tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post8425750126245647890..comments2024-03-26T04:02:22.355-07:00Comments on Waltworks Bicycles: Look what I made...Walthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09156620599767391579noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-5720209211458461892008-09-30T19:18:00.000-07:002008-09-30T19:18:00.000-07:00I like the look of a custom stem too, but i'm not ...I like the look of a custom stem too, but i'm not sure i'd personally spend $150 for it; the Nitto lugged stems are in the same range, and nickel-plated. Out of curiosity, what tubing is this? A stainless stem would be interesting, is that feasible?<BR/><BR/>I'm afraid it's hard to beat the Salsa SUL for a regular steel stem these days.Bill Connellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07527677883997096699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-80355954578096674482008-01-07T15:53:00.000-08:002008-01-07T15:53:00.000-08:00Hey Anon -Given the relatively short length and th...Hey Anon -<BR/><BR/>Given the relatively short length and thickness of the tube walls, I kinda doubt it. I'm sure it flexes more than an aluminum stem of a similar length, but I doubt you'd be able to feel any difference.<BR/><BR/>Then again, I remember my old Titec titanium stem flexed like a motherfucker - so much so that I sold it off and replaced it, because it was disconcerting to ride. Not sure if it helped smooth things out on the trail or not, this was in about 2000 on a hardtail with a suspension fork. <BR/><BR/>-WaltWalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09156620599767391579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-46980260788462199452008-01-07T12:15:00.000-08:002008-01-07T12:15:00.000-08:00Never broke a stem, but I'm curious as to whether ...Never broke a stem, but I'm curious as to whether a steel stem helps give some *spring* when running a rigid fork.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-31442122758407791852008-01-05T09:30:00.000-08:002008-01-05T09:30:00.000-08:00Feldy -Good ideas, though even with some judicious...Feldy -<BR/><BR/>Good ideas, though even with some judicious mitering, the bolt is still going to stick out a bit. <BR/><BR/>I'm going to build a 31.8mm clamp stem today sometime, and Shiggy is supposed to send me some low-profile clamp bolts for it. We'll see how it turns out.<BR/><BR/>-WWalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09156620599767391579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-67713972944389929132008-01-04T15:27:00.000-08:002008-01-04T15:27:00.000-08:00Walt, you can make the bolt a lot more recessed if...Walt, you can make the bolt a lot more recessed if you put the slot at maybe 2 o 'clock and have the bolt mitered into the stem a bit.<BR/><BR/>Also, the one time I did a 2 bolt stem, I got one that was really crooked. It was also the stem that I spent the least try trying to align it well, but I just figured I'd mention it.Feldyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09656849385504906513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-28223382393123293722008-01-04T09:07:00.000-08:002008-01-04T09:07:00.000-08:00Thanks for the comments, guys. To be fair about th...Thanks for the comments, guys. <BR/><BR/>To be fair about the breaking thing, I've never seen a stem (even an F99 or whatever) fail. Given the consequences, I'm guessing they're pretty overbuilt, regardless of material. Still, 95g of aluminum isn't exactly confidence inspiring.<BR/><BR/>I'm not sure about the knee shredder angle - because if the clamp was on the side, it would still be a threat to shred one knee or the other. With an aluminum stem, you can just make the walls of the clamp so thick that the bolt is entirely recessed, but if you did that here, it would weigh a ton. Probably the best solution (though it would look like crap) would be some kind of pad that covered the bolt. <BR/><BR/>-WWalthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09156620599767391579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-4847298335479262532008-01-04T07:08:00.000-08:002008-01-04T07:08:00.000-08:00Walt- I am all for the custom steel stem to match ...Walt- I am all for the custom steel stem to match the custom frame and fork. First, I think that they really look sharp when painted to match, and second, like you said, you don't need to pack around a glass of milk to put your teeth in when you knock them out of your skull when an under built stem fails. Nice work on the extra cut outs on the bar clamp. They make life a lot brighter when you try to thread a drop bar through the stem.<BR/>-jrussSabrosa Cycleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451315306445327477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36151678.post-87596728985056003462008-01-04T06:55:00.000-08:002008-01-04T06:55:00.000-08:00Sweet! One thing though... Is there any way to mak...Sweet! One thing though... Is there any way to make it without the 'knee shredder'? Maybe put the steerer tube bolt on the side? Custom option?<BR/>~EAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com