Inspect your bikes

[zap]

Found this before heading out the other day. Towards the end of the prior ride the tandem was making some creaking noises which prompted this inspection. Cranks were suspect but nope....cracked stem.

[Veloo]

Is that a Thomson?

[eddief]

right . that's a bit of a scare.

[mtechnica]

Yikes!

[zap]

Originally Posted by Veloo

Is that a Thomson?

Yes, X4.

[avalonracing]

I think you missed the decimal point in that 5.5Nm

[R3awak3n]

Glad that did not happen while on the bike. Thomson man, hate to say it but they do not make great products. Tons of cracked stems (usually its faceplates). The 2 bolt stems are known to slip. The seatpost clamp was probably one of the worst I have ever used, slipped like crazy.

If you want silver, maybe get a ritchey classic or the new zipp silver.. Otherwise just get a Kalloy Uno stem. the best... the cheapest.

[mass_biker]

Took off on a ride on my ancient C50...headed out my back alley and I felt the front handlebars beginning to slip...sure enough, crack below where the stem/bar interface is.

Thomson stem.

Now - it is >15 years old. But I am glad that I found out a 100 feet away from my house.

Vs. a few miles later on a 35+ mph downhill!

That said, I've gotten good use out of that stem.

Replaced with a Zipp (thanks PL!).

[NHAero]

Are there products that are more susceptible to cracks than others?
I don't own a Thomson stem, but I have 6 seatposts on various bikes.

[Blue Jays]

Sweet Baby Jeezus! Whew...
Thank goodness you are OK.

[d_douglas]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

I think you missed the decimal point in that 5.5Nm

Funny torque jokes!!

Thats scary. The only bike part I have broken (or that broke) was an X2 stem. I swore them off and said I would only buy an X4, but now you've blown my theory out of the water!!

[johnniecakes]

Not trying to pile on but in 45 years riding I have only had one stem crack or fail in anyway, and it was a Thompson X2

[mass_biker]

I've always thought they were the bomb.

I thought my "stealth crack" issue was an anomaly. Or just because stuff was old.

Running down my list of rigs.

- Ritchey, 3T, Zipp.

No Thomson stems anymore. But not out of a conscious choice. Just what was available, sized right, etc.

Huh.

[zap]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

I think you missed the decimal point in that 5.5Nm

Ha.

No. Have a torque wrench and decades of build experience. I use the minimum I can get away with which for me is 4 to 4.5 nm. Have forged stems on all other road bikes and the travel tandem. No problems.

This is the second cracked X4.....same tandem. The first stem was replaced under warranty. The X4 130 stem is just not up to hard hill climbing tandem duty.

Interestingly, I have a Thomson X2 stem on my mtb.....15+ years. Go figure but time for a replacement forged stem.

[KonaSS]

I really like their seatposts in certain applications, but would never touch one of their stems.

It is anecdotal, but seen waaaay to many cracked Thomson stems.