carbon stem

Infamous
Infamous Posts: 1,130
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
alu

Comments

  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    I second that.
    You can get lighter stems for less money if you go with alloy...
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    FSA carbon.... Beautiful... I love 'em :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    edited October 2009
    I have an FSA OS99 carbon stem on one bike which is the best looking stem EVER. However it's Carbon wrap over Alu...

    However that is just for bling, a couple of my other bikes have Thomson Alu stems and IMO they are the tops...
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I can't see that CF is the best choice for a stem. Alu is better.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I've got an Alloy 4Axis.

    3T ARX Team is where it's at though.
    I like bikes...

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  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Is this a purely cosmetic upgrade? If so, the Ritchey will be fine and probably not break at an awkward moment.

    Carbon looks nice but is generally more flexible than an alloy stem of the same weight and construction. If you sprint this might be a factor. If you pootle, probably not. Either way a carbon stem is an expensive way to save 10-20g. Deda Zero 100 or 3T ARX Team are my current preferences. If you're of a Shimano persuasion the PRO Alloy stems (7S) are decent too. If you want stiff carbon there's always the ludicrous PRO Vibe Carbon track stem. Ugly as sin but effective! Weighs a tonne too.
  • Salsa
    Salsa Posts: 753
    I have the carbon Ritchey WCS stem, it's carbon over an aluminium core so not that flexy, infact I think Ritchey claim it's stronger than the pure aluminium version.
    If it's holding up fine on my XC MTB I think it will be fine on a road bike. It's not the lightest stem out there but I only bought it to match all my other WCS carbon bits (plus the fact I got it at half RRP).
    It also looks really sexy ;)
  • heavymental
    heavymental Posts: 2,094
    Check out my TIME carbon stem on the classifieds. Open to offers if you're interested. Its a top notch stem and I had it on my CR1. Unfortunately its a bit too long for me.
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    redddraggon wrote:
    I've got an Alloy 4Axis.

    3T ARX Ltd is where it's at though.

    Fixed... 8)
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    AllTheGear wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    I've got an Alloy 4Axis.

    3T ARX Ltd is where it's at though.

    Fixed... 8)

    Bit pricey though.
    I like bikes...

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  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    djbarren wrote:
    The scott was a professional fit for me and the difference between the two bike setups is unreal. I am far more at home on the scott.

    Out of curiosity - where did you get your bike fit done? Did you choose the Scott as a result of the bike fit - or did you do it to get the Scott fitted to you?

    Thanks
    ScottieP
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • AllTheGear
    AllTheGear Posts: 248
    redddraggon wrote:
    AllTheGear wrote:
    redddraggon wrote:
    I've got an Alloy 4Axis.

    3T ARX Ltd is where it's at though.

    Fixed... 8)

    Bit pricey though.

    Yeah but it's 2 grams lighter. That's likely to make me a full second quicker over the year!

    Seriously, alloy stems are indeed where it's at....
    ... and no idea ...

    FCN: 3
  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    Excellent - enjoy your new bike! I think the new CR1's look terrific.

    ScottieP
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    djbarren wrote:
    ScottieP wrote:
    djbarren wrote:
    The scott was a professional fit for me and the difference between the two bike setups is unreal. I am far more at home on the scott.

    Out of curiosity - where did you get your bike fit done? Did you choose the Scott as a result of the bike fit - or did you do it to get the Scott fitted to you?

    Thanks
    ScottieP

    I got it done in Slane Cycles in Belfast, I went down 6 weeks ago and looked at a few bikes and ended up picking the CR1.

    I picked it up last week (it took work six weeks to pay for it. CTWS) Paul Slane spent an hour with me getting the bike set up, and it feels great.

    So I am going to set the winter bike up similar to the scott, hence a new stem.

    Got the same bike last year (just paid it off through CTW) through Slane's too. Never offered me no fitting. I put my application in one day and it was ready to pick up a couple of days later :lol: It's hard to ride any other bike when you have one that's been fitted properly. Took me all weekend to get my other bike into a position where I could actually ride it without significant soreness. There's more to this bike fitting lark than just sticking the bikes side by side and sticking the saddle and bars in the same place.

    Got my fitting done in London. Cost me £175 plus travel but the best money I have spent on a bike related purchase. I'd been round a couple of bike shops and got their bike fittings done but they were useless for me. Seems to be a lack of proper professional fitters in Ireland in general. Pity but glad you found someone that done the job for you.
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    ScottieP wrote:
    Excellent - enjoy your new bike! I think the new CR1's look terrific.

    I think the new forks look really bad, don't suit the frame at all.
    I like bikes...

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  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    :roll: :)
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • osucowboytc
    osucowboytc Posts: 24
    I definitely agree that the FSA CSI is the way to go (its the alu. w/ carbon wrap). Extremely light and great looking. I use the aluminum version and it is definitely stiff enough. The CSI version should be even stiffer, although it adds a few grams.
  • doyler78
    doyler78 Posts: 1,951
    djbarren wrote:
    To clarify. (with regard to setting up the winter bike)

    Paul Slane explained to me how to take my measurements, and he even said that when I had it done he would look over it for me if I took it down to him. One cant complain about that.

    I also forgot to mention this is a 2008 model as I prefered the colours of it over the 2009 and the 2010. Plus got if for a bargain. :lol:


    FSA CSI ordered :D

    Ah well then that's the same bike as mine. Its a decent and bike you will enjoy it loads. Good luck on it.

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