Integrated carbon bar and stem - worth it?
scotthunter
Posts: 140
What are people's thoughts on integrated carbon bar and stems?
Been looking at this one:
In consideration of weight saving, potentially increased comfort (vibration dampening) and potential aero advantages, is it a worthwhile upgrade from a slightly heavier separate aluminium bar / stem setup?
I don't race so I'm not that bothered about durability, but stiffness yes.
Been looking at this one:
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/giant ... bar---stem
In consideration of weight saving, potentially increased comfort (vibration dampening) and potential aero advantages, is it a worthwhile upgrade from a slightly heavier separate aluminium bar / stem setup?
I don't race so I'm not that bothered about durability, but stiffness yes.
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Weight saving is not a lot at all against a decent alu stem & bar combo. Aero benefits are probably measurable but unlikely to make much difference, similarly comfort might be slightly better, might be slightly worse, especially if you need to tweak the position and find you can't ;-)
I'm assuming the bike it's going on is already fairly high spec?
Be aware that the linked model is for a 31.8mm steerer (1 1/4 inch) so might need a shim for your bike if it has a conventional 1 1/8 steerer.
Intergrated system has a big disadvantage: size. It's easy to change a stem if you feel uncomfortable for Gran Fondo or unaggressive for Ronde, but the intergrated one is not, and then you need a totally new one, killing your wallet.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
I'd you want a good looking and mega stiff set up, Pro Vibe bar and stem as suggested, or perhaps Deda Superzero combo if you want a kind of aero look bit with added adjustment flexibility and a fraction of the price
look at that AMAZING S3 on the "readers rides" thing for Superzero stem & bar & opinion if you want.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
For the £40 it cost me pretty pleased, thought I'd try it for a bit then shift to the winter bike when funds allow for carbon.
It really is, messed my trousers an everything (dropped toast)
Also bear in mind the angle is obviously fixed so you need to take into account that. For the cost though a normal bar stem combo will cover most.
I did look at the Cinelli RAM bars, but came to the above conclusion. Plus the price!
Easty commuter
Tripster AT
ah shucks! thank ypu!
if anything the superhero stem is slightly upward pointing - i don't know why they didn't make it utterly levely or minus degree......
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
So that would be these two then:
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/giant ... arbon-stem
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/giant ... p-bar-2019
These two are spec'd on the top end TCR SL 0. I have the oversized Overdrive 2 steerer on my TCR Adv. Pro 1 so the stems are compatible without the adaptor. I think the consensus here is that it's not worth it over ally?
i only suggested carbon/carbon as you mentioned ali/carbon above but then said a full carbon intergrated.
i also wouldn't say that general consesus is that its not worth it - this forum will bicker over the price of fish. anything is worth it if you want it.
i have bikes with carbon/carbon, carbon/ali and ali/ali and there is basically no difference - maybe carbon bars take a bit of buzz out of it but if you have decent tape and/or gloves it'll all be the same tbh. then wheels, tyres, frame etc all add to reducing/adding buzz. run tyres at 90psi and it'll be a lot less harsh than 900psi.
aesthetics obviously play a part in all this - and price....
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
Carbon bars on the other hand can achieve a decent weight saving, neater/easier cable routing, and should give more noticeable comfort/stiffness benefits, if they exist.
I had some hand me down Pro carbon handlebars, and they were lovely, it's fair to say, but I ended up selling them on as part of a bike build and have never regretted it - would rather spend the money on other parts of the bike.
If I were building a dream bike, sure, I'd have them again. Perhaps I'd even buy the bar and stem combo....
They aren't cheap, and as already mentioned, they are totally inflexible, and generally pretty pricey.
Also, depending on where you are in your cycling journey you may well find that your requirements change a lot.
To give you a personal example, I used to ride an inline seatpost, with a 90mm inverted stem, with max spacers underneath.
Over the last couple of years of mercilessly battering myself on the turbo, and working on core strength and general flexibility, I am now able to ride with a setback seatpost, 100mm stem (Soon to be 110) and with the stem the correct way up, and I've even dropped a few spacers and plan on continuing to do so.
Having said all that, I now do have a bike that came fitted with an all in one bar and stem combo - it's a little longer reach (10mm) wise than I currently am, but I have been working to go lower and longer over the last year, so I believe once I move to the 110 stem on the roadbike and the turbo bike, that I will then be on a par with the new bike, so I'm basically forcing myself to fit it if that makes sense!
I appreciate that is likely an oxymoron, but I love the bike, and it makes me want to go out and ride
And bl00dy hell those bars do look lush 8)
Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
Scott CR1 SL 12
Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
Scott Foil 18
This gets very expensive with one piece carbon. Leave it to the pros.
It's much more about looks than anything else. Why do you need your bars to be so stiff ?
what a load of condasecnding bollox.
cycling journey. bollox schmollox. years of mercilessly battering ....... blimey. someone has been at the local club.
essentially buy what you want when you want - you don't need anyone else's approval.
You work for your money, you can spend your money exactly how you want.
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
This. I had an integrated FSA Plasma on my Basso Astra. It was fine at first, but as time pressed on, I couldn't adjust the bars to a more negative set up.
Did you then go to seperate stem and bars, and flog the all in ones on?
I'm hoping that does not happen to me, a lot of people will certainly stumble into this potential situation, as a fair few of the Canyon's have the all in one cockpit don't they, I guess it's more of an aerobike thang.
Not sure how good resale is, I saw someone who bought a Foil trying to sell the brand new 110mm\420mm (He knew it was too short when he bought it, so sourced a longer stem version to replace it) setup, and they cost a whopping circa £450 new, but he couldn't shift it even for £250, which is still a shed load of cash, but also a big saving on the new price :?
Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
Scott CR1 SL 12
Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
Scott Foil 18
Yes I did. Went to a 6' negative flip and FSA wing bars on the Basso. Some mug from Australia paid more than I did for the Plasma bars on eBay though. Auction not a buy it now.
#don'tbeabogan
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
Yes of course; more than list plus carriage. :roll:
Most pros actually use alloy stems and some even alloy bars for increased stiffness etc
whats the australian list?
he/she would have had a reason
#don'tbeabogan/clubbie
De Sisti wrote:
This is one of the silliest threads I've come across.
Recognition at last Matthew, well done!, a justified honour
I know of one pro team that sent all their carbon bars back to the makers, as they broke a few in crashes, and asked for alum replacements. I could send you photos but I’d get someone in trouble.
Which tests ??
Carbon is great where it's used properly but it's not usually designed for impact. Alu will dent. Carbon won't.
You need to use the internet more. Carbon being brittle when constructed properly, is a myth.
Well without my time machine to go back to 2012, its difficult to tell. :roll: