zipp v ritchey stem

keogh777

need to get a new stem - the zipp oversize looks great but the the ritchey carbon is better value - anyone have any experience of either of these or any recommendations. Ive always loved the zipp but the ritchey is much better value for money

E@gle.

i know its not much help but I wouldn't buy any of them of any carbon stem.

dave2pvd

I use the Zipp (08 model). No flex; works fine. I'm sure both of these are pretty much equivalent. Zipp costs more because, well, bling costs money.

Although, I have to say, I am just waiting for the day that my carbon bars and stem spontaneously explode for no apparent reason. Carbon has a tendency to do that, don't ya know? :eek:

Lumen

I don't really see the point of carbon stems.

The Ritchey WCS 4-Axis 3K Carbon stem is 130g claimed, and is carbon wrapped alloy. They claim it's 3x as strong as alloy alone, but if that's the case why don't they make it 1/3 the weight? It's also €150, which is about double the price of a KCNC SC Wing Scandium Stem at about 100g.

The Zipp SL145 stem is not exactly pretty, no lighter than the Ritchey and even more expensive.

AstraMonti

Agree with Lumen, Carbon stems is for of a look type of thing than an actual gain. My FSA CS99 is weighted at 98g for the 110mm version.

dave2pvd

Lumen wrote: »

I don't really see the point of carbon stems

It's the kind of thing you buy if you get a good deal. One of our team's sponsors is Zipp. Half price Zipp goodies are not to be passed up

The stuff is very well engineered, a very important consideration with carbon fiber parts. Using cheap, or unknown quality CF parts is a bit of a risk, IMO.

As for 'candy-wrapped' CF over alloy - totally pointless. All that is is a way for a manufacturer to increase their margin.

keogh777

thanks for the replys, sounds like alloy is the way to go !!

Lumen

Just bought a Ritchey WCS 4Axis Stem (Alloy) from CRC.

Have reviewed the weight weenie listings, and considered going for a KCNC SC Wing, but read some reports of cracked faceplates and had no issues with the 90mm Ritchey WCS stem on my last bike.

The FSA OS-99 looks interesting, but FSA is currently in the naughty corner for lying about my handlebar weight.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

Just bought a Ritchey WCS 4Axis Stem (Alloy) from CRC.

thinking about getting that one in white. It is suitably bling?

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

thinking about getting that one in white. It is suitably bling?

I had the "wet black" before, but have gone with the matt black this time as it's probably a better match for the rest of my "subdued" bike.

If it's for the Cervelo, then white could be a fine choice. Do you have white spacers at the ready?

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

I had the "wet black" before, but have gone with the matt black this time as it's probably a better match for the rest of my "subdued" bike.

If it's for the Cervelo, then white could be a fine choice. Do you have white spacers at the ready?

Yeah for the Cervelo. Don't have white spacers though.

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

Yeah for the Cervelo. Don't have white spacers though.

Not sure about this.

Raam

Hmm, I see your point. Maybe the zebra bartape will distract from it.

And how the hell did you find a picture of a cervelo with that stem so quickly?

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

And how the hell did you find a picture of a cervelo with that stem so quickly?

It's the wrong stem.

This looks more like it:



I think that's a bit sexy.

Bambaata

speaking of stems what the shortest they can be gotten for a road bike. i bought my gf a trek 1000 last year but the reach is a bit much. she isnt putting any distance on it and the saddle if fine but the guy installed an extra long stem which doesnt suit her. im looking for something very cheap. is 50mm the shortest?

Lumen

Bambaata wrote: »

speaking of stems what the shortest they can be gotten for a road bike. i bought my gf a trek 1000 last year but the reach is a bit much. she isnt putting any distance on it and the saddle if fine but the guy installed an extra long stem which doesnt suit her. im looking for something very cheap. is 50mm the shortest?

90mm is normally considered short for a road bike. Anything less indicates a frame that's too big, and is likely to make handling feel more twitchy.

What length does it have at the moment?

