Upgrading alu bars/stem/seat post to carbon

dombo6

Given some of the bargains on offer on carbon kit I've been considering upgrading my Ritchey Pro Logic bars and Bontrager stem/seatpost to carbon Eastons.

Just wondering what if any difference would be noticeable? Weight difference is minimal and any bling factor re the bars would be covered by tape, computer etc.

Are carbon contact points noticeably more comfortable?

Frame is Lemond carbon/steel spine design ie carbon top, seat tubes and seat stays.

ride_whenever

I noticed a carbon post, but then i tend to run very compact frames with a lot of post showing, which makes a big difference.

Carbon bars, i'm less convinced on tbh, i swapped out some alloy mtb bars for carbon ones, bit less buzz, bit stiffer but not really a worthwhile upgrade over a decent alloy one. Stems are a waste of time unless you spend silly money on them, you can usually make the alloy ones lighter and stiffer.

Wooliferkins

I certainly noticed the difference with a carbon seatpost but have always been a little sceptical re bars and stem. My (purely personal) thoughts were, Am I going to notice any further smoothing of vibration beyond that taken by the fork? Plus ally bars will take some scuffs from a minor prang or someone knocking your bike over at the cafe, carbon is not so forgiving.

cougie

I'd definitely go with a carbon seatpost if you fancy it. TBH - I cant see the advantage of carbon for the stem and bars other than bling.

Monty Dog

I ditched my carbon bars and stem - you can get lighter, stiffer aluminium stems and the carbon bars - FSA K-Force were too stiff. You may get away with crashing an aluminium bar whereas with carbon you may not - and it's a lot more money to replace.

Squillinossett

Well, I could vouch my Zipp Stem/Bar combo is super stiff!

I dont really buy into the road buzz thing on anything other than the frame really.

FransJacques

Why bother with the bar and stem? If you ever damage your bike in transit or in a silly fall you'll never fully trust those bars again when you're springting in the drops.

At least I wouldn't

Spend the money on wheels. Never buy carbon cuz it's "cheap".

If you MUST buy new bars/stem check out the Deda Zero which is quite light for alu. A stem has two clamping axies at 90 deg to each other where the band part of the clamp is thin. This doesn't seem like the best application for carbon. How many carbon seat post clamps do you know of? Due to the possibility of over tightening, you want material which is more robust and more elastic for this.

That said, the Time stem is schweet! If you like big - but then, as I said, big is all you can safely do with carbon.

rake

who said its an upgrade. expensive replacement would have been more appropriate.

dennisn

rake wrote:

who said its an upgrade. expensive replacement would have been more appropriate.

+1.............. Interesting word, "upgrade"

Wooliferkins

dennisn wrote:

+1.............. Interesting word, "upgrade"

A car crash verb that we have mostly come to terms with (ducks as pedants corner erupts). But, having looked at online dictionarys, never, never, never an adjective or adverb.

Go careful or I will unleash Ms Truss

rake

thats too high grade for pedants corner.

Aggieboy

Wooliferkins wrote:

dennisn wrote:

+1.............. Interesting word, "upgrade"

A car crash verb that we have mostly come to terms with (ducks as pedants corner erupts). But, having looked at online dictionarys, never, never, never an adjective or adverb.

Go careful or I will unleash Ms Truss

rake Posted: Sat Feb 6, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject: .

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thats too high grade for pedants corner.

Or not!!

rake

he was just seeing who would spot that first. :arrow:

Wooliferkins

Aggieboy wrote:

Wooliferkins wrote:

dennisn wrote:

+1.............. Interesting word, "upgrade"

A car crash verb that we have mostly come to terms with (ducks as pedants corner erupts). But, having looked at online dictionarys, never, never, never an adjective or adverb.

Go careful or I will unleash Ms Truss

rake Posted: Sat Feb 6, 2010 2:56 pm Post subject: .

---

thats too high grade for pedants corner.

Or not!!

Mea culpa.
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dennisn

rake wrote:

who said its an upgrade. expensive replacement would have been more appropriate.

I am somewhat reminded of the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Or is it "Fix it until it's broke"?