Which bar/stem/seat post combo?

macs

Looking at changing the bar, stem and seat post on my 2009 Boardman FS Pro.

Currently got the stock Ritchey Pro riser bar and stem and a Superstar inline seat post. Was thinking of changing for a layback post and shorter stem to shift the weight back slightly. Also thought I'd change the bars whilst I'm at it.

Should I go for a KCNC set which would be quite light weight but they are short on reviews as not that popular. Or should I stick to something more mainstream and get an Easton bar and a Thomson post and stem? Or is there anything else I should consider?

The Rookie

It depends on what your trying to achieve here.

Why do you want to move your weight back? Do you want to go to wider bars?

The change to seatpost will only make a difference when seated so you'll be shortening the cockpit when you are standing.

Normally you would widen bars and shorten stem together so the riding position doesn't change but you gain some leverage.

Normally you only change to a setback post if you want to lengthen the cockpit when seated.

Stem wise the Kalloy Uno are simply great, light (very light - my 70mm was 94g), stiff and excellent value (off evil bay), read the instructions though as they do up differently to a normal stem.

Seatpost and bars I'm using Chinese evil bay stuff after some careful selection, the bars have been on 6 months and the seatpost I've been using for 2.5 years, very happy with both.

Bars and stem survived a hefty bar tip whack the other day unharmed, more than can be said for the grip - little finger just missed it thank god - I think it would have hurt more than a little bit - Impact was hard enough to rotate the stem on steerer by a small amount.

macs

The Kalloy stem sounds like a good purchase. Which bars have you got? Carbon or alloy?

The Rookie

Sorry, both bars and seatpost are carbon

Bars are 680mm, 122g, seatpost is carbon monocoque (not an alloy head) and 183g (setback style, not inline) - it has a similar clamp style to the Giant seatposts with a conical fitment for the rail clamps, this needs some gripper paste to stop the cones slipping but once done works perfectly. Cost was sub £20 each (inc delivery).

I added a Ti bolt kit to my Uno stem bringing it down to 88g.

macs

The Rookie wrote:

Sorry, both bars and seatpost are carbon

Bars are 680mm, 122g, seatpost is carbon monocoque (not an alloy head) and 183g (setback style, not inline) - it has a similar clamp style to the Giant seatposts with a conical fitment for the rail clamps, this needs some gripper paste to stop the cones slipping but once done works perfectly. Cost was sub £20 each (inc delivery).

I added a Ti bolt kit to my Uno stem bringing it down to 88g.

We're you not concerned about using carbon bars that weren't branded? I'm not sure why but branded items always give me a sense of security even though they are all made in one of 2 factories.

Ti bolts are a good idea but not sure 6g is worth it really.

rockmonkeysc

Branded carbon bars aren't worth the extra. They'll still be destroyed in a moderate crash which would barely mark an alloy bar.

The Rookie

I was which is why I did some homework on them looking carefully at all available pics and then checked internally with an endoscope when they arrived.

I got the Ti-bolts as it was a present so got the two together, plus I could replace the rusty stem bolts on my commuter with something fresh with the take offs - the Ti weren't that dear. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-pcs-M5-x-16 ... SwoudW6cs5

macs

The Rookie wrote:

I was which is why I did some homework on them looking carefully at all available pics and then checked internally with an endoscope when they arrived.

I got the Ti-bolts as it was a present so got the two together, plus I could replace the rusty stem bolts on my commuter with something fresh with the take offs - the Ti weren't that dear. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-pcs-M5-x-16 ... SwoudW6cs5

I don't own an endoscope so cannot check internally.

I've found a few showing pics of RaceFace Next bars but the description says they are unbranded. Maybe they are from the same factory as the RaceFace bars?

The Rookie

Or maybe not, hard to tell, you just have to do as much research as you can (not reviews but look for consistency of claims across suppliers - also check Ali express for the same item and what you can learn from that), the ones I got are no longer available under that brand name (but quite possibly under another).

macs

Just had a proper look for the Kalloy Uno stem but all I can find is roadie ones. If I wanted the stem to have a 6 deg rise then the decals will all be upside down. Are there any that would be the right way up?

I know it's a small thing but as it'll be right in front of me when riding it will bug the hell out of me constantly.

The Rookie

Mine is nominally a road stem.

Lots of different logos, it doesn't bother me, besides its on the side of the stem!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

I've just taken a leap into new territory with a carbon bar (Knuckleball 747mm "chewy" £40) and a super short stem (El Guapo Corto 35mm £20) for my rigid fatbike, looking forward to fitting and trying them out now my heavy cold finally seems to be clearing.

macs

'Chewy'??

What are they like to ride?

The Rookie

Chewy bars......not a Star Wars reference I suspect!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

This stinker of a cold/flu completely wrecked most of my week's annual leave, after receiving the bars/stem yesterday, earlier I got as far as tightening the stem to the the bars to 5nm using my torque wrench. Swapping over grips; brakes; shifters from the old combo and tightening to the fork will need to wait until at least tomorrow after work... I'm going to struggle to stay awake tonight for the Euro final!

The "Chewy" version is supposed to be a bit more flexy than the more conventional "Hard" version, making them supposedly better for a rigid fork setup. But it is the 35mm 0 degree stem that I worry about (or should I say my lower back worries about), even though the bars have 25mm rise, as the stem it is replacing is an 80mm (35 degree?) On One.

But we shall see how the test drive goes sometime this week!;)

macs

Ok, I've done a little looking into the bars and I'm looking at a few:
http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&c=94&p=1269#top carbon cycles full carbon at 750 wide £60 157g
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/easton-haven-carbon-riser-handlebar/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&sku=5360671377&kpid=5360671377&utm_source=google&utm_term=&utm_campaign=UK_PLA_Components&utm_medium=base&utm_content=mkwid|sdTBEMdUw_dm|pcrid|67090789142|pkw||pmt||prd|5360671377uk&product_id=5360671377uk Easton Haven carbon 740 @ £90 200g
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/HBOOKNUCK/on-one-knuckleball-carbon-handlebar on one knuckleball full carbon 747mm wide @ £40 230g

The carbon cycles ones are appealing as they are cheaper than most, a lot lighter than most and still plenty wide. Oh and I can have their matrix stem with carbon effect to match.

cooldad

The Carbon Cycles stuff is good quality and the prices are always good.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Nearly bought the CarbonCycles versions myself, wish I had back in the Easter 20% Ebay flash sale, amazingly light bars!