Rigid Single Speed Update, Right-Sizing
This week I worked on right-sizing the steerer tube on my carbon fork and the width of my handlebars. On my last update (#1) I wasn’t quite sure which handlebar/stem to use. I’ve decided to give the KORE Torsion Bar and B52 stem a try. Stock length of the Torsion Bar was at 800mm, so I’ve got some work to do in shortening it.
The FORK: I finally got the courage to cut the steerer tube myself. As I mentioned on the last post, the steerer is also carbon fiber. Not having cut a steerer tube in the past I was hesitant in doing so. For awhile I was debating on whether I should do it or take to my LBS. Always trying to be self-sufficient I did a little research then bought a hack saw at Home Depot. Following Richard Cunningham’s (Mountain Bike Action, issue July 2007) instructions, I measured the desired length then taped a spare aluminum spacer to use as a cutting guide. I added an extra 10mm spacer to my desired length to give myself a little room for error. Fortunately all worked well and the steerer tube was cut evenly. I reinstalled the fork, added my carbon spacers, tightened the stem then installed the compression plug.
Spacer taped on as a cutting guide.
NOTE: do not use the regular star-nut with carbon steerers; it will damage the insides. Use a compression plug which will expand inside the steerer tube.
The HANDLEBARS: Using the same method above, I proceeded to shorten the Torsion bars. Original length is 800mm. I decided to take off 3/4” on each end. After measuring the desired length, I marked the handlebar, clamped on an old set of ODI Lock-on rings for a guide, tightened the screws then cut away. Final length is 30.25″.
Once I’ve mounted the stem and handlebars to the appropriate position, I installed the red Oury grips.
ODI Lock-on rings as a guide.
Above is the end result. Not bad ehhh? Here is where I’m at w/the build. Almost there…
Frame: ZION EBB
Fork: SASO Carbon fork
Skewers: SASO Carbon Levers
Single speed cog: 16t Wheels Mfg SSK-3
Stem: B52s
Handlebars: KORE Torsion bars
Grips: Red OURY Lock-ons
Wheelset: Sun Ringle laced to XT hubs
Crankset: Race Face Deus, silver
BB: Race Face ISIS spline
Tires: Maxxis Larsen TTs 2.1(f)/1.9(r)
Headset: Woodman Axis SL COMP
Tubes: various brands
Spacers: Carbon
Misc: FSA Compression plug
Current weight: 19.74 lbs
did you use two lockon clamps as a guide or just one?
Just one… although using two wouldnt be a bad idea. The cut was fairly easy so one was sufficient.
Great job Joe! Looking good. Man that’s a sweet looking bike. I love all the whitness!
Love the white parts too! Does the CF fork really work on absorbing minor impacts / bumps?
I like the components.
How do you like the width? Do you have anything else in that width handlebar?
Personally I would have opted for a wider bar since it will help with the leveraging when climbing the hills.
RL – thanks, I like the white too.
DT – I’ll let you know after I have ridden it. Although Eric “The Animal” Hunner also rides a CF on his SS and he rides pretty hard. It should hold up.
Jer – The length that I have it now is much wider/longer than any of my other bars. RL’s right, the wider the better but stock length was just too wide for me.
I doubt if you’ll notice any real difference in “honking” ability with 3/4″ trimmed off each end of those bars…they still appear to be plenty long for singlespeeding! Now, if you were trimming two or three inches off each end, that would be something else…
Nice job…and great parts spec. This thing’s gonna be badass when it’s all together.
Damn those are wide bars!!! They still look long after cutting. Excellent photos by the way… especially the last one.