This is a carbon fiber handlebar laminated to a carbon fiber stem. You can specify the stem extension, stem rise, and handlebar brand and width. Any 31.8 diameter carbon fiber handlebar can be made into a BarStem. If you want the bar tilt to be anything except our stock angle, you can order a Custom BarStem.
The Bar/Stem unit has a number of benefits:
Safer use of carbon bars: No stem clamping abuse on the notch sensitive carbon.
Lighter weight without loss of stiffness: 300 - 320 grams for a typical setup.
More vibration damping: more carbon = more vibration damping.
Looks cool! BarStem unit can be painted to match the frame.
Range of available stem extension lengths: 7cm - 15cm. Stem rise available in -17, -10, +10 or +17 degrees Steerer tube available in either 1" or 1 1/8".
Inventoried BarStems:
These sizes are available with fast turnaround and can be returned if not fitting exactly.
The stock angle between the flat part of the drops and the steering axis is 80 degrees.
Available as a Tandem Stoker BarStem! Stock angle is 80 degrees and with the +17 clamp, it runs horizontal from the captain's seatpost.
For a Custom BarStem, send the exact bar with stem clamped in the position that you have tried and approved. If you'd like to try the Calfee Ergo bar or other brand we stock, just ask your dealer to call us so that we can send the bar for custom fitting. Be sure to allow for any changes in where the stem clamps the steerer tube when choosing the new rise angle.
Stock 80 degree Tilt Angle: (the bar ends point 6 to 7 degrees down)
The stem extension is measured center to center. That means center of the handlebar (at the clamp) to the intersection of the stem tube with the steering axis. Be aware that stems that are marked as a certain length may not actually be that length. This is because the stem manufacturer may be measuring it like old quill stems which were measured: from center of quill bolt to center of handlebar. With threadless stems, if you turn the stem over so it has more rise, that measurement will be less. To avoid confusion, we simply measure along the axis of the extension tube rather than along the top of the stem.
Calfee Ergonomic BarStem (Also available with other brands of carbon handlebar)
Clamped Handlebar Warning
If you are currently riding a carbon handlebar, you should inspect it for cracks or indentations near the stem clamp. If you see anything that looks like damage to the handlebar, it should be replaced. The failure mode is this: The small amount of damage will initiate a crack (starting with micro-cracking of the resin), the crack will grow, causing a stress riser, which accelerates further crack propagation. Then a sudden high stress can cause a catastrophic failure of the handlebar.
The initial damage is usually caused by overtightening the stem clamp in order to keep it from slipping. Bars with a gritty grip surface are less likely to be overtightened.
Calfee will not make a BarStem from a handlebar that has been damaged.
Note: Stock BarStems are returnable at Calfee's discretion. Custom BarStems are not returnable.