OneUp Components EDC stem £78 (+£27.50 for preload kit)

AN INGENIOUS SOLUTION, IN THE FORM O FAST EM THAT FEATURES A HIDDEN WEDGE SYSTEM IN THE UNDER SIDE TO TENSION THE HEADSET

When we reviewed OneUp Components’ unique fork-steerer-mounted EDC multi-tool, we concluded that it was one of the best on-bike storage solutions we’d tried, although not all were convinced by the requirement to remove the star nut from the fork steerer and thread the tube to fit the hollow cap. In reality, we found this to be simple and far less daunting than it sounded, but the extra hassle and potential to void the fork’s warranty was a sticking point for some.

The Canadian brand have now come up with an ingenious solution, in the form of a stem that features a hidden wedge system in the underside to tension the headset without a star nut. You can then slide the EDC tool (not included) down inside the fork steerer. With a spacer slotted into this recess, it can be used just like a conventional stem, but by removing this and replacing it with the supplied preload kit, the EDC tool can be installed while keeping the steerer intact. OneUp have detailed instructions for how to do this on their website and, although they take a little to get your head around, once you’ve fitted the stem for the first time it’s easy to understand how it works.

Because the conical wedge isn’t that tall, it can only take a limited amount of play out of the headset. This means care must be taken to add the correct number of spacers and to preload the headset sufficiently by hand before it’s nipped up by the wedge. A torque of 3Nm is recommended for this, although we found we had to overtighten the 3mm bolt a little to prevent it working loose. When we asked OneUp about this, they said it was fine, provided that we didn’t exceed 5Nm.

As a component in its own right, the stem’s CNC-machined aluminium design is elegant and, although it’s marginally heavier than some, at 166g (35mm length), once you factor in the removal of your star nut and bolt, you’re likely to make a weight saving. The split faceplate keeps a broad (55mm) grip on the bar, limiting flex, and the zero-gap clamp makes installation easy. There are 35mm and 50mm lengths (both with a zero-degree rise), but the EDC will only fit 35mm-diameter bars – OneUp have designed it to pair with their new oversized carbon bar. A handy tick line in the centre of the stem helps you centre your bar perfectly, although there are no lines for rotational alignment.

On our first couple of rides there was a small amount of headset play. This has disappeared now that it’s ‘bedded in’. Ed http://int.oneupcomponents.com