Which stem?

Snapped a stem bolt last night, thanks to the cold, swapping my bars over. So it looks like I'm in the Market for a new stem, any recommendations?

I'm looking for a 1 1/8th ahead w/26mm clamp.

Nice one.

Missing the important bits of length and angle.

This is where you should start though:
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/category.asp?src=lfgss&cat_id=902

Personally, I'd recommend the Thomson Elite, but I bet you don't want to spend £60 on it:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Thomson_Elite_Road_Stem/5300005867/

Missing the important bits of brain and common sense.

;-)

get a new stem bolt?

get a new stem bolt?

:)

SJS do those too. It's probably an M5 bolt, nearly all stem bolts are M5. Though a few are M6 (usually on over-sized ahead but you've got standard).

or a bits box at your LBS. Free FTW.

Nitto UI-5gx is very nice, and 26 clamp size

http://www.hubjub.co.uk/nitto/nittouizm.htm

Lighter than a thomson too

Oh shit, I forgot. Im looking for a 90mm reach and a 10degree drop.

The thomson is the obvious choice but Id like to see if there is any others out there that tickle my fancy.

Also, on closer inspection the bolt hasn't snapped it's just ripped the thread out. Good stem...

Get a Thomson. You'll never have to think of buying a new stem, that simple.

Get a Thomson. You'll never have to think of buying a new stem, that simple.

Couldn't agree more!

also, get a torque wrench. if you are tightening your bolts so much they thread, they are too tight.

Surprising how loose the bolts can actually be (and I mean loose)

Put my bike back together a few weeks back in a hurry and forgot to fully tighten the bars. When for a 20 mile + ride and only realised when I got back. They could be almost be turned by hand they were that loose!!!

That was with risers as I am sure they would have moved with drops and the difference leverage

Get a Thomson. You'll never have to think of buying a new stem, that simple.

what makes them so good?

what makes them so good?

The production process is good (see their website) the weights are not bad and the strength and reliability is high.
Plus to me they look rather nice too!

Hope tech.
I've become addicted to there produce, ever since I first bought one of their seatclamps. Good looks, good strengh, lightweight, everything rebuildable, and fantastic service.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19480

The production process is good (see their website) the weights are not bad and the strength and reliability is high.
Plus to me they look rather nice too!

I assume the same can be said of their seat posts too. better than carbon, or just different?

I assume the same can be said of their seat posts too. better than carbon, or just different?

Stiffer and slightly heavier than carbon. But you can clamp them tighter at the seatpost with less danger of failiure, and the seatclamp is of the usual quality.

plus they match the stem and not always easy to match the post and stem. Okay so bit of an OCD requirement but I like it.

what makes them so good?

I think Thomsons are really nice, super well engineered, blah, blah, blah... however, as far as stems go they offer no functional benefit over a whole bunch of others available and actually cheaper, ((e.g.)The steerer clamp, is a truimph of overengineering to solve a non existant problem). Aesthetically (IMHO), they're 2nd to none.
Their seatposts, not only match perfectly the stems, but also rate really well because of the ovalised internal bore which makes them stronger.

get a charge stem and flip it

I've got a new Thomson (black) 100mm +/- 15 degree that you can have for £40. Also a Silver charge stem that you're more than welcome to have if you fancy picking it up.

must say I do like the way Thomson's look, nice and chunky.

Nitto UI-5gx is very nice, and 26 clamp size

http://www.hubjub.co.uk/nitto/nittouizm.htm

Lighter than a thomson too

Ugly as sin though.

Ugly as sin though.

Must disagree.

But I would have to as I have one on my Surly.