Stem upgrade

imrmike

Hi all,

I'm looking to upgrade the stock Cinelli Vai Stem on my Cinelli Saetta Sprint. I'm considering the deda Zero1 stem as it is dirt cheap on Wiggle right now for around £20.

However I'm tempted to go for the Cinelli Dinamo Stem for £50 - Just wondering if the extra cash is worth it to get a stem that weighs a little over 100g?

Anyone with experience of either of these stems (or both!) - speak up!

Thanks in advance!
M

cougie

Unless it is the wrong size for you - no stem is an upgrade. You won't notice any difference.

markhewitt1978

You only need to change stems for sizing reasons. I looked into changing for a carbon stem, which would have been like £120 but it would have saved me the grand total of 12g!

imrmike

Well I'd manage to knock between 50 - 70g off the weight of my bike. Not massive, but swapping the stem is a hassle free way of saving a wee bit of weight.

Plus, it would be an aesthetic improvement.

drlodge

imrmike wrote:

Well I'd manage to knock between 50 - 70g off the weight of my bike. Not massive, but swapping the stem is a hassle free way of saving a wee bit of weight.

Plus, it would be an aesthetic improvement.

Removing 70ml of water from your Bidon, or having a pi$$, would have the same effect.

cougie

Aesthetics yes - but 50g off the weight of a bike ? Just don't fill your waterbottle as much or cut your hair. Free savings.

If your bike is at the minimum UCI weight limit - then its not even 0.1% improvement.

rolf_f

drlodge wrote:

imrmike wrote:

Well I'd manage to knock between 50 - 70g off the weight of my bike. Not massive, but swapping the stem is a hassle free way of saving a wee bit of weight.

Plus, it would be an aesthetic improvement.

Removing 70ml of water from your Bidon, or having a pi$$, would have the same effect.

Not as much of an effect hough as swapping the stem and removing 70ml of water from your Bidon or having a pi$$. Now why do folk keep using this sort of argument against weight reductions as though you couldn't do both? And of course, 50-70g in itself isn't much but save that much a few times and you have made a worthwhile change.

markhewitt1978

There's nothing wrong in itself with saving 70g, but I would only really consider it as part of a package of changes which together would add up to a more significant weight saving. But for the price there are other options which would save better weight but also increase performance at the same time.

iPete

Surely a Cinelli bike demands Cinelli parts? Unless of course you have a Deda seatpost and bars, in which case get it done asap...

imrmike

Rolf F wrote:

drlodge wrote:

imrmike wrote:

Well I'd manage to knock between 50 - 70g off the weight of my bike. Not massive, but swapping the stem is a hassle free way of saving a wee bit of weight.

Plus, it would be an aesthetic improvement.

Removing 70ml of water from your Bidon, or having a pi$$, would have the same effect.

Not as much of an effect hough as swapping the stem and removing 70ml of water from your Bidon or having a pi$$. Now why do folk keep using this sort of argument against weight reductions as though you couldn't do both? And of course, 50-70g in itself isn't much but save that much a few times and you have made a worthwhile change.

This did make me laugh.

But yeah - I'm at the start of a process of bringing the weight down on the bike, and thought the stem would be a easy place to start. I'd don't expect it to be a magic bullet... Although some stuff I've read online has pointed to differences in stem stiffness making an impact.

imrmike

iPete wrote:

Surely a Cinelli bike demands Cinelli parts? Unless of course you have a Deda seatpost and bars, in which case get it done asap...

Have Deda bars already, was actually looking at swapping out the seatpost for a Deda one. Ta.

imrmike

markhewitt1978 wrote:

There's nothing wrong in itself with saving 70g, but I would only really consider it as part of a package of changes which together would add up to a more significant weight saving. But for the price there are other options which would save better weight but also increase performance at the same time.

Thanks - this is most certainly part of a package of changes. Could you point out other options - many thanks!

iPete

Whilst we are spending your money I really rate the deda drittissimo seatpost!

markhewitt1978

The seatpost is one which you would be better off starting with IMO. There's a bigger difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest seatposts, pair that with a lighter saddle and you'd get quite a good weight saving.

I know you are looking to start out small but for most bikes the biggest weight saving and performance gain can be brought by better wheels. See threads x10,000 on the forums

keef66

Would it not have been more cost-effective to buy a lighter bike to start with? Sounds like you're planning to replace the entire thing!

markhewitt1978

keef66 wrote:

Would it not have been more cost-effective to buy a lighter bike to start with? Sounds like you're planning to replace the entire thing!

It's a good way to effectively get a new bike, bit by bit, without the finance department noticing

imrmike

keef66 wrote:

Would it not have been more cost-effective to buy a lighter bike to start with? Sounds like you're planning to replace the entire thing!

I picked up the Cinelli on wiggle for a Bargain £1100 odd. Top frame, decent groupset, but naff wheels and heavish finishing kit. Considering the equivalent frame by Cinelli goes for in excess of the total cost of my bike, I'm merely unlocking the potential of my bike.

Also the kit I replace is going down to a winter trainer build.

imrmike

markhewitt1978 wrote:

The seatpost is one which you would be better off starting with IMO. There's a bigger difference in weight between the heaviest and lightest seatposts, pair that with a lighter saddle and you'd get quite a good weight saving.

I know you are looking to start out small but for most bikes the biggest weight saving and performance gain can be brought by better wheels. See threads x10,000 on the forums

Yup :-) Plan on replacing the pair of Miche Race wheels on the bike currently with Campag Zondas or Fulcrum 3s very shortly!

markhewitt1978

Good choice, you'll notice the difference

canny_lad

Got a zero 1 stem on my bike as the stock stem (Syncros) was too long. Only complaint is the bolts have rusted and need swapping out for stainless ones. Have just ordered a new set of FSA bars but the Deda stem's staying put. The finishing kit police will be after me as bars, stem & seatpost will all be different makes :P

chrisaonabike

Don't pay any attention to most of the idiots posting on this thread. Save 70g, you can safely have an extra couple of pies, and maybe a pint or three.

mroli

On the off chance that you need a 130 stem and the colour suits you - the Zero100 deal from planet x is still possible: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/STD ... o_100_stem save yourself 20gr over the zero1 stem (all importantly!) You could have 5 pints then (disclaimer - don't have 5 pints)....

imrmike

mroli wrote:

On the off chance that you need a 130 stem and the colour suits you - the Zero100 deal from planet x is still possible: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/STD ... o_100_stem save yourself 20gr over the zero1 stem (all importantly!) You could have 5 pints then (disclaimer - don't have 5 pints)....

Thanks! This could be it - looks great and so does the colour - plus I may be getting a deda seatpost. Currently rocking a 110mm one - but I do see my front hub on the drops (slightly on the hoods too).

Am I making a terrible mistake in going up to a 130mm stem?