What would your stem be?

[bicycle_disciple]

I'm choosing to buy from the Zipp 145 stem vs. the THomson Elite X2
for my oversized Zipp SL handlebar. I've read hundreds of good things
about in general about THomson stems, about its stiffness and
durability. Its almost 100 dollars cheaper than the zipp 145. Zipp
however seems to recommend this stem for their bar.

I want to save a few dollars and make the right decision. Can I go
with a Thomson without worrying about damaging the carbon bar? THe
silver color complements that of my USE Ti seatpost so I'm a little
biased towards thomson. Have anyone noticed any pro's and cons for
both these stems. Thanks.

[bicycle_disciple]

On Sep 27, 11:30 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> I'm choosing to buy from the Zipp 145 stem vs. the THomson Elite X2
> for my oversized Zipp SL handlebar. I've read hundreds of good things
> about in general about THomson stems, about its stiffness and
> durability. Its almost 100 dollars cheaper than the zipp 145. Zipp
> however seems to recommend this stem for their bar.
>
> I want to save a few dollars and make the right decision. Can I go
> with a Thomson without worrying about damaging the carbon bar? THe
> silver color complements that of my USE Ti seatpost so I'm a little
> biased towards thomson. Have anyone noticed any pro's and cons for
> both these stems. Thanks.

JUst adding to that. The elite x2 has only a two bolt design for the
bar clamp, while zipp has four. Wonder if having 2 increases the
stress on the bar. Thanks.

[kmc6n55@gmail.com]

As long as you torque the bolts right, it doesn't matter what stem you
use. Zipp just wants you to buy their stuff. Thomson all the way.

[D'ohBoy]

On Sep 27, 10:33 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
wrote:
> On Sep 27, 11:30 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I'm choosing to buy from the Zipp 145 stem vs. the THomson Elite X2
> > for my oversized Zipp SL handlebar. I've read hundreds of good things
> > about in general about THomson stems, about its stiffness and
> > durability. Its almost 100 dollars cheaper than the zipp 145. Zipp
> > however seems to recommend this stem for their bar.
>
> > I want to save a few dollars and make the right decision. Can I go
> > with a Thomson without worrying about damaging the carbon bar? THe
> > silver color complements that of my USE Ti seatpost so I'm a little
> > biased towards thomson. Have anyone noticed any pro's and cons for
> > both these stems. Thanks.
>
> JUst adding to that. The elite x2 has only a two bolt design for the
> bar clamp, while zipp has four. Wonder if having 2 increases the
> stress on the bar. Thanks.


IIRC, many carbon bar mfrs say to only use 2 bolt clamps as they exert
less pressure on the bar. Of course, this contradicts zipp's use of
the four bolt bar clamp.... I love my Thomson, altho I don't have a
carbon bar.

D'ohBoy

[ron.r.george@gmail.com]

On Sep 27, 12:07 pm, D'ohBoy <peteng...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Sep 27, 10:33 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Sep 27, 11:30 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > > I'm choosing to buy from the Zipp 145 stem vs. the THomson Elite X2
> > > for my oversized Zipp SL handlebar. I've read hundreds of good things
> > > about in general about THomson stems, about its stiffness and
> > > durability. Its almost 100 dollars cheaper than the zipp 145. Zipp
> > > however seems to recommend this stem for their bar.
>
> > > I want to save a few dollars and make the right decision. Can I go
> > > with a Thomson without worrying about damaging the carbon bar? THe
> > > silver color complements that of my USE Ti seatpost so I'm a little
> > > biased towards thomson. Have anyone noticed any pro's and cons for
> > > both these stems. Thanks.
>
> > JUst adding to that. The elite x2 has only a two bolt design for the
> > bar clamp, while zipp has four. Wonder if having 2 increases the
> > stress on the bar. Thanks.
>
> IIRC, many carbon bar mfrs say to only use 2 bolt clamps as they exert
> less pressure on the bar. Of course, this contradicts zipp's use of
> the four bolt bar clamp.... I love my Thomson, altho I don't have a
> carbon bar.
>
> D'ohBoy

Interesting. I thought it was the other way round, since you have four
bolts you have more supports for the bar. I like the thomson too, and
a seller on EBay recommended it for carbon bars. The zipp claims its
the stiffest bar, and its a piece of eye candy too.

[Kinky Cowboy]

On Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:35:53 -0000, ron.r.george@gmail.com wrote:

>On Sep 27, 12:07 pm, D'ohBoy <peteng...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On Sep 27, 10:33 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Sep 27, 11:30 am, bicycle_disciple <1.crazyboy.o...@gmail.com>
>> > wrote:
>>
>>
>> > JUst adding to that. The elite x2 has only a two bolt design for the
>> > bar clamp, while zipp has four. Wonder if having 2 increases the
>> > stress on the bar. Thanks.
>>
>> IIRC, many carbon bar mfrs say to only use 2 bolt clamps as they exert
>> less pressure on the bar. Of course, this contradicts zipp's use of
>> the four bolt bar clamp.... I love my Thomson, altho I don't have a
>> carbon bar.
>>
>> D'ohBoy
>
>Interesting. I thought it was the other way round, since you have four
>bolts you have more supports for the bar. I like the thomson too, and
>a seller on EBay recommended it for carbon bars. The zipp claims its
>the stiffest bar, and its a piece of eye candy too.

FWIW, here's Easton's take on the 2 vs 4 question

http://www.eastonbike.com/downloadable_files_unprotected/tech_sheets/Distributed%20Stress%20Tech.pdf

Their analysis is contingent on two things; the bolt centres on the
4-bolt stem being very close to the clamp edge (doesn't apply to
Ritchey WCS 4-Axis, for example) and the clamp of their 2-bolt stem
being reduced in section towards the edges to reduce its stiffness.

Using a wider clamp will reduce the stress simply by moving the
fulcrum further from the support, which is a point in favour of the
old wide clamp 4-bolt Thompson Elite stems.

If you've got a Zipp bar, I'd go for the Zipp stem, simply to avoid
argument when your bars snap and you're claiming under warranty :-)

Kinky Cowboy*

*Batteries not included
May contain traces of nuts
Your milage may vary