CX bikes are now a do it all option. We have light frames, carbon forks and now disk brakes. Hhoever, riding a bike that was designed for an hours thrash round a muddy field for three hours over rocky terrain still induces a lot of fatigue in the hands and arms (especially for us old gits. Surely, now is the time for a modern flexi-stem to make a comeback? I did in fact try this last year with a retro JD Components stem. The suspension was there but the length and lack of damping made the ride 'interesting' to say the least. However, with modern materials and damper technology (with lock-out?)should it not be possible to take the sting out of the trail but maintain the overall excitement and skill factor. I know that Cannondale made a CX bike with 1" suspension a few years ago and I happily admit to using a suspension seat post on mine...or is the whole idea anathema to the hairy chested paradigm?
Bike Forum
Return of the Flexi-stem?
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Posted 3 months ago #
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That's a distant memory now, flexistem. I had a 'offroad' one before they become Girvin, in bright yellow and black, which match perfectly to my pink muddyfox!!
Posted 3 months ago # -
or is the whole idea anathema to the hairy chested paradigm?
<- this.you want to ride a cross bike, ride a cross bike. If you want to ride an MTB, ride an MTB.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Tried some carbon bars or carbon fork?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Tried some MTFU or more MTFU?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Just get a mountain bike.
Posted 3 months ago # -
All part of the fun for me.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Girven flex-stem. I thought that word combination was illegal in several countries. Worst. Idea. Ever.
Posted 3 months ago # -
mag21 road bike forks?
Posted 3 months ago # -
Commuted in every day this week on a bike with a flex-stem
Posted 3 months ago # -
Thanks to those suggesting I get an MTB - I think I have about four already. Of course they (even my rigid 29er) are nothing like a CX with a bit more compliance. I'm no pussy having done the 3 Peaks several times but I have a bus pass and feel entitled to a bit of comfort!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Ahhhh, happy memories of my mate Ian in a race, out of the saddle, honking on the pedals, pulling on the bars, with a FlexStem.
Guess what? It went wrong, he went very far backwards, very fast!
Posted 3 months ago # -
Snap
Sold mine to my mate stu who loved it
Bout 6 months later riding from mine down to the trails and he hopped onto a kerb - only he lifted up and the bars and stem just swung backwards nd all control was lost !
Posted 3 months ago # -
Flexstem ,pah
The Softride stem was far superior.150mm of arm stretching lovelyness
I am just waiting for people to start selling the Hite Rite again.
None of these new fangled dropper thingies for me
Posted 3 months ago # -
<que posh voice>
I say Mr Frankz ::looks down to polish his monocle without looking up:: I do believe you need a hefty dose of MTFU.
;O)Kidding.
Nah,a quality seatpost and stem to take away the buzz would be great. After my mountain bike (26 inch wheels) I would prefer a cyclocross bike with this new fangled post and stem than the full bounce 29er as my 2nd bike.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Once enough people have forgotten about flexstems, it's possible they'll come back. But there's still a few of us who instead of going "What a clever idea" will go "They were terrible!"
Posted 3 months ago # -
TBF if they sorted out the issues it could be a good application.
It's no dafter than a softail IMO.
Posted 3 months ago # -
And so the wheel turns. You'll put on a flex-stem, like the suspension, but not the issues with it flexing in the direction you don't want. So instead you'll get a sus-fork. Then you'll find that with such capability from the fork, the narrow tyres are limiting, so you'll put on some wider ones. With a sus-fork and fat tyres you'll realise that those drop bars don't give you the control you want, and on will go some flats.
So now you have 5 mountain bikes. Fancy trying a cross bike as a change?
Posted 3 months ago # -
We wont go the route of suspension forks to sort out the stem flexing in the direction we don't want as that problem wont come around in the first place. Its possible to sort all those issues out (more so now with a-head and not quill) so lets see what happens.
Posted 3 months ago # -
speak for yourself aracer
TBF my flexstem didn't flex too badly IIRC but developed play in the bushing after 2 rides...so went back.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Just run a fatter tyre with a bit less air in it? You could give it some fancy niche name. I suggest Monster Cross.
Posted 3 months ago # -
yeah that would be just as fast as a 32mm tyre at 80psi on teh road...
Posted 3 months ago # -
Interesting responses - I was promoting the application of new technology not a return to the bad old days. Putting bigger tyres on or getting an MTB is not the same as a cross bike with a little bit of give. The fun I get from my CX is being able to do some interesting trails and/or winter road training. Arm pump and sore wrists are just for bragging about in the pub - they are not fun in themselves.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Arm pump and sore wrists are just for bragging about in the pub - they are not fun in themselves.
Yeah, but as soon as you start diluting the CX experience you lose some part of what it was you were aiming for in the first place. After all, a CX bike is never going to be the best solution for anything other than racing round a muddy field for an hour.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I had one and a Hite Rite!
Posted 3 months ago # -
CX bikes are now a do it all option
Gimme a few days to stop laughing.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Hhoever, riding a bike that was designed for an hours thrash round a muddy field for three hours over rocky terrain still induces a lot of fatigue in the hands and arms
sorry but you seem to have answered the question/problem already.Posted 3 months ago # -
Can't you run suspended fork in a crossbike race?
Posted 3 months ago # -
aracer explains it well.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I used a flexi-stem back in the day and loved it. I was in a circus group at the time, before the flexi-stem I couldn't go juggling the day after a hard mtb ride cos my hands/wrists ached to much. It's not a bad solution for limited suspension *if* engineered properly. Never tried proper cyclocross, but I imagine it would have some negative effect when honking hard on the bars.
Posted 3 months ago # -
2 x MTFU..
Posted 3 months ago # -
Oh well, I'll be seeing all you hard nuts at the 3 Peaks then..
Over and Out
Posted 3 months ago # -
I still think the OP has a point.
Posted 3 months ago # -
29er sus-fork and drop the handlebars a bit? Good suspension minimises unsprung mass.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Too heavy and complex!
Posted 3 months ago #
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