Changed wheels and handlebar Stem ... it changed the bike?

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

Post Reply
Kupepe
Posts: 89
Joined: Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:04 pm

by Kupepe

Hello,

I have a neo-retro build around a classic steel Colnago frame. I had a pair of Fulcrum Racing 5s wheelset and a Colnago Nemesis carbon plated aluminium stem.

I changed the wheelset to Campy Neutrol Ultra and the stem to 3T ARX LTD and suddenly the bike got a bit more ... hmmm ... stiffer in the front end? It definately feels changed.

Is it a "new stuff" placebo or is it justified mechanically?

kervelo
Posts: 862
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:58 am
Location: Finland

by kervelo

I cannot comment the stiffness of the new stem, but the Neutron Ultra wheels are pretty stiff. It is actually surprising, since the wheels have so low profile rim.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



mr4fox
Posts: 276
Joined: Sat May 15, 2010 2:01 pm

by mr4fox

I'd definitely believe that. The front end of my bike feels stiffer with my 60mm wheels vs 38mm wheels. The 60mm rim is a bit stiffer due to its depth (both are 28mm wide) plus it has sapim cx-rays on it where as the 38mm rim has super vx-rays on it which are lighter.

When I changed from a 3T cockpit to a syncros integrated bar stem I immediately noticed it was even stiffer again. Definitely feels better when out of the saddle


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

victorduraace
Posts: 230
Joined: Thu Jul 14, 2011 10:10 pm

by victorduraace

New components don't seem much stiffer to me. I would say placebo effect, but each to his own

duende
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:07 am

by duende

Felt a dramatic difference switching from a Thompson stem to Enve. Aluminum to Carbon changed the road vibrations majorly. I think changing wheels would be even a bigger difference!

TheKaiser
Posts: 653
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 3:29 pm

by TheKaiser

Not sure what model your original stem was but I had some 3t and Cinelli quill type stems on old bikes that were absolute noodles. You could grab the hoods and wiggle them up and down probably 20mm because the stem would twist so much. Those were small diameter cast aluminum, and a switch to a more modern tubular stem with a larger diameter made a huge difference.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
ab01ns
Posts: 73
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:58 am

by ab01ns

I can't really feel a huge different between stems. Handlebars definitely, and the same thing when I go from my Mavic Msyriums to my race wheels, a pair of easton ec90 aeros. Stiffness is a very personally thing, and not necessarily a better one ;)
20% cyclist/80% J.I.T

Post Reply