I am currently using a headset spacer cable cross bike. I would like to slam my stem all the way down. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with drilling their stem as a cable stop. I was talking to the Thomson rep at gloucester and he said that if you drill in through the side and out through the bottom, that it passed their fatigue tests. Not sure if this would be true with all stems or if anyone has any experience with it. I have a Ritchey WCS 4-Axis stem. On my pit bike I have a Cannondale OEM C3 stem (125 grams!) My pit bike doesn't need to be slammed, but I would prefer it.

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Just go mini-V?

If the thomson stem passes their fatigue tests with two holes drilled in the middle of their extension, then every one of their stems should come with those holes predrilled. Theyre clearly not trying hard enough.

You can call Thomson and ask for a diagram on where to drill.

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Not everyone has cantis

Could you not just use a fork mounted hanger, such as the Kinesis RC09 hanger?

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FELT AR0
Velo Club Bristol

Unfortunately not, my fork is carbon monocoque and therefore I cannot bolt through it

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What about the FSA headset.



Or the Ritchey one

i kinda meant that they should drill their stems for weight savings, or thin out the walls, etc.

"if you drill in through the side and out through the bottom, that it passed their fatigue tests"

A little strange a stem with hypothetical holes in a conversation could pass actual tests. Tests actually mean tests, and not talk.

The thomson representative said that he drilled holes in one of their stems and then put it through their fatigue tests. It was not hypothetical, sorry for the confunsion.

Regarding the using a headset cable stop, That is what I am using. The issue is that the housing bend is very severe, so the brake feels like trash, and I want to put my stem even lower, aka no headset spacer cable stop.

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Some people in your situation offset the cable stop to one side for housing clearance, and readjust the brake accordingly. Not a perfect solution, but its better.

This is what I will be doing when my cross bike finally comes together.

I offset it over the stem and the hanger is like at one o'clock.

Does that stem have an extra ridge along the top of the extension, or is the light playing tricks on me?

The article that I pulled that from said only this:


"This Thomson stem was drilled out by JC Breslin, one of his sponsored racers. He put it in a drill press and says he’s run it for a couple seasons with no issues."