipp on my new build, but in the spirit of matching components, I am going to go with a Ritchey stem to match my new Ritchey handlebars and frame.

[bluesea]

Deda for -8, vertically oval, elegant.
Easton for -10, has an oversize look similar to 3TTT, nice.



http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8392/8654020596_2dfff30cdb_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pigmode/8654020596/)
IMG_0430 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/pigmode/8654020596/) by pigmode (http://www.flickr.com/people/pigmode/), on Flickr

[FlashUNC]

If you're getting painted to match, why not go all-out and get a custom stem made?

That's the route I'm going on my latest project.

[reggiebaseball]

becauSe a steel stem would be heavier, offer no performance benefit that I know of (unless you need a custom length or drop) and cost 3-8x as much.

Admittedly, a steel stem can be very lovely, can integrate nicely with the frame,
can offer custom lengths and drops, is unique
and has a lot of nice aesthetic qualities

Winter bikes has some beautiful stems,
personally if I got a custom stem I would have it chromed or polished to show it off.

[cfox]

I will second the Thomson stem. The angle looks great with horizontal or slightly sloping top tubes. They are nicely machined, have square faces, and the bore is super smooth and true to size. They actually bevel all of the openings in the bore that make contact with the steerer tube, so there are no sharp edges to dig into the carbon steerer tube. I grew tired of Deda stems that weren't square, had inconsistent bore sizes, and had edges that needed smoothing.

[Grant McLean]

And yes i know im anal :)


then you know you have to match the brand of handlebar and stem.

-g

[tuscanyswe]

then you know you have to match the brand of handlebar and stem.

-g

I thought i could get away with not doing that if i painted the stem :)? Darn!


Thanks guys. Yes the x2 is a possibility but i like to match stem and seatpost especially if i dont paint it and need abit of setback so i would require the thomson setback post which im not a big fan of.

3ts are okay but they are abit plain.

That Easton looks good on there but i think its not what i picture on this.

Custom stem would be sweet but as reggie said they are abit heavier and its hard to justify the price for me.

I think i will prefer a stem with a bigger angle if i go with a level or almost level toptube.

[bluesea]

Deda has their Italian curves down with the SuperZero SP.

[nighthawk]

Here's my Vamoots with level toptube and Enve stem.
FWIW, I agree with you, and struggled with putting a 6* stem on this. It feels great, so decided not to sweat the slight aesthetic peculiarity. A -17* would do the trick, though if you want that smooth aesthetic line. If I remember correctly 3T offers some of the ARX stems in -17*s.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VZBiF9iXQLE/UX1BgZMufuI/AAAAAAAABvI/nhGuwWPnzI0/s640/-1.jpg

[jr59]

here, and yes it looks like crap...

[bikerboy337]

Always been a fan of the Ritchey WCS stuff... they make a -17 stem (have a WCS stem on my wojcik). I like the C260 stem, mates with their carbon bar so well...

I've pretty much gone with WCS bars, stems on all my bikes for about 5 years, just works for me I guess...

[reggiebaseball]

here, and yes it looks like crap...

Oh my.

[tuscanyswe]

Hmm yes the more i c the enve stem i know its not what i want for this bike.
That means i have an enve 120mm if anyone wants it.. All black (logos removed).

I actually kinda liked the 260 but it only comes in 84 degree as most other stems.

How much does a modern steel stem from a good builder cost and what do they weigh approx?

[mandasol]

I was checking out Fairwheel the other day for stems and the extralite stem caught my attention because of the clamp design around the steerer - very sleek.

http://fairwheelbikes.com/images/extralite_roadstemoc_stems.jpg

[tuscanyswe]

I was checking out Fairwheel the other day for stems and the extralite stem caught my attention because of the clamp design around the steerer - very sleek.

http://fairwheelbikes.com/images/extralite_roadstemoc_stems.jpg

Yes ive seen these but I'm torn on them.

I love some titanium and steel stems and i realize that what i like about these is that the rear part is round. They follow the steerer both looking from above and from the side.

Most stems today have chunkey material in this area and are then cutout instead to save weigh making they look less fluid imo.

Something like this but cheap and readily available would be nice :)

[reggiebaseball]

Hey goldilocks
tRy Velo Orange


Steel stems are about 300+ clams and they don't weigh em, if you know what I mean.

[FlashUNC]

How much does a modern steel stem from a good builder cost and what do they weigh approx?

I can reference a convo I had with Mr Estlund about my spot in his stem queue. Like custom frames, the sky is the limit. Generally, he said most folks set a budget, and they work from there. He's taken my $200 deposit, and I'm waiting for my turn in the queue.

I think a few extra grams for a nice, custom stem is easily a fair trade off, if you're getting exactly what you want.

Besides, why scrimp on the stem when you're going all out on a custom frame order?

A bit like putting hubcaps on a Ferrari imo. Happy to talk further via PM if you want.

[jr59]

Oh my.


no worries, it's been changed out

[tuscanyswe]

I can reference a convo I had with Mr Estlund about my spot in his stem queue. Like custom frames, the sky is the limit. Generally, he said most folks set a budget, and they work from there. He's taken my $200 deposit, and I'm waiting for my turn in the queue.

I think a few extra grams for a nice, custom stem is easily a fair trade off, if you're getting exactly what you want.

Besides, why scrimp on the stem when you're going all out on a custom frame order?

A bit like putting hubcaps on a Ferrari imo. Happy to talk further via PM if you want.

Well i agree and disagree.

I think a few grams extra wouldent be that big of a deal but 100-150g more? I dont know what they actually weigh.. 200 or 350grams?

