The Dad Bike Stem for MTBs. Does it make you faster?
I watched a video recently about how a downhill mountain bike racer invented what he calls a “raised reversed stem,” made of aluminum, that is supposedly helping him win a bunch of races.
I have no idea what to think of this. Without trying it out, all I can say is, aesthetically, it looks horrible. It makes the mountain bike look like one of those adjustable stems you find on “dad bikes.” Not that there’s anything wrong with those bikes, it’s just not the look you’d expect to find on a mountain bike.
But it is definitely curious.
Do we have to rethink everything we know about geometry?
Here’s what it claims: the raise reversed stem offers enduro riders “the utmost control when going extremely fast. When riding with the RR stem you will feel how it improves your riding position, the maneuverability of your bike, and the cornering dynamics of your bike with its advanced steering geometry.”
What about climbing though? Apparently the inventor says you need to get used to it and change your body position to see the benefits.
I want to know your thoughts on this. If money weren’t an object (the price tag for this is a whopping $400, making it probably the most expensive stem on the market) would you put this on your MTB? Why or why not? Does the theory as to why this would make you faster on descents make any sense at all?
I watched Seth’s video and I think I was just as surprised as he was. Since I don’t consider myself an enduro rider, I probably wouldn’t put this on my bike. What I absolutely love about it is “out of the box” thinking. Will this be one of those products that changes the trajectory of mountain biking forever, or just a fad? Stay tuned
You’re right, RR stem looks awful, but that’s because bikes normally do not look like that. The forward stem does two things: it balances more of the rider’s weight over the front wheel so you get somewhat closer to a 50-50 weight-over-wheels distribution. It also places the h-bar forward of the steerer tube to deactivate the torque radius for a more predictable course of steering. Stem lengths are shorter on MTBs and GBs for more responsive turning and bike handling, while stems are longer on roadbikes where turning is done by leaning. The RR stem, the video showed, would increase handling going downhill but would offset the wheel weight distribution for climbing, especially since the h-bar is raised. Having not tried the RR stem, my gut feel says that a short forward stem is OK for descents and better for climbs.