Road bike stem Black Friday: discounted prices

Three compatibilities to check in first

• The steerer tube: most road bikes have a 1 inch 1/8 smooth steerer. Some frames use a 1 inch 1/4 steerer at the top, for which the Pro Vibe has a dedicated version, not to be confused with the standard version.
• The handlebar clamp: 31.8 mm on almost all current road handlebars. Deda lists 31.7 on several of its stems, but it is the same size, 31.75 mm, rounded differently: they fit 31.8 mm handlebars.
• The cable routing: when cables and hoses enter the frame through the head tube, the stem is part of the system and should be replaced with the model designed for that frame. A traditional stem assumes that cable housing stays outside.

Length and angle: starting from your position

Note the length and angle engraved on your current stem. Road selections range from 60 to 130 mm and from minus 6 to minus 17 degrees. The plus or minus sign on the Pro PLT or Easton EA50 indicates a reversible stem: when flipped, it raises the handlebars instead of lowering them. To maintain your position, keep the same measurements; to adjust it, change just one measurement at a time, in increments of no more than one centimeter.

Two discounted stems of the same size: where's the difference?

At equal length and angle, the price difference is due to the alloy, weight, and hardware. At Easton, the EA50, EA70, and EA90 are all three-dimensionally forged and secured with the TopLock cap; the higher the number, the higher the quality of the alloy and the lighter the stem, and the EA90 SL additionally receives titanium screws. At FSA, the K-Force Light wraps an aluminium body in a carbon shell. So compare two crossed-out prices for steerer, clamp, length, and angle before looking at the material.

Road stem brands for Black Friday

Pro, a component range from Shimano, offers the forged AL-2014 PLT stem, reversible, from 60 to 130 mm, and the Vibe, available for 1 inch 1/8 or 1 inch 1/4 steerer.

Uno, a range from Taiwanese manufacturer Kalloy, features Ahead Set aluminium stems 6061 at less than 7 degrees, from 90 to 120 mm, and drop bars for threaded head tube frames.

Deda, an Italian specialist in road components, has the Zero 1 and Superzero at less than 8 degrees, from 100 to 120 mm, alongside the Superleggero.

FSA forges and machines its Omega stem in 6061 aluminium, with a four-screw cap, offered here at 6 degrees from 60 to 110 mm.

Easton names its stems after the alloy: A for aluminium, followed by a number that increases with the range, from EA50 to EA90 SL.

Handlebars, saddle, and other pages of Black Friday

All year round, road stems are offered with their selection markers. During the event, a new stem often comes with one of the road handlebars of Black Friday; the general selection of stems also includes city and mountain biking options. The clearance collects end-of-line models, while new arrivals features the latest products.

Frequently asked questions

When does Black Friday take place?

It takes place close to the end of year holidays, on the Friday following the American Thanksgiving holiday. The road stems for the event are gathered on this page, and the discounts affecting many of them extend throughout November.

Can a road stem be installed on a gravel bike?

Yes, if the steerer and the handlebar clamp are the same, which is the most common case. Gravel is often ridden with a slightly shorter or higher stem: a reversible stem allows you to try both positions.

Can you mount a carbon handlebar on an aluminium stem?

Yes, as long as you tighten it with a torque wrench to the specified torque and distribute the pressure evenly among the screws of the cap. The TopLock cap from Easton, for example, locks the cap and stem body together to limit stress on the screws.

Does a lighter stem make a difference?

Between two aluminium stems of the same size, the weight difference is measured in tens of grams. An appropriate length and angle count for much more: set the dimensions first, then choose the material.

Can you attach your computer to the stem?

Yes, with a mount designed for it. The Easton EA50 and EA70 accept an ICM cap that directly holds the computer, and Pro offers a dedicated computer mount for its stems.