200$ doesent sound that bad considering most nice stems cost that and i can prolly get 150 for the enve or there abouts.

Im short on time tho. Need it to be at the builder for paint in like a month - 6 weeks or so.

[reggiebaseball]

$200 was his DEPOSIT
stems cost $300+ from builders, and in fact $350+ PLUS paint costs.

get a $50 3T or Easton and keep it black (Acetone off logos) as a temporary solution.
Ride it for a while and think about whether you want to pay $350 more for the same thing in steel only twice the weight,
or maybe $100 to have the 3T/Easton stem painted to match

or maybe spend on something else.

Ti would be better on weight
Moots Ti stem is almost $400, then paint I guess.
Steve Potts can do a custom Ti stem for $320 or so, last time I asked him.

Your time frame is quite short for any custom option, nearly impossible I think-- I mean if you are gonna pay some guy $400 for a stem, don;t you want him to be the guy with the mile long waiting list for his work?

[tuscanyswe]

I love the moots stem but they are 6degrees as well. I actually have a new one in a box. Could custom order one in a diff angle but then its 400+ which is not an option.

[sc53]

I like the Ritchey Wet White stem (http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=WCS+4%2DAxis+Wet+White+Stem&vendorCode=RITCHEY&major=1&minor=22) and seatpost (http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=WCS+1-Bolt+Wet+White+Seatpost&vendorCode=RITCHEY&major=1&minor=19) -- color matches my white bike without needing to paint them, and I don't mind the logos which are not overpowering.

[bluesea]

I love the moots stem but they are 6degrees as well. I actually have a new one in a box. Could custom order one in a diff angle but then its 400+ which is not an option.


If you can use a 6, don't you think reducing spacers produces a cleaner build both in aesthetics and function? Cutting back spacers would be my first priority.

[tuscanyswe]

If you can use a 6, don't you think reducing spacers produces a cleaner build both in aesthetics and function? Cutting back spacers would be my first priority.

I can ofc ask to have the frame built to use a 6degree without spacers or a few thin spacers to allow some wiggle room for future adjustments if needed but i can also have the frame built with a tad more bb drop and a tad longer ht to fit a stem with more degree with the same amount room for spacers / or without.

Thats the 2 designs im pondering and currently i think a lowerbb / longer ht with the steeper stem will be the more visually pleasing design. Contact points would be the same with either.

[tuscanyswe]

I like the Ritchey Wet White stem (http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=WCS+4%2DAxis+Wet+White+Stem&vendorCode=RITCHEY&major=1&minor=22) and seatpost (http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=WCS+1-Bolt+Wet+White+Seatpost&vendorCode=RITCHEY&major=1&minor=19) -- color matches my white bike without needing to paint them, and I don't mind the logos which are not overpowering.


Yes thats not a bad looking stem and it comes in 84 or 73.. So its definitely an option.

[reggiebaseball]

If you can use a 6, don't you think reducing spacers produces a cleaner build both in aesthetics and function? Cutting back spacers would be my first priority.

look at this bike:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=127781

what do you think?

On a level TT a -6 stem looks like your bike has a mild erection in profile.
Luckily you never see your own bike in profile while riding

[enr1co]

I like the Ritchey Wet White stem (http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=WCS+4%2DAxis+Wet+White+Stem&vendorCode=RITCHEY&major=1&minor=22) and seatpost (http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=WCS+1-Bolt+Wet+White+Seatpost&vendorCode=RITCHEY&major=1&minor=19) -- color matches my white bike without needing to paint them, and I don't mind the logos which are not overpowering.

Very pleased with the Ritchey classic stem 6 deg and semi compact bars- reasonable weight, economy. Most important for me, a comfortable set up since the HT is pretty short on my traditional geo frame.


For the econo price you could likely pick up a set for feel and look and resell them easily on the classifieds if you dont care for them.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/3577307/view/IMG_6369.JPG
http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/3577307/view/IMG_6357.JPG

[tuscanyswe]

the difference between a 6 degree and a 13degree stem in a 120mm length is approx 12mm up or down. Could hide abit less than half of those in the bb drop and the other half in the longer ht. Im concearned with ht lenght as well but i think im well within what i think is still a good lenght on headtube for a bike my size.


Yeah the ritchey silver bits are nice but I'm not doing a "classic" build on this bike.

[bluesea]

I can ofc ask to have the frame built to use a 6degree without spacers or a few thin spacers to allow some wiggle room for future adjustments if needed but i can also have the frame built with a tad more bb drop and a tad longer ht to fit a stem with more degree with the same amount room for spacers / or without.

Thats the 2 designs im pondering and currently i think a lowerbb / longer ht with the steeper stem will be the more visually pleasing design. Contact points would be the same with either.


Ah, my time will come in a year or so. With a horizontal TT, my goal is the same in terms of spacers, but its easy because I have short legs. For BB drop, I know already it will be lower. :cool:





look at this bike:
http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=127781

what do you think?





That *is* clean.

[tuscanyswe]

I assume and probably correctly that using bb drop to allow for a different stem is prolly not the best idea as it will change ride characteristics but im pretty certain i want a lower bb regardless of stem so im using a bike im currently riding to compare.

Certain things i think is best to leave with the builder but i can still consider ideas and fit to present to him. This will be my first custom so plans my change as i talk more with the builder.

Still have to figure out how to pay him, seem there is an issue with the bank transfer :/

[bluesea]

Yup, the builder likes lower BBs.

[tuscanyswe]

Could something like this look good painted. I think its actually a quite good looking stem (for modern standards) apart from the graphics.

i havent seen one live tho.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gomikagayama/6242211572/