StaFast Suspension Stem Debuts


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StaFast Suspension Stem Debuts- by Guitar Ted

Stem
The StaFast stem is reminiscent of past “suspension stems” but utilizes an air spring.

Allsop, Girvin, JD Components, Softride…… You “old school” mountain bikers know what I’m talking about, and you probably are either shuddering at the memories of riding one of those components or are enjoying a wry smile and thinking derisive thoughts. It’s fair to say that if you know about “suspension stems” you probably would agree that they have quite the bad rap. Never the less, another new design is about to be unleashed and it is called the StaFast Stem.

Promising state of the art materials and a new take on the old idea, the StaFast stem is being recommended for mountain biking, road, or even casual cycling. We bet it might be something that a gravel road cyclist would find intriguing. Gravel and back road riding can impart a “paint shaker” like feeling at the bars, so perhaps something like this might mitigate those vibrations. Then again, as a shop mechanic for 15 years, I’ve seen my fair share of failed or very worn suspension and adjustable stems. Will the $350.00 StaFast stem survive a season of gravel abuse?

Hard to say. Then again, you have to wonder how putting pivots into a critical area such as the stem/handle bar of the bicycle will be better when the mantra of most stem and handle bar makers is “make it stiffer“. It’s an interesting idea, which isn’t new, but perhaps with this new design and higher grade materials, StaFast will make believers of us. Maybe…..

That is, if I can get over that last memory of using a Softride stem on a ’92 Klein!

 

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Author: Guitar Ted

Guitar Ted hails from Iowa. Home of over 70,000 miles of gravel and back roads. An inaugural member of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame and Co-creator of Trans Iowa in late 2004- Guitar Ted has been at the forefront of the growth of gravel events and riding since then. Creator of Gravel Grinder News in 2008, he produced the premier calendar of gravel and back road events. GT joined forces with Riding Gravel in late 2014.

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4 thoughts on “StaFast Suspension Stem Debuts

  1. HeyJames how about we at Sta-Fast guarantee your experience of our new technology? You pay the freight and I will give you one free for a ten day trial. You don’t like it ship it back, you like it send us a check? This is not old technology, not just new forged materials, this is adjust your pressure to your riding style and/or terrain, change your bar height without buying a dozen stems, save your energy, save your body, have better control, with more comfort than you thought possible! We love full front suspensions and not trying to replace just give you options!

  2. What was old is new again. It seems like every few years some joker rehashes some failed tech telling us how there version is far superior to those that came before. Airless tires, and shaft driven bikes seem to be the most commonly retread ideas, but to try to revive the suspension stem? At least they’re not using elastomers this time.

  3. I wonder what Alberto Contador thinks of his image being used on the stafast main page? Or the photographer who owns the rights to that pic?

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