Technological Progress!?!?

Where's My CHECKBOOK!!!

I love bike tech.  I am always looking forward to the next new thing I can get my hands on, even if it won't necessarily provide a very noticeable improvement in my speed, endurance, or comfort.  While all of those things are important, and I will touch on them in more detail in future posts, new stuff is just cool.  Seeing the latest aero frame, deep section wheels, or new shoes is exciting!!!!

But then comes a revolutionary new product, so great, so amazing, and so groundbreaking that I can't help but...puke?

Find out why after the jump!




Now, I will come right out and say I have never tried this product, as it isn't even on the market yet, but I really don't get the point and I think it looks both hilarious and obscenely ugly.  The product in question is the new 3T Integra stem.  The idea behind the stem is to integrate the mount of a Garmin gps unit to the front of the stem.  This should make the screen easier to see and supposedly have some kind of aerodynamic benefit.  I will definitely go on a rant about aerodynamics and the claimed aero gains of some products later, but back to this 3T stem for now.

I have a Garmin Edge 200 (There will be an extensive review soon).  Would it be great to have it mounted even further forward? Sure, I'm sure it would make the screen even more visible. However, if looking a few more inches down to see the screen is a problem, maybe the person using it should just keep looking straight ahead and focus on the road.  That would just be better for everyone.

Ma' always told me not to check my Garmin without an over-engineered and overpriced stem on my bike.

Phallus From The Future!

Also, while I don't want to get too offensive on my blog, this stem just looks like a massive ancient phallic worship idol.  It is great to make things aero and, while I think the Garmin integration isn't enough to require the purchase of a new stem, integration is fine with me.  Design, however, is important to me and I think this thing is ridiculous and obnoxious looking, mainly with the aero shroud in place.

Mo' money mo' problems!

The price hasn't been announced for the Integra, but looking at some other products it can be assumed this will be very pricey.  The 3T ARX LTD stem (which is a normal looking stem) is carbon, and also happens to cost $325.00 according to 3T's own website.  The Integra will be an LTD level stem, meaning it is carbon, and likely also very expensive.

Now that we can assume the price will be quite high, the Integra is also offensive for another reason.  If someone really needs their Garmin unit moved further forward, they will be able to do so by buying a Barfly or Quarq mount for about $30-$40.  These other mounts seem to do the job to me, are way cheaper, and I don't think many people will notice the speed/efficiency difference.  And while by now you can tell I certainly do not work for 3T, I also have no interest in Barfly or Quarq, or whether they actually sell any of these things or not.

Barfly

Quarq

I'm sure the Integra will save a rider 0.00000002 watts per 200km ride, but is it really necessary and enough of an improvement on other types of mounts?  I'm sure people will justify the cost, and I hope they enjoy the stem if they get it, but I just hope that someone figures out a more graceful design for computer/stem integration in the future.  I just really don't think I will be able to take seeing other riders being led by their bike's phallic rocket nose-cone stem without bursting out laughing and losing my balance as I run out of oxygen.