In the earlier posts about the Specialized Aethos, I have shared some information about the frame, fork and other small parts that come with the frameset.
As the Aethos is designed to use a standard stem and handlebar, with no integrated cable routing at the front, it means that I am free to choose a stem and handlebar to use. I like it this way as I am not a fan of integrated cockpits. Although it looks very neat and clean, it takes a lot of effort to assemble this kind of integrated cockpits. If you leave this job to the experienced bike mechanics at the shop, it is not an issue for you. However, if you prefer to work on your own bikes, I would definitely prefer to have a non-integrated front end that I can work on easily.
For a lightweight build, the weight of every part needs to be considered carefully, as every gram counts. I have considered using super lightweight parts from Darimo, but the price is just too high for me to accept, at $750 for a handlebar and $650 for a stem. An alternative is to use Specialized own stem, which is pretty lightweight. It also matches the S-Works frameset which is a nice touch as well.
Specialized S-Works SL Stem, ordered online from the Singapore Specialized store.
Look at the picture above, how would you feel as a customer if the brand new part that you ordered came to you in such a condition? It seems that the part has been in storage for quite some time, for it to develop so much mold on a metal part.
Surely someone would have spotted the condition of this part before packing and sending it out, since the part can be seen from the hole in the box.
Luckily the mold can be cleaned off without too much effort. Even so, this condition is unacceptable.
After cleaning off the mold from the stem, it looks good now.
The stem is 90 mm long with a 6 degree tilt.
Uses 4x titanium bolts to save some weight.
Stem weighs 116 grams, not really lightweight. Similar to PRO or FSA stems.
On hindsight, I would have gotten another stem, since it is not really lightweight. The claimed weight is 110-115 grams in 110 mm length. In this case I expect the 90 mm stem to weigh less than 110 grams, maybe 100-105 grams. Actual weight is 116 grams.
Other than the stem, I also needed a new handlebar for the Aethos. Some previous handlebars that I used are the Brand X carbon handlebar on the Focus Paralane, the PRO Vibe Aero Superlight on the Cervelo Aspero, and the most recent PRO PLT carbon handlebar.
However, each of them have their own issues, which is why I decided to get another model. This time, it is the PRO Vibe superlight handlebar, but not with aero cross-sections. It has standard round tubes which I prefer.
PRO Vibe superlight carbon handlebar, which is the lightest that PRO makes.
Claimed weight is 185 grams, let's see the actual weight.
As the narrowest width is 40 cm, I assume that the claimed weight of 185 grams refers to this width.
Logos on the centre clamp area of the handlebar. Centre section is a standard round shape which makes it compatible to many standard accessories, unlike the Aero Superlight version.
It has 4 exit holes near the centre clamp, 2 for each side. I will only need 1 on each side for the hydraulic brake hoses.
Two cable holes near the bend. Designed for 1x brake hose, and 1x Di2 wire or shifter outer casing.
Standard compact drop shape. However, I think the transition from the top to the curve is not sharp enough, which will prevent a smooth transition from the handlebar to the shifter hoods.
Wall thickness is only about 1 mm, in order to achieve the low weight.
Handlebar weight is 198 grams, about 7% more than the claimed weight of 185 grams.
In total, this stem and handlebar combo weighs 314 grams. Quite a respectable weight, but could be below 300 grams if both the stem and handlebar did not exceed the claimed weight. One alternative I could have used was the Roval Alpinist cockpit, which is a combined stem and handlebar that weighs 255 grams (claimed). However, this also means that I can't change the stem length later on.
you can get a syntace liteforce, weighs under 90 grams for a 75mm
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