First there's the new Fly, which, best I can tell, is the old stem simply shrunk by 10-15 percent (it's lower, shorter, and the bolts are smaller) and machined to within an inch of your life. Who designed it, Rick Moranis? But it's also two ounces lighter than the Potencia stem, so you should totally buy one.
Then there's this one from Macneil. I guess toploads are back. It looks like an old Standard stem that got pushed nose-first into a router. Honestly, I've never really been a fan of the split top cap (reminds me too much of this), and splitting the bottom as well just seems a lot excessive. But hey, every ounce counts when you're trying to get to sub-20.
At least topload stems make some degree of sense. Nothing better than seeing someone with tall bars and a drop frontload with spacers underneath. (And if you're going to run a drop stem with no spacers and tall bars, why not just get lower bars and a topload? I guess that would make too much sense.)
10 comments:
I run spacers with my front load drop stem and high bars so I don't have to cut down my steerer tube. Would have to run at least one for frame clearance anways.
I think the point he's getting at is why are you even running the drop stem if you are going for height?
my problem with that macneil stem is that there's no place to hide your weed.of course, canadians don't need to worry about that problem as much though, so i think i get where they're coming from
Those short bolts actually make me a little bit angry.
And I can't wait to see videos/pictures of someone mashing their face into something when the macniel gives way.
i like the split cap design, too and although i didn't follow the link you've provided i can only imagine that it goes to a picture of the Mongoose Gold stem from the late 70's. i'm running the S&M Race XLT and, like Stephen, prefer dinner plates...hhmmm, is there some sort of psychological tie between the two?
i run the front load, tall bar (is 7.75 tall?), and spacers set-up. i don't like to cut my forks and i don't have a top load because i don't like tightening the bolts inside the box of the bars. fronts let me turn allen keys worry free.
function over fashion. ease of adjustability is a function right?
You can't comprehend with a drop stem your bars are pulling from a different location than a top load? The height of your grip area might be the same, but the bottom of your bars ARE in a different location. Also, if you can't wrap your head around the concept of how different size bars "feel", well, different, you're a fool.
I have an animal topload stem from a long time ago and still run it, I dig it.
I did have to get a new bolt for it and I went to a local shop and they only had hollow bolts and I damn near shit. I compared the two and and spit.
The spit was more weight savings.
The MacNeil stem reminds me of this - http://www.wakinupwiththewolf.com/img/images/214_toe104.jpg
Although it seems factual accuracy isn't always regarded as being 100% necessary in some of these blogs, I'd still like to point out that the Fly stems come in the same lengths as the Mosca and Malaga did before (45mm and 53mm). That's assuming you refered to them being 'shorter' in terms of reach, not just the fact the faceplate isn't as deep as on the older (and indeed awesome) models.
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