Stem Stiffness

clickshots
clickshots Posts: 91
edited March 2013 in Workshop
Just wondered, would I notice a difference in stiffness between my current stem a 'Giant 3D forged' from 2009 (it came from one of these: http://www2.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bi ... tions_id=4) and a Pro Vibe 7s stem?

Comments

  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Placebo effect might tell you yes, after all when you part from cash you WANT to see a result.
    Reality is NO and you don't need a stiffer stem either... nobody needs a stiffer stem. Cipollini and Zabel were winning sprints at 45 mph with stems that these days would be considered rubber by the latest "amazing" products.
    left the forum March 2023
  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    It might be stiffer but as ugo.santalucia mentioned I'm not sure there is as much advantage as the advertisers would like you to believe. When I bought my first aheadset & stiff stem, going away from the old quill models, my first reaction was, "boy this is stiff" and "boy this is pounding my hands and arms to death". I didn't really notice any advantage in control or power transfer even though this was done on the same bike. Sorry I can't anwer your question as to whether the Pro Vibe is more rigid but stiffer is not always better.
  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    If you've got flex at the front end it's likely to be the frame, forks and bars causing most of it. The stem is a very short tube compared to bars and forks so has limited impact (distance from the fork crown to the top of the stem clamp is about twice as long as most stems and no-one worries about that).

    I quite like the idea of some of the massive oversized 'sprinters' stems for the track bike but wouldn't dream of it on the road (and I would admit I'd only be doing it there for asthetics).

Categories