Bambaata

i'd say its a 130mm one at the moment. i have a 110 and its certainly longer than that. tbh she will only be doing 5/10km rides on the bike so and shortening of the stem will help her. she isnt going to be getting into cycling frequently and over any sort of large distance so i am juts looking to see if it can be made a small bit more comfortable. she can reach out to the levers but it is a reach

Lumen

130mm is a very long stem, usually used for 6ft+ riders. Very odd that a shop would fit that for a normal sized woman.

Reach changes are usually less than you think. Going down a frame size can mean as little as 10mm shorter top tube. Maybe change the saddle fore-aft to play around with different reach (but don't ride like this for any distance) before you buy a stem.

Unless you take the time to understand exactly what you're doing I'd be inclined to take it to a decent shop for a fitting.

edit: use this to understand appropriate combinations of TT and stem length

Bambaata

The bike wasn't bought from a bike shop. I got the bike from a guy who works in a shop and used it as a winter training bike. he rides at a decent level and had a long stem so he could get good and low. when buying he was supposed to swap it out for the original but he forgot and too much time has passed now. i certainly need to shorten the stem. she is the same height as him (actually slightly taller) but wouldn't have the flexibility he has so thus i am looking at a smaller stem. a bike fitting isn't necessary as she will sue this bike about 5 times a year and wont cover anything more than 100km in that time so a bit fitting is a bad investment. a new stem is step one. i think ill try some friends and see what length they are using and try those out on it before buying

and im just guessing its a 130. its the longest i have ever seen. i have a 110 and its quite a bit longer than it. ill measure it tonight to be sure.

Lumen

Bambaata wrote: »

I got the bike from a guy who works in a shop and used it as a winter training bike. he rides at a decent level and had a long stem so he could get good and low...she is the same height as him (actually slightly taller) but wouldn't have the flexibility he has

I'm not sure flexibility makes a massive difference to reach. As I understand it, faster cyclists tend to ride in the drops with greater arm bend in order to maintain a higher position on the tops for climbing.

Maybe it's the handlebar height that's a problem - see what difference a flipped stem makes? A 130mm 8 degree stem will rise about 4cm when flipped.

at1withmyself

Bambaata wrote: »

i'd say its a 130mm one at the moment. i have a 110 and its certainly longer than that. tbh she will only be doing 5/10km rides on the bike so and shortening of the stem will help her. she isnt going to be getting into cycling frequently and over any sort of large distance so i am juts looking to see if it can be made a small bit more comfortable. she can reach out to the levers but it is a reach

An mtb stem might be more suitable, they are usually available in a better selection of sizes. It might also be more comfortable for her if she was in a more upright position so try one with a higher angle maybe.

Check out CRC, they have a hugh selection of mtb and road stems. I'm small and generally use a 90mm stem on my mountain bike and 100mm on my road bike and find that comfortable.


Edit, here's a nice short one for 161 euros:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28106

Ritchey Design

Hey guys,

Just read through this thread and am happy to let you know that we (Ritchey) will have white spacers available by Interbike.

Here's a sneak peek...

http://tinyurl.com/mo4zmp

dave2pvd

Ritchey Design wrote: »

Hey guys,

Just read through this thread and am happy to let you know that we (Ritchey) will have white spacers available by Interbike.

Here's a sneak peek...

http://tinyurl.com/mo4zmp

Chapeau to you sir. No Idea how you found this thread, but good on you.

Lumen

dave2pvd wrote: »

Chapeau to you sir. No Idea how you found this thread, but good on you.

It's the ultimate validation of Euro-obsession when a supplier registers a boards account to push more white components at you.

Raam, you have arrived!

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

It's the ultimate validation of Euro-obsession when a supplier registers a boards account to push more white components at you.

Raam, you have arrived!

This. is. awesome!

Lumen

Raam wrote: »

This. is. awesome!

I think you should consider naming your first born son Richard.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

I think you should consider naming your first born son Richard.

