Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
It all started in October 2019, when I ordered a MY 2017 Vado 5.0 ST (45 km/h) in size M. It was a real bargain as I could buy the New Old Stock e-bike with a huge discount, and that was a 45 km/h S-Pedelec, a rarity in Europe. As I was unaccustomed to riding modern bikes (and did not know very much about the technology or bike geometry at that time), I felt my riding position was too aggressive and did what many of you do on the purchase of your e-bike: I raised the stem with 75 mm, making my riding position really relaxed.
As I use the full power Vado for long and/or steep weekend or vacation rides, I was suffering while riding an upright e-bike. My butt was permanently sore, I suffered assorted aches (like the lower back, shoulder, neck pain) and hand numbness, and I felt dizzy on a long ride. The situation improved a little when I removed the stem raiser, which gave me a slightly more forward riding position. It was still far from anything "comfortable".
After 3 years of the ownership, my Vado 5.0 size was rebuilt into a Vado 6.0 size S, and further modified by the shop to almost retain the original geometry (the parameter called Reach was shortened with further 8 mm). My ass started suffering again.
I should have replaced the Vado stem a long time ago. The problem was the specialized stem with the integrated display mount. Additionally, the base of the TCD-w(speed) display got damaged, so the display got glued with the silicone adhesive to the mount. I was stuck with the original 80 mm, +14 deg stem! (necessary to mention Vado 6.0 can only work with an operable display).
Two days ago, I decided it could not stand the situation any longer. I gave Specialized Warsaw a phone call, and they recommended I brought my Vado to the store/shop to discuss available stems. I rode up the LBS yesterday.
The nice salesman turned out to be knowledgeable and helpful. He told me I could not use the Future Stem Comp as it was a specialized product only compatible with the Future Shock system (true!), then he took me to the Retül bike-fitting lab, where he opened a large drawer full of bike stems. According to my needs, he handed two Specialized Comp Multi stems of different length to me to give them a try. As the shop mechanic was working with an urgent assignment, I was only asking the guy to lend me some tools such as a Torx 10 wrench, a torque wrench, flat nose pliers, or strong tape. We did all the work ourselves together with my friend Jerzy who also rode up there to assist me.
My choice was a 120 mm long, A-HEAD compatible (28.6x31.8mm), 12 deg Comp Multi stem. It is an amazing product from Specialized as it allows installing the stem at any of these angles: -16, -14, -12, -10, -8, +8, +10, +12, +14, or +16 degrees (10 possible positions!) How is it done? The steerer clamp of the stem is of an oversized diameter. You place the stem at the desired orientation (pointing upwards, or "slammed", that is, pointing downwards) then you insert one of three provided "angle shims" in proper orientation. Any shim is 28.6 mm (1-1/8") internal diameter and is allowing to change the stem angle in 2° increments. It was no wonder that the stems were stored in the bike-fitter's drawer!
The Specialized Comp Multi Stem.
My choice was installing the stem slammed at -12° (using the 0° shim). We fastened the thing delicately (so I could remove the thing without damaging the bolt paint). Then I mounted the Vado with Jerzy supporting me. When I got off the e-bike, we had that talk:
-- 'What did I say about my impression, Jerzy? Did I say it was any good?'
-- 'You didn't say that'.
-- 'What did I say then?'
-- 'You said Stefan it was amazingly good!'
-- 'Oh. Let's try it again so I am completely sure!'
After the second attempt, I rushed to the salesman merrily shouting: 'Take my money!' Then we completed the setup. Handling of the display was the most difficult thing. As the base of the unit missed the cover, and the mounting part was damaged, I protected the battery with a rubber spacer, and made up the remaining space with a 2 zloty coin (Jerzy laughed I made the part really expensive!) Then I wrapped the display with strong tape, installed a Garmin handlebar out-front mount, and eventually fastened the display to the mount with more tape. As a Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2 is my primary e-bike display now, the TCD-w is only kept for the Vado functioning (like a dongle).
The final setup.
Riding impression: The modification allows me riding in the true "sporty" forward position now. My butt has been relieved, and I felt no pain or hand numbness after the return ride. Now, my Vado is riding against the headwind significantly faster! If I need even more speed, I support myself on the Ergon GP2 bar-ends, which puts me even more forward! When I want some relaxed riding position, I just grab the regular handlebar GP2 grips.
