carbon stems

I have ridden a Carbon Stem for 3 seasons straight. They work great. I have ridden a Cinelli Carbon Stem, FSA Carbon Stem, Zefiro Carbon Stem, and a Specialized Carbon Stem. All have worked well for me. I think you'd be really pleased. Carbon has come a long way in this area of componentry. 🙄

jrstevens said:

interested in hearing people's experience with carbon stems. last year I ran a carbon bar with an alu stem (FSA K-wing and OS140) and really enjoyed the dampening. there is a noticeable effect compared to alu bars however as a crit racer I was concerned with how the carbon bar would hold up in the event of a crash. I'm thinking I'd like to go get a carbon stem and pair that with a alu bar for next season. any thoughts or specific stem brand recs? Are the carbon stems flexy in any way?

JS

jrstevens said:

interested in hearing people's experience with carbon stems. last year I ran a carbon bar with an alu stem (FSA K-wing and OS140) and really enjoyed the dampening. there is a noticeable effect compared to alu bars however as a crit racer I was concerned with how the carbon bar would hold up in the event of a crash. I'm thinking I'd like to go get a carbon stem and pair that with a alu bar for next season. any thoughts or specific stem brand recs? Are the carbon stems flexy in any way?

JS

In the event of a crash, the carbon stem/alu bar will survive better than an al stem/carbon bar or carbon stem/bar set-up.

FWIW, I currently use a carbon bar/stem set-up but I dont feel any noticeable deiffernce between my all al set-up. IMO, I think the carbon bar/stem (or at least the one I'm using - an SRP flat top ergo bar on an ITM carbon stem)) is just as rigid as my all al set-up. Having said that, I went on this set-up not to look for dampening but more on to save a few grams. The whole thing is about 310grams total.

Aluminium stems are still lighter and cheaper than carbon stems. Carbon hasn't evolved enough to become a viable material for light stems. Carbon bars also produce no dampening quality, that is marketing BS. A good setup for crits is an OS al bar (FSA RD200) with an al stem. There are an abundance of light al stems around, take your pick.

bobbyOCR said:

Carbon bars also produce no dampening quality, that is marketing BS.

For racing crits it's really a bit redundant, most are short (<60minutes) enough that the dampening qualities are minimal. So save the $$ and put Al on there.

I know you're on a perpetual anti-carbon bent, but from my own experience, if I ride my XC bike for a decent ride (4hrs+) the fatigue in my arms and hands when I ride a carbon bar to an Al bar (both the same length and both flat), is not only significant it's massive.

--brett

sideshow_bob said:

For racing crits it's really a bit redundant, most are short (<60minutes) enough that the dampening qualities are minimal. So save the $$ and put Al on there.

I know you're on a perpetual anti-carbon bent, but from my own experience, if I ride my XC bike for a decent ride (4hrs+) the fatigue in my arms and hands when I ride a carbon bar to an Al bar (both the same length and both flat), is not only significant it's massive.

--brett

I am not anti carbon, I am anti paying more for a product with minimal benefits just because of marketing. 3 years and carbon will come into its own.

Wth an XC bar, anything that short will transmit nearly the exact same amount of vibrations. It does not matter, as vibration dissipates more the more material there is. 25cm of carbon is going to be very close to 25cm of aluminium in vibration dampening (either side of the bar that is). The only explanation is the carbon is flexing, therefore acting as a shock absorber. The technology for handlebars and stems has not increased enough to use carbons true potential, hence you get a tube with close to identical properties of aluminium.

Thinking about the material science side of things, carbon would be better with the low amplitude high frequency stuff such as road vibration. The changes in the weave and ever changing fibres/matrix do not allow vibrations to pass as easily.

To damp the low frequency high amplitude (big bumps) you need to flex. Bars and stems that flex a great deal shouldn't be on any bike!

I can see that carbon bars and stems may cut the "buzz" and that can creep into you over long rides without noticing it. However look at what the pros ride....many of them don't even ride the lightest of Al stems, prefering stiffness.

For the last hundred years people have been racing on non carbon bars/stems over rough courses and 200miles torture tests. I'm betting a good fitting bike and fit rider wouldn't need the damping that a few extra hundred $$$ gets you in carbon bars/stems. If you can afford it and want it, then yes there may be some extra enjoyment could be gained due to a little less arm/shoulder fatigue, but unlikely they will make you the slightest bit faster.

Back to the point of this post. If you enjoy the setup you have now why not keep riding it until you do crash and need to replace it? If you never crash you've saved yourself a lot of money replacing some kit you were already happy with!

bobbyOCR said:

Aluminium stems are still lighter and cheaper than carbon stems. Carbon hasn't evolved enough to become a viable material for light stems. Carbon bars also produce no dampening quality, that is marketing BS. A good setup for crits is an OS al bar (FSA RD200) with an al stem. There are an abundance of light al stems around, take your pick.

