Redshift stem now (finally) in shorter lengths

https://redshiftsports.com/

Just got a notification that they’ve finally released these in 70mm and 55mm. I’d been in touch with them for a while as knew they’d had shorter stems in development, so good to see they’ve finally been released. Be interesting to see if the shorter length has enough leverage to make a real difference….

I ABSOLUTELY do _NOT_ need one of those on my road bike. Dammit.

(but thanks for the link)

What sort of bike do you envisage wanting one for?

I’ve got the 80mm version on a gravel bike. I guess some very off road gravel might have geometry that would work with a stem that short. Probably need very very wide drops for the steering not to feel so weird with such a short stem.

I quite like the idea of a 55 or 70mm shock stem on a rigid 29er. Something that hardly moves but takes the edge off, combined with the tyres and grips it should be enough for a lot of general MTB/ATB riding.

I quite like the idea of a 55 or 70mm shock stem on a rigid 29er. Something that hardly moves but takes the edge off, combined with the tyres and grips it should be enough for a lot of general MTB/ATB riding.

It should be noted that even Redshift in their notes appreciate that the effect of a shock stem on a flat bar bike is significantly less than on a drop bar. You have to put the softest elastomers in there and even then it’s not as effective. It’s just physics – well, moments. With your hands on the hoods or drop (and a longer stem) your  hands and therefore your input is a lot further away from the fulcrum of the moving part of the stem.

As @jameso mentioned above, I was interested in the 55mm version for my rigid 29er, after rating the 80mm version on my gravel bike. I had swapped out the rigid fork for a Reba on the 29er, but think I prefer the lightness (and pack mounts) on the carbon fork.  The 55mm Redshift might take the sting out of the Ridgeway tracks I tend to do.  Mind you, I run a loop Geoff bar on the 29er so not sure if the stem would work as well with that as the drop bar gravel bike…

Was thinking about this more. Your average flat bars have some back sweep. I reckon with a 55mm stem the bit of your bars that you hold are about 10mm in front of the stem pivot. I just don’t see how it would be in any way effective. Your hands on a Jones bar and a 55mm stem would surely be a good bit behind the pivot so definitely wouldn’t work.

I just think a suspension stem this short is a product looking for a scenario Ird actually work.in.

Just read this on the Redshift website: https://redshiftsports.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/9000135435-will-shockstop-stem-work-with-the-jones-h-bar-

Apparently the 55mm and 70mm are intended for drop bar only, & only some forward hand positions on the Jones bar work with the 80mm+ stems.

Still might be useful for a rigid drop bar 29er…

Oh, I’ve got an Easton 50mm stem on my road/gravel bike, that redshift one would replace it well as I’ve just put on some Spesh hover bars which are 5mm shorter in reach.

I might hold on to see if the USE one is available soon, however I don’t think it will be offered in that small length.

It’s just physics – well, moments. With your hands on the hoods or drop (and a longer stem) your  hands and therefore your input is a lot further away from the fulcrum of the moving part of the stem.

Certainly is. I used to have a Flexstem BITD. When I was on the front of the L-bend bar ends you felt a lot more movement. TBH I wouldn’t want that movement in a bike with drops but 5mm, maybe 10mm of cush on an MTB in that area could do a fair bit for comfort w/o making the bike feel disconnected.

It wouldn’t be good with Jones bars and a 55mm stem, but Jones bars and a 55mm stem is an odd combo to start with : ) With an MTB riser your hands will be close to the steering axis so not a lot of leverage, but the forces between the grips and the tyre have to act somewhere so with a suitable elastomer it should work to some extent. More of a buzzkill than suspension movement.

Interested to try one but not rushing to spend that kind of money to find out.

Be interesting to see if the shorter length has enough leverage to make a real difference….

Should just be down to the elastomers used right? As noted already though the moment changes based on tops/drops/hood hand positioning, so which do most people ‘tune’ their redshift for currently? I’d have guessed hoods (longer lever), but I could understand if people opted for more vibrations damping for descending in the drops.

Just how finely can they actually be adjusted?

Just how finely can they actually be adjusted?

Very, my Flexstem used to change spring rate depending on just the temperature : )