Screw that, he's gonna be called "White Spacers"

keogh777

went for a 3T 120 alloy stem in the end, if its good enough for the cervelo test teams Paris Roubaix bikes then..........

Really liked the Ritchey 4 axis as well but unfortunately not in stock

Lumen

keogh777 wrote: »

went for a 3T 120 alloy stem in the end, if its good enough for the cervelo test teams Paris Roubaix bikes then.........

Assume it's this one.

Have you weighed it yet?

keogh777

Lumen wrote: »

Assume it's this one.

Have you weighed it yet?

Thats the very fellow,

Not only shipped today and ive no way of weighing it - guess i will just have to take their word for it

Murph100

Lumen, thats sounds very ominous !! I just ordered one this morning and now you've got me spooked !!

First it was the wheels, now this.... not even going to mentions the FSA bars I ordered this morning as well....

Have to say though, the Shamals are great and Tubeless is WICKED !!!

Lumen wrote: »

Assume it's this one.

Have you weighed it yet?

Lumen

Murph100 wrote: »

Lumen, thats sounds very ominous !! I just ordered one this morning and now you've got me spooked !!

First it was the wheels, now this.... not even going to mentions the FSA bars I ordered this morning as well....

Have to say though, the Shamals are great and Tubeless is WICKED !!!

I have no issue with FSA quality, I just wish they'd be even slightly honest about weights. I know they all lie, it'd just be refreshing if they stated "we don't believe it's possible to make a sub-280g alloy handlebar that won't snap, so we haven't, but they are really comfy".

What's the deal with tubeless? What happens if you get a puncture?

Murph100

2effin'80g !!!! Ahhhhhhhh BOLL!X !!!

The Tubeless are amazing, seriously ! I'm 70kg and running them at 95psi, no squishiness, corners like the bike is on rails, takes all the harshness off the road buzz but still feels really responsive ( and this is with the infamous ' stiff as hell ' Shamals ) and they seem to roll forever. Completely different to running a normal clincher/tube at lower pressures. The grip is also unreal, I reckon as good as that Michelin Pro 3 Grip you got for the unicycle !

As for a puncture, well you cant pinch flat for starters, so that cuts down on your chances of a flat somewhat, but when the inevitable happens, you can either use something like Stans / Vittoria Pitstop, or you can whack in a tube like a normal clincher, yes the tube solution is going to be heavier than your lightweight clincher/tube, and the tubeless tyre is also pretty porky at 290g, just doesn't feel heavy, maybe because or the low RR, I dunno. They also do a patch for inside the tyre as well.

Michelin are launching their own tubeless tyre this Sept, so thats at least another choice tyre wise, and a thumbs up from an industry giant.

Of course, now I've completely jinxed meself for the SK !!

Lumen wrote: »

I have no issue with FSA quality, I just wish they'd be even slightly honest about weights. I know they all lie, it'd just be refreshing if they stated "we don't believe it's possible to make a sub-280g alloy handlebar that won't snap, so we haven't, but they are really comfy".

What's the deal with tubeless? What happens if you get a puncture?

Ritchey Design

Lumen wrote: »

It's the ultimate validation of Euro-obsession when a supplier registers a boards account to push more white components at you.

Raam, you have arrived!

Tough crowd! haha - I found this thread via Google Alerts on "Ritchey". :-)

Not pushing, just informing.

Ride safe,
Angelo

Lumen

Ritchey Design wrote: »

Tough crowd! haha - I found this thread via Google Alerts on "Ritchey". :-)

Not pushing, just informing.

Ride safe,
Angelo

Crikey.

Angelo, we're not complaining, quite the opposite. In our religion, you are probably somewhere around high priest level.

Ritchey Design

Lumen wrote: »

Crikey.

Angelo, we're not complaining, quite the opposite. In our religion, you are probably somewhere around high priest level.

It's all good...just wanted to respond, rather than just sit back (didn't think you were complaining about me here).

I'm a big fan of the "rules" myself.

Raam

Angelo, I'd like to offer my services to test ride all your products!