The lighter stem(s) are not aluminum, they're magnesium and cost megabucks. A stem weighing less than 140grams is considered respectably light (in weight weenie terms) whether aluminum or carbon while a magnesium stem (100mm) should be less than 99grams to be viable as 'light'. My ITM carbon stem weighs 126grams (tuned it myself), originally 145grams. It also weighs the same now as the original Giant Racing forged aluminum stem it replaced but that one was prone to slipping the carbon bar. Altho for lightest sake the ITM 'The Stem' magnesium should have been the one I got, the price just doesn't cut it for me. And like I said, never was looking for dampening when I went for the all carbon setup - I actually want to put as much carbon on the bike as possible without 'lighten-ing' my wallet too much (among other things).

http://www.extralite.com/index_euro.htm
Look at their Ultrastem. 82g for 100mm, totally cnc machined 7075 Txx aluminium. ALUMINIUM

This is a bloody light stem, as lite as you would want to go, and it isn't magnesium. Same goes for Syntace F99 and 3T less stem. Magnesium is great, but I haven't heard of much of it. The was the Easton MG90.

The ITM THE stem has a good reputation for breaking.

bobbyOCR said:

http://www.extralite.com/index_euro.htm
Look at their Ultrastem. 82g for 100mm, totally cnc machined 7075 Txx aluminium. ALUMINIUM

This is a bloody light stem, as lite as you would want to go, and it isn't magnesium. Same goes for Syntace F99 and 3T less stem. Magnesium is great, but I haven't heard of much of it. The was the Easton MG90.

The ITM THE stem has a good reputation for breaking.

Extralite is a specialist in light and minimalist bike accessories - seatpost, stems, crank arms/spider. Not that available to the mass market.

On the CF front, a specialist counterpart using carbon fiber is AX-Lightness ax-lightness.decarbon fibre technology lightweight composites id 4421 .htm;jsessionid=4B9EB837D19D54E53E40A3D6B345EOpen ↗

as well as THM Carbones thm-carbones.deenglishOpen ↗.

However, I must agree with you about CF stems that they are yet to be a viable 'light' alternative to an AL. Having said that, THM is said to be working on it but that remains to be seen if it is indeed viable.

The basic problem of an all-CF stem lies in the reliability of the high-stressed areas - the steerer clamp and the faceplate. You still need AL inserts in these to make them reliably safe. But by doing so carries a significant weight penalty.

Phill P said:

Back to the point of this post. If you enjoy the setup you have now why not keep riding it until you do crash and need to replace it? If you never crash you've saved yourself a lot of money replacing some kit you were already happy with!

the bike with that setup has been sold🙁 Looks like based on the comments here I'll just go with an alu bar/alu stem setup. thanks for all the opinions and info

Yes, all alu is still the best value for money and will deliver all the performance you need. CF stems and bars look great, although they tend to be heavier than the best alu combos.

Powerful Pete said:

CF stems and bars look great, although they tend to be heavier than the best alu combos.

Tend to be heavier.... stem yes, bars no. There are now CF bars as light as and/or lighter than the light ALs.

hd reynolds said:

Tend to be heavier.... stem yes, bars no. There are now CF bars as light as and/or lighter than the light ALs.

Fair enough, I lumped them in together. Then again, there is that pesky bang for the buck issue. My two cents: stay with AL.

Powerful Pete said:

Fair enough, I lumped them in together. Then again, there is that pesky bang for the buck issue. My two cents: stay with AL.

now that I've decided on the alu what brands do you all like or recommend. I've used Ritchey WCS in the past but the bars seem to flex quite a bit. I was pleased with the FSA OS 140 stem but it weighs 175 grams (more than I'd like) Any recommendations appreciated.

James

jrstevens said:

now that I've decided on the alu what brands do you all like or recommend. I've used Ritchey WCS in the past but the bars seem to flex quite a bit. I was pleased with the FSA OS 140 stem but it weighs 175 grams (more than I'd like) Any recommendations appreciated.

James

Syntace F99, or F119 are great stems. The Oval R700 stem and 700 bars are good value. FSA RD200 bars are good, so are FSA energy bars, Deda Newton (not that light though), and as I mentioned R700 bars. Ritchey 4 axis stems have a good reputation, and their pro road bar is used by Brad McGee I think.

On the cheaper side, the Shimano owned PRO (www.pro-bikegear.nl I think) have their plt, xlt stems and pilot road bar. They are great value.

ITM Millenium 4ever bar and stem combination... nothing else.

hd reynolds said:

ITM Millenium 4ever bar and stem combination... nothing else.

Kinda limits his choices.

bobbyOCR said:

Kinda limits his choices.

I kinda like my all CF setup but thats my all AL fave.... when one discovers their personal choice why recommend more right?

hd reynolds said:

I kinda like my all CF setup but thats my all AL fave.... when one discovers their personal choice why recommend more right?

how vital is it to match manufacturer's for bars and stems. Is it okay to run a Ritchey Stem with a FSA bar for example or should they be from the same company?