Oh yes they did.
Remember when the idea of a remotely-actuated dropper post seemed silly? After all, for ages we all did just fine with our bums at the same position from start to finish. Of course now there are those who argue that a dropper post is more critical than suspension or even gears- and today there are some Italians who want us to similarly re-think handlebar position.
3fstech’s new AIM (Adjustment in Motion) stem presents riders with three handlebar positions- one for each of the usual riding scenarios. The stem provides, via thumb-operated remote, a low/forward position for climbing, and intermediate position for general riding, and a high/close position for descending.
The three positions can effectively be seen in bikes from different disciplines: World Cup guys and gals still run road-length tillers, downhillers have long sat their bars as close to the steerer as possible, and (at least until recently) the rest of us where somewhere in between.
While all three of the effective lengths shown here are on the long side of current trends, the design could easily be adapted to an offset clamp. And who’s to say that the climb (120mm, -20°) position isn’t just what’s needed to keep today’s floppy front ends on check on truly steep ascents? It’s easy to laugh, but stranger things have been embraced by the cycling community (see: half-lids with goggles, baby food, fatbikes).
The AIM Stem is priced at £125 for the first fifty backers- closer to £210 if it makes it to shops. The first 100 units have already been ordered for field testing and if the project hits its its 25,000 euro goal, then an additional 2,000 will be in the wild by mid-January.
Thanks to forum member beej for bringing this to our attention!
Comments (16)
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Good luck however not a chance.
“Does anyone else see a greyhound here?”
I see a seahorse.
What I don’t see, is a good idea.
Moose.
If they can make it shoot lasers, I’m in…
Front brake, back brake, front shifter, back shifter, dropper post, dropper stem, remote fork lockout, remote shock lockout, one pair of hands…
Theres a lot going on…
*Checks Date*
Nope, no we are not in April….
Rickmeister surely we could have one lever with 4 cables! Push for long stem, lock out f&r sus and dropper up then pull for short stem, full sus and dropped post! Simples!! 🙂
(My Scott equaliser shock was hard enough to set up!!)
Would have been a brilliant idea. But as the current vogue is not to have the gears to let you ride up really steep hills it may have missed its moment
No, cr#p idea. No.
Aesthetically awful.
Destined for failure. Sorry.
The look of it in that last picture makes me think of these
https://www.frogbikes.com/accessories/fun/handlebar-heroes-thunder.aspx
They are currrently at 740eu and need 25,000eu in just four days. In the same way a dropper post gets a little side to side movement, I can’t imagine wanting my stem to have any rock going on.
funny wheels, bouncy seatposts, shopping trolley frames, sprockets bigger than chainrings all prove you can sell a mtb-er anything – if the pundits get behind it
There’s a much simpler way of achieving much the same effect – they’re called drop bars and roadies have had them for many decades. Multiple hand positions with variable reach and drop.
I am just going to say Girvin Flexstem used to be popular – why now is it not popular??
No
Bar ends anyone?