1" Carbon Steerer

Triathlon Forum
1

Questions for the bike junkies…

Anyone have any experience with a 1" carbon steer tube fork?

Anything to be concerned about?

My stem choices are Syntace F99 or Syntace Megaforce 260. Any preference for a carbon steer tube?

Thanks!

2

Yes

No

F99.

3

Make sure you obtain a 1" steerer compression-plug for carbon steerers. A star-nut in a 1" carbon steerer is a definite no-no!

4

The only thing I can say about the 1" steer tube is that the carbon versions are slightly more flexible when torquing on the handlebars in a sprint/climb/start. I’ve used a friend’s 1" Kestrel fork with the metal steerer and that flex was not there. Basically, I would say it’s not really worth the extra cost because of the flex issue with carbon fork tube, plus I think that’s why everyone went to the 1-1/8 standard for road bikes. If you have a strong desire to save the 80g or so by using a full carbon, by no means is it a bad decision.

5

Sure, I use a Ouzo Pro with 1" carbon steerer. Use the recommended compression plug and no worries. I race road only but put about 500 hours a year on it with no problems. I weigh 150 lb. Go for it and don’t look back.

6

I was planning on using a Syntacce F99 stem on a 1" aluminum steerer.

I noticed on Syntace’s web site that they don’t recommend using the F99 with shims (look at the comments on the left side of the page):

http://www.syntace.com/index.cfm?pid=3&pk=379

I was surprised, so I emailed Syntace USA, and they were a bit surprised as well. They clarified the issue while they were at Eurobike and, indeed, Syntace does not recommend the F99 to be used with 1" steerers. I’m sure there are many out there using theirs just fine, but thought I’d pass it along.

Kudos to Syntace USA’s customer support, by the way. Email responses within a couple of days, all the while getting ready for/attending Eurobike.

7

Someone should probably tell them about this:

http://www.trisports.com/syntacef99shim1.html

"
Syntace F99 Shim
This shim is especially designed for the Syntace F99 and F119 stem. Reduces 1 1/8" stem for use on 1" forks. Made from aluminum."

8

I would not put an F99 on my bike - period. Yes I own one, yes I have ridden one - never had a more flexy stem ever, I went back to a closed face stem (ITM Big One). Road bike mind you…and I am a forceful sprinter (stop ahead signs). Tri bike is Profile Carbon X all the way.

9

I remember reading that Lance’s race bikes have aluminum steerers because they didn’t want to risk carbon’s sudden failure mode. If you have less power than Lance, or ride your bike fewer hours per day, or are more concerned about weight (UCI requires bikes to meet a minimum weight), then carbon might be fine. 1" is less stiff than 1.125", and weighs less.

10

That’s Trek’s position on carbon steerers. Probably not a Lance specific requirement. They can get their frame/bike weight down to the UCI limit without the carbon steerer. Probably reduces the chances of a lawsuit dur to a failure. An aluminum steerer will take more abuse before failing.

12

I’ve been using a Reynolds Ouza Pro Aero fork with a 1" carbon steerer for about 3 years now on my Merlin. Jim at Reynolds installed it himself using a plain old Profile 90mm stem. Haven’t had a problem with it yet.