flat ATB bar in a road stem? 25.4 -> 26.0

[jasong]

I´m going to put a flat bar on a cyclocross bike. I have several road stems with different lengths/angles, so don't want to invest in ATB stems if not necessary.

Do people shim the 25.4 mm ATB bar to 26.0 mm? Drawbacks? Coke can approach good enough? Since rotation isn't as important as with a drop bar, that's in my favor.

Since road stems are used on cross bikes with drop bars, it seems like the stem is normally strong enough for this type of riding.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Dan Daniel]

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:45:11 +1000, jasong
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>I´m going to put a flat bar on a cyclocross bike. I have several road
>stems with different lengths/angles, so don't want to invest in ATB
>stems if not necessary.
>
>Do people shim the 25.4 mm ATB bar to 26.0 mm? Drawbacks? Coke can
>approach good enough? Since rotation isn't as important as with a drop
>bar, that's in my favor.
>
>Since road stems are used on cross bikes with drop bars, it seems like
>the stem is normally strong enough for this type of riding.
>
>Thoughts?
>
>Thanks!

Make or buy shims. Go ride.

http://harriscyclery.net/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=417

Most likely available in a local shop. I've used homemade shim
material with varying luck. Never had a problem with the Nitto shims.
Expensive for what they are, but it's nice to not worry about
handlebars moving.

 

[jasong]

Hi, thanks for your response.

I think the point I was getting at was more, why do people that have both types of bikes, ATB & road, not just use all road stems? I have about 6 road stems I've bought from 60mm through 130mm, all bought very cheap ($10-20) and with varying angles. Why don't people just always buy the road stems instead of the ATB ones? Why not?

It seems the ATB stems have much more serious angles to bring things more uprighjt, but inverting a road stem often achieves the same result.

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:45:11 +1000, jasong
Most likely available in a local shop. I've used homemade shim
material with varying luck. Never had a problem with the Nitto shims.
Expensive for what they are, but it's nice to not worry about
handlebars moving.

 

[Werehatrack]

On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:45:11 +1000, jasong
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>I´m going to put a flat bar on a cyclocross bike. I have several road
>stems with different lengths/angles, so don't want to invest in ATB
>stems if not necessary.
>
>Do people shim the 25.4 mm ATB bar to 26.0 mm? Drawbacks? Coke can
>approach good enough? Since rotation isn't as important as with a drop
>bar, that's in my favor.
>
>Since road stems are used on cross bikes with drop bars, it seems like
>the stem is normally strong enough for this type of riding.

Some road bike stems fit 25.4 bars to begin with. If yours takes 26.0
and you don't want to shim, a road stem for the other size of bar
should be easy enough to find.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

 

[dianne_1234]

On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 09:43:04 +1000, jasong
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I think the point I was getting at was more, why do people that have
>both types of bikes, ATB & road, not just use all road stems? I have
>about 6 road stems I've bought from 60mm through 130mm, all bought very
>cheap ($10-20) and with varying angles. Why don't people just always
>buy the road stems instead of the ATB ones? Why not?

The slight mismatch in diameters might work okay for a while, but the
deformation probably accelerates the fatigue failure of the bar (and
maybe the stem).

I wonder if 31.8mm stems will be just "stems"?

For instance, Bontrager 31.8 stems don't say "ATB" or "road" like
their 25.4 and 26.0 stems do.

http://www.bontrager.com/stems/detail.asp?id=162&pt=11
"Equally suited for mountain or road."

http://www.bontrager.com/stems/detail.asp?id=161&pt=11
"Equally suited for mountain or road."

Even the carbon fiber stem (!) with 31.8 clamp:
http://www.bontrager.com/stems/detail.asp?id=192&pt=11
"For road and mountain use."

 

[Dan Daniel]

On Fri, 17 Sep 2004 09:43:04 +1000, jasong
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>Hi, thanks for your response.
>
>I think the point I was getting at was more, why do people that have
>both types of bikes, ATB & road, not just use all road stems? I have
>about 6 road stems I've bought from 60mm through 130mm, all bought very
>cheap ($10-20) and with varying angles. Why don't people just always
>buy the road stems instead of the ATB ones? Why not?
>
>It seems the ATB stems have much more serious angles to bring things
>more uprighjt, but inverting a road stem often achieves the same
>result.
>


I've found that ignoring the ATB or Road labels and simply paying
attention to the handlebar diameter and desired angle and reach works
for me.


>Dan Daniel Wrote:
>> On Thu, 16 Sep 2004 14:45:11 +1000, jasong
>> Most likely available in a local shop. I've used homemade shim
>> material with varying luck. Never had a problem with the Nitto shims.
>> Expensive for what they are, but it's nice to not worry about
>> handlebars moving.