I presented my findings to a group of bike aware friends. An experienced friend's comment was: 'Such mods are the typical outcome of too small a frame size'. He gave me some thinking. The Reach gain in this specific case has been +32 mm. I compared the Reach difference between Vado 6.0 frame size L and S. Guess what the difference was? Exactly thirty-two friggin' millimetres!
@GuruUno: You could be interested!
As I use the full power Vado for long and/or steep weekend or vacation rides, I was suffering while riding an upright e-bike. My butt was permanently sore, I suffered assorted aches (like the lower back, shoulder, neck pain) and hand numbness, and I felt dizzy on a long ride. The situation improved a little when I removed the stem raiser, which gave me a slightly more forward riding position. It was still far from anything "comfortable".
After 3 years of the ownership, my Vado 5.0 size was rebuilt into a Vado 6.0 size S, and further modified by the shop to almost retain the original geometry (the parameter called Reach was shortened with further 8 mm). My ass started suffering again.
I should have replaced the Vado stem a long time ago. The problem was the specialized stem with the integrated display mount. Additionally, the base of the TCD-w(speed) display got damaged, so the display got glued with the silicone adhesive to the mount. I was stuck with the original 80 mm, +14 deg stem! (necessary to mention Vado 6.0 can only work with an operable display).
Two days ago, I decided it could not stand the situation any longer. I gave Specialized Warsaw a phone call, and they recommended I brought my Vado to the store/shop to discuss available stems. I rode up the LBS yesterday.
The nice salesman turned out to be knowledgeable and helpful. He told me I could not use the Future Stem Comp as it was a specialized product only compatible with the Future Shock system (true!), then he took me to the Retül bike-fitting lab, where he opened a large drawer full of bike stems. According to my needs, he handed two Specialized Comp Multi stems of different length to me to give them a try. As the shop mechanic was working with an urgent assignment, I was only asking the guy to lend me some tools such as a Torx 10 wrench, a torque wrench, flat nose pliers, or strong tape. We did all the work ourselves together with my friend Jerzy who also rode up there to assist me.
My choice was a 120 mm long, A-HEAD compatible (28.6x31.8mm), 12 deg Comp Multi stem. It is an amazing product from Specialized as it allows installing the stem at any of these angles: -16, -14, -12, -10, -8, +8, +10, +12, +14, or +16 degrees (10 possible positions!) How is it done? The steerer clamp of the stem is of an oversized diameter. You place the stem at the desired orientation (pointing upwards, or "slammed", that is, pointing downwards) then you insert one of three provided "angle shims" in proper orientation. Any shim is 28.6 mm (1-1/8") internal diameter and is allowing to change the stem angle in 2° increments. It was no wonder that the stems were stored in the bike-fitter's drawer!
The Specialized Comp Multi Stem.
My choice was installing the stem slammed at -12° (using the 0° shim). We fastened the thing delicately (so I could remove the thing without damaging the bolt paint). Then I mounted the Vado with Jerzy supporting me. When I got off the e-bike, we had that talk:
-- 'What did I say about my impression, Jerzy? Did I say it was any good?'
-- 'You didn't say that'.
-- 'What did I say then?'
-- 'You said Stefan it was amazingly good!'
-- 'Oh. Let's try it again so I am completely sure!'
After the second attempt, I rushed to the salesman merrily shouting: 'Take my money!'
Then we completed the setup. Handling of the display was the most difficult thing. As the base of the unit missed the cover, and the mounting part was damaged, I protected the battery with a rubber spacer, and made up the remaining space with a 2 zloty coin (Jerzy laughed I made the part really expensive!) Then I wrapped the display with strong tape, installed a Garmin handlebar out-front mount, and eventually fastened the display to the mount with more tape. As a Wahoo ELEMNT Roam v2 is my primary e-bike display now, the TCD-w is only kept for the Vado functioning (like a dongle).The final setup.
Riding impression: The modification allows me riding in the true "sporty" forward position now. My butt has been relieved, and I felt no pain or hand numbness after the return ride. Now, my Vado is riding against the headwind significantly faster! If I need even more speed, I support myself on the Ergon GP2 bar-ends, which puts me even more forward! When I want some relaxed riding position, I just grab the regular handlebar GP2 grips.
I presented my findings to a group of bike aware friends. An experienced friend's comment was: 'Such mods are the typical outcome of too small a frame size'. He gave me some thinking. The Reach gain in this specific case has been +32 mm. I compared the Reach difference between Vado 6.0 frame size L and S. Guess what the difference was? Exactly thirty-two friggin' millimetres!
@GuruUno: You could be interested!
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