Maybe it’s my mountain bike background. It could be the brand’s long association with Thomas Frischknecht, one of my all-time favourite riders. It’s more likely that they are light, look great and don’t cost the earth. Whatever the reason, there’s something about Ritchey 4 Axis stems that just does it for me when it comes to attaching my bars to my steerer.
My first Ritchey was acquired around 2001, when an original WCS 120mm model, accompanied by a matching bar and seatpost, found its way onto my magnesium Merida (notorious for their strange choice of frame material, prone to cracking, but that’s another story). Those parts found their way onto my next two bikes, but after a few years of service, the graphics were starting to look a bit dated, and they were sold off. When my next build was undertaken, there really was only one choice for the cockpit components.
Over the last two years, my collection of Ritchey stems has grown to cover the gamut of sizes; I ran a 100mm on my mountain bike, but it has been replaced by an 80mm (not a Ritchey, but that will no doubt be rectified soon). My road bike and my ‘cross bike have seen service from 110, 120 and 130mm units. The two longest examples are presented in the sweet ‘Wet Black’ finish, and currently a ‘Wet Red’ 130 graces my Roubaix. I’ve also got a hankering for a ‘Wet White’ option, and teaming it with the white seatpost tickles my fancy too. My indulgence knows no bounds.
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@Brett...Hey Brett, are they ALL your stems or camera trickery!?
@Marcus
Despite the complaining of various readers claiming the uploader doesn't work, I think I found the fix for it and believe it is working. I say that without having tested the solution.
@Guy
Frischie was a fuckin' stud. Tomac, Frischie, Overend...Man, those were exciting days. Not just the era, but the whole notion of watching and being part of a developing sport.
Tomac on drop bars with a disk wheel! RAD!!
For a while there, I actually wore those Shimano ATB shoes around as regular footwear. Those were super sweet.
I postulate that anyone who doesn't look at that picture and think, "THAT THERE BE RAD" does not have a pulse.
How do we feel about the Specialized adjustable stem adorning the Saxo bikes?
@frank: the wet white stem would actually be absolutely right, given you match the post. My journeyman mechanic that taught me all things right in cycling taught me a rule that many overlook...and that is the stem must match the post color. Wet white stem and post both Ritchey WCS...very very nice.
those pics of Overend, Tomac, Fisher and all are soooooo freaking great!!! Those guys just nailed cycling and there wasn't anything they wouldn't do, nor couldn't do. Cycling is a measure of heart really when you get down to it...and they all had huge ones.
@ brett: how many wet stems are enough?
Stems in general I have are like bikes: n+1
stems for me are so critical to proper bike fit and usually overlooked by the novice. Last year I calculated what the difference in drop would be for the same stem (110mm) from 6* to 10*, which came out ~1cm drop, so I bit and bought a 3T 10*stem since the WCS are only 6 & 17*. There are so many numerable lengths, drops, that one really needs to think about the fit and buy one specifically.
RIthcey WCS (Non-Carbon) are truly the perfect ratio of price vs weight. I own three WCS 4-Axis stems. 1 90mm, and two 100mm. I use the 100mm about half way through the season on my road bike, when my back become limber enough to stretch that extra centimeter.
The WCS products that finally went with the five-color WCS stripes are subtle, and classy at the same time. They don't pop like a pair of electroplated-bioluminescent SIDI road shoes, but they still are able to pull people's attention to the product by name and reputation.
If my bike wasn't a solid black ninja bike, I would totally blow some cash on the silver WCS parts coming out. Put that and a nice, polished Campy Athena gruppo on a bike, and it will look timeless for years to come.
As much of a supporter as I am of this company, I am not sure I feed into so many variations of colors and finish. Matte Black, Matte White, Polished Silver; what else do you need????
@Dave Harding
They are all mine Dave. Only the middle one (red) is in use at the moment. I took the 100 off my mtb (gone to 80mm) and the 110 off my Tricross as I am selling it.
What I find interesting is that you idealize a brand/part because a certain MOUNTAIN BIKE professional used them. BUT you're putting them on your ROAD bike?
Agreed, very nice stems. But I really dislike the world champ color scheme on the WCS logo. I've not earned it, doesn't go on my bike.