Clockwork- Bar and stem geometry

[jax13]

Is it not possible to create the same position using riser or flat bars with a different stem? Did the riser bar come after the flat bar to give a more comfortable riding position without having to change the stem?
I hate these evil little questions that pop into my head! :twisted:

tell me to bugger off here, but in my opinion, aesthetically speaking risers don't tend to suit older frames but the risers you've got look good with the frame / fork combo & really suit the build, the 1x9 setup (i assume) changes the look of the bike slightly, even if most people wouldn't even pick up on the lack of 1 cable & shifter which i think helps it even more, as does being decal-less, i'd be tempted to just go with a headtube badge & see how it looks.

one thing i'd be tempted to try is a longer stem (110 ish, maybe slightly more) with a slightly bigger degree rise & drop the stem height a spacer or two on the steerer. this should in theory take the bars a bit further away but keep them at about the same height but eliminate the 2"ish stack of spacers. the headset looks chunky on the tubing & the big height of spacers make it look a bit like richard medleys neck! my gringo's previous incarnation (currently in bits waiting for the spare time to put it together as a 1x9) had a big height of spacers & it just didn't look right.

the others are right too, bar ends on a riser just don't look right somehow!

I really, really like the colour scheme of this build but the headset / stem issue is the only thing i'd change if it were mine but its got to be comfortable & its got to handle well or there is no point in having it so the bottom line is to build it for function over form (but don't disregard form entirely!).


see what I mean about the stem height! It just doesn't look right but you need a compromise.

 

[Elsubstar]

Jax13 no need to tell you to bugger off.. I agree with what you said above. I hadn't considered lowering the stem and altering the angle to suit, but that would help it in the looks department. I have been playing in CAD and I recon a 110mm 30° stem would put a flat bar in the right position and it would sit with two spacers above it. 30° tho... you don't think it would look odd?

I have been considering leaving it decal-less too, maybe just a custom head badge that ill design in a stealthy grey. Thanks for the compliment on the colour, I think the main body of the stem and the bars will go the same grey as the frame (face plate silver) ... what do you recon?

BTW its a 1x10, 33t on the front, and so far so good!

 

[jax13]

i'll be honest, i'm starting to rethink my colour choice for my clockwork now (hopefully getting it coated before summer) i'd not thought about a gun-metal-ish hue.


hmmm, dark grey with polished goodies & red ano would look awesome!