Carbon stem and vibration

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

Will a carbon stem (the bonded tube type) help deaden road vibration,
or is it all hype? I need a long one (12-13cm) and I wonder if this
length will make any dampening more noticable. Assuming one would
dampen vibrations, is there any reason to think this will reduce any
hand numbness?

Joseph

Nope, fatter tires with less air will tho. No carbon anything is an all
around panacea for reducing buzzy-ness. If your hands are going
numb...it is probably a fit issue, pressure on your hands, not a
materials issue.

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

Will a carbon stem (the bonded tube type) help deaden road vibration,
or is it all hype? I need a long one (12-13cm) and I wonder if this
length will make any dampening more noticable. Assuming one would
dampen vibrations, is there any reason to think this will reduce any
hand numbness?

Joseph

Nope, fatter tires with less air will tho. No carbon anything is an all
around panacea for reducing buzzy-ness. If your hands are going
numb...it is probably a fit issue, pressure on your hands, not a
materials issue.

I already ride 25's at 90psi. You're big, right? Do you have big hands?
When I grab the bar or the hoods my palm is 12cm wide and there never
seems to be a good place for my hands to fit except the tops. All other
positions put pressure on outside edge of my palm just out from the
"heel" resulting in numb fingers after a while. I've got my Ultegra
brifters pretty high to try to make a flat transition area to the bars,
but the flat area is just too short.

Suggestions?

Joseph

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

Quoted message said:

Hi All,

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I already ride 25's at 90psi. You're big, right? Do you have big hands?
When I grab the bar or the hoods my palm is 12cm wide and there never
seems to be a good place for my hands to fit except the tops. All other
positions put pressure on outside edge of my palm just out from the
"heel" resulting in numb fingers after a while. I've got my Ultegra
brifters pretty high to try to make a flat transition area to the bars,
but the flat area is just too short.

Suggestions?

Joseph

You could try double taping the bars. Two reasons:
1. a bit more padding from the second layer of tape will reduce buzz
etc. a bit.
2. it'll increase the effective diameter of the bars, which may suit
larger hands better - your hands wont be closed as small when gripping
the bars.

You can also get Gel pads to put under the tape, but haven't tried
them - so far I've found double taping works just fine. I only double
tape out from the stem as far forward as the brake levers - I don't
bother with the drops below.

As others have mentioned though, numb hands could be a symptom of bad
fit - possibly too much weight on the hands. If you're also finding
yourself with sore wrists/elbows/shoulders/neck or back, it might be
worth re-evaluating your bike fit, specifically raising the bars and/or
moving the saddle back a touch.

hth,

bookieb.

bookieb said:

Quoted message said:

Qui si parla Campagnolo said:

[email hidden] wrote:
> Hi All,

<snip>

Quoted message said:

I already ride 25's at 90psi. You're big, right? Do you have big hands?
When I grab the bar or the hoods my palm is 12cm wide and there never
seems to be a good place for my hands to fit except the tops. All other
positions put pressure on outside edge of my palm just out from the
"heel" resulting in numb fingers after a while. I've got my Ultegra
brifters pretty high to try to make a flat transition area to the bars,
but the flat area is just too short.

Suggestions?

Joseph

You could try double taping the bars. Two reasons:
1. a bit more padding from the second layer of tape will reduce buzz
etc. a bit.
2. it'll increase the effective diameter of the bars, which may suit
larger hands better - your hands wont be closed as small when gripping
the bars.

I used to do that back in the days with my old Cinelli 66-44's. Now I
have some flat-topped ITM "Wing" bars that have nice wide flat tops.
The problem is the curve transition between the tops and the drops. I
need something with big reach I guess so my palms don't have to have
the curve of the bar press right into whatever nerve is there.

Quoted message said:

You can also get Gel pads to put under the tape, but haven't tried
them - so far I've found double taping works just fine. I only double
tape out from the stem as far forward as the brake levers - I don't
bother with the drops below.

As others have mentioned though, numb hands could be a symptom of bad
fit - possibly too much weight on the hands. If you're also finding
yourself with sore wrists/elbows/shoulders/neck or back, it might be
worth re-evaluating your bike fit, specifically raising the bars and/or
moving the saddle back a touch.

I used to have problems with back, elbows, wrists, and hands! I have
dialled in my setup (seat back, bars not too low, etc) and no longer
have the other problems. My MTB has almost an identical setup in terms
of reach to the bars, fore-aft of the seat, and saddle-seat drop. I
don't have any problems with numbness there on straight bars (no
bar-ends). So I think it is something about the shape of the road bars.

Joseph

Quoted message said:

Will a carbon stem (the bonded tube type) help deaden road vibration,
or is it all hype? I need a long one (12-13cm) and I wonder if this
length will make any dampening more noticable. Assuming one would
dampen vibrations, is there any reason to think this will reduce any
hand numbness?

Joseph

My personal experience (based upon my own bike) is that the carbon stem
probably had no effect at all, but the carbon bar is definitely less buzzy.
More difference there than I expected. I don't even know that it's actually
"buzziness" that's gone away, but my hands are definitely happier after mile
80 on rough roads. Your mileage may vary. For what it's worth, I've also
noticed no difference in carbon vs aluminum posts. So stem, no, seatpost,
no, bars, yes in my scorebook.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Will a carbon stem (the bonded tube type) help deaden road vibration,
or is it all hype? I need a long one (12-13cm) and I wonder if this
length will make any dampening more noticable. Assuming one would
dampen vibrations, is there any reason to think this will reduce any
hand numbness?

Joseph

My personal experience (based upon my own bike) is that the carbon stem
probably had no effect at all, but the carbon bar is definitely less

buzzy.

