I have a set of the A900 carbon bars and really love these bars I am currently using a Ritchey WCS stem for these bars. I really like the combination but here is my problem. I tighten the stem to the recommended torque spec of 5nm and initially never had any slipping but I have been using the for a little less than a month and they are constantly slipping. Add to the fact I just pulled them off to take a look at them and all the clear coat and grit at the contact area is rubbed off and it looks like there is a crease on the top and bottom of the bars. I am no very afraid to ride these things thinking that they will break and after seeing the pics of the HED bars breaking I do not want that to happen. I am not a big guy 5’11" and 155lbs. Has anyone else had any problems with these bars? Should I be using a different stem with more contact in the face plate? Should I even ride these things anymore? Thanks in advance for all yall help…
My bike shop is sending them back to see if they will be covered under warranty but my fear is they are just going to say Oh well you tightened them stem to tight and crimped it. Hard to prove that I actually used a torque wrench and used the specs of the WCS stem. We will see how this plays out. I am now trying to figure out what aerobar set up to go with. Any suggestions…
I am looking for anything that will work and that I can get low enough on and get aero on and comfortable. I am thinking about the visiontech base bar and either the vision clip on or the HED clip ons. I would like some S bends if possible. Thanks for your help… Has anyone else had any problems with these Oval bars?
My LBS installed some brake cables for me while I had imy bike in there for a tune-up…he actually installed the cables with the cable-ends on them and one of them got jammed insidde the base bar and I could not get it out. Ended up having to buy a new complete set of Oval A900’s, I really like the bars so I didn’t consider anything else. I have them set up with s-bends, an Oval stem and I really love the bars, no doubt the nicest ones I’ve ever ridden and I think I’ve ridden jsut about all of them! At least now I have a lot of spare parts!! Also, I will not be going back to this LBS…ever! Might even consider having my lawyer girlfriend dopping him off a receipt for the price of my new bars.
Do you have any problems with the bars slipping in the stem at all? Would you recommend using the oval stem over other stems. I have the Ritchey WCS and it just does not seem to be gripping well enough and now there is a crease on top and bottom of the bars. I am afraid to ride them now. I want to get the s bends also. Would like to see a pic if you can post it. Thanks…
I haven’t used any stem other than the Oval so I really can’t compare, it is a pretty neat stem with the bolts mounted in the opposite direction for the face plate. I would think though that the Oval stem would be made to work best with their bars, plus it completes the Oval front-end look. I can’t post pics but I can email you one if you PM me your email address. Both of my base bars have a real rough section that you mount the stem around plus with the 4-bolt face plate you get a real uniform and tight grip of the bar.
Just sent you a PM. Thanks in advance for the pics and thanks for the info on the stem. You have never had a problem with the bar slipping at all. Do you use it for leverage sometimes. Just curious cause I do some… Thanks…
I use a cheap-ass stem for my A900’s. Never bothered measuring the torque when I tighten them, which I do frequently as a I fly with my bike a lot. I just tighten til thier snug and off I go.
I think my stem has paint on the inside which gives a bit of buffer where the surfaces contact. There is some light scuffing on my bars there… but not as bad as yours sound!
Thanks for the info on that. I am really thinking that these for some reason were slightly undersized or something which is causing the problem. Is there an creasing at the contact area of your bars? Thanks for the info.