Quoted message said:

More difference there than I expected. I don't even know that it's

actually

Quoted message said:

"buzziness" that's gone away, but my hands are definitely happier after

mile

Quoted message said:

80 on rough roads. Your mileage may vary. For what it's worth, I've also
noticed no difference in carbon vs aluminum posts. So stem, no, seatpost,
no, bars, yes in my scorebook.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

What about the Aztec bar wrap? I saw it in BRAIN, but never got any to try.
Is it worth anything?

Bruce

Quoted message said:

What about the Aztec bar wrap? I saw it in BRAIN, but never got any to
try.
Is it worth anything?

Bruce

I've played around with the Bontrager gel tape and the Fizik (which has a
separate gel layer); both work, but the Bontrager is just about the same
thickness, and only very slightly heavier, than standard tape. Haven't used
the Aztec. My guess is that the gel tapes & pads are probably better for
issues where you get pressure points that cause pain, which is something
that bar material isn't going to help. But... it's not nearly as exotic (or
expensive) as a carbon bar, and weighs a slight amount more (because the
aluminum bar is heavier than the carbon bar you'd probably use). So you
don't get any "cool" factor with the gel tape, just function, for a very
reasonable price.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

"Bruce Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Will a carbon stem (the bonded tube type) help deaden road vibration,
or is it all hype? I need a long one (12-13cm) and I wonder if this
length will make any dampening more noticable. Assuming one would
dampen vibrations, is there any reason to think this will reduce any
hand numbness?

Joseph

My personal experience (based upon my own bike) is that the carbon stem
probably had no effect at all, but the carbon bar is definitely less

buzzy.

Quoted message said:

More difference there than I expected. I don't even know that it's

actually

Quoted message said:

"buzziness" that's gone away, but my hands are definitely happier after

mile

Quoted message said:

80 on rough roads. Your mileage may vary. For what it's worth, I've also
noticed no difference in carbon vs aluminum posts. So stem, no, seatpost,
no, bars, yes in my scorebook.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

What about the Aztec bar wrap? I saw it in BRAIN, but never got any to
try.
Is it worth anything?

Bruce

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about the Aztec bar wrap? I saw it in BRAIN, but never got any to
try.
Is it worth anything?

Bruce

I've played around with the Bontrager gel tape and the Fizik (which has a
separate gel layer); both work, but the Bontrager is just about the same
thickness, and only very slightly heavier, than standard tape. Haven't

used

Quoted message said:

the Aztec. My guess is that the gel tapes & pads are probably better for
issues where you get pressure points that cause pain, which is something
that bar material isn't going to help. But... it's not nearly as exotic

(or

Quoted message said:

expensive) as a carbon bar, and weighs a slight amount more (because the
aluminum bar is heavier than the carbon bar you'd probably use). So you
don't get any "cool" factor with the gel tape, just function, for a very
reasonable price.

--Mike Jacoubowsky
Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReaction.com
Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

"Bruce Gilbert" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

> Will a carbon stem (the bonded tube type) help deaden road vibration,
> or is it all hype? I need a long one (12-13cm) and I wonder if this
> length will make any dampening more noticable. Assuming one would
> dampen vibrations, is there any reason to think this will reduce any
> hand numbness?
>
> Joseph

My personal experience (based upon my own bike) is that the carbon stem
probably had no effect at all, but the carbon bar is definitely less

buzzy.

Quoted message said:

More difference there than I expected. I don't even know that it's

actually

Quoted message said:

"buzziness" that's gone away, but my hands are definitely happier after

mile

Quoted message said:

80 on rough roads. Your mileage may vary. For what it's worth, I've

also

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

noticed no difference in carbon vs aluminum posts. So stem, no,

seatpost,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

no, bars, yes in my scorebook.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

What about the Aztec bar wrap? I saw it in BRAIN, but never got any to
try.
Is it worth anything?

Bruce

Mike replied with his typical clear thinking:
But... it's not nearly as exotic (or
expensive) as a carbon bar, and weighs a slight amount more (because the
aluminum bar is heavier than the carbon bar you'd probably use). So you
don't get any "cool" factor with the gel tape, just function, for a very
reasonable price.

Well, we can't have any of that! This is retail after all and carbon is the
cure for all weight and bling issues. We do have at least one happy dentist
in Houston. One of my customers bought a beautiful Seven road bike from
someone else just before the MS150 ride last weekend. During the first day
of the ride, his stupid-light carbon handlebars snapped. The lucky dentist
back in Houston psychically felt the impact as it happened and exclaimed "Oh
happy day, the new pool is paid for now!"

Bruce

"Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about the Aztec bar wrap? I saw it in BRAIN, but never got any to
try.
Is it worth anything?

Bruce

I've played around with the Bontrager gel tape and the Fizik (which has a
separate gel layer); both work, but the Bontrager is just about the same
thickness, and only very slightly heavier, than standard tape. Haven't
used the Aztec. My guess is that the gel tapes & pads are probably better
for issues where you get pressure points that cause pain, which is
something that bar material isn't going to help. But... it's not nearly as
exotic (or expensive) as a carbon bar, and weighs a slight amount more
(because the aluminum bar is heavier than the carbon bar you'd probably
use). So you don't get any "cool" factor with the gel tape, just function,
for a very reasonable price.

And (not being in the USA) assume that Specialized's gel pad+ tape kit is
readily available over there. Looks like a similar sort of solution for
$20ish (guessing equivalent prices). I'm playing with an SBC Roubaix
tomorrow, so I may have a verdict on the effect of all their marketing
tomfoolery!

I'll let you know...

Skippy
E&OE