Schmolke TLO Stem - 31.8 | 1K Carbon | ICR - Black Edition

More than 30 years of experience in the processing of carbon has gone into every Schmolke product. And of course the stem of the "The Lightest One" series is no exception, making an ideal addition for both Dropbar as well as Flatbar handlebars.

The TLO carbon stem demonstrates Schmolke's high-tech know-how above all at the design level. Accordingly, the carbon fibers are elegantly routed around the aluminum inserts instead of supporting nuts and bolts directly on the curved carbon plate. The result is an absolutely unyielding connection that avoids any cracking noises.

The ICR version (Internal Cable Routing) features holes for internal routing of cables, hoses and wires. The necessary reinforcements increase the weight only minimally compared to the standard version. The absence of a paint finish in turn saves weight without compromising on durability. The epoxy surface is much more resistant than any paint finish anyway.

Technical details of the Schmolke Carbon TLO stem

• range of use: road bike, Gravel
• material stem: carbon (1K fabric)
• bolts: Titanium, M4 thread
• clamp diameter handlebar: 31.8 mm
• clamp diameter steerer tube: 1 1/8" (28.6 mm)
• clamp height stem: 40 mm
• stem angle: 6°
• ICR Ready: equipped with holes for internal cable routing
• weight: approx. 87 / 90 g (100 / 110 mm; manufacturer's specification)
• max. rider weight: 110 kg

1K, 3K, 12K & UD

While the "K" fabrics are characterized by the classic carbon look, UD fabrics look uniformly black and almost painted. The reason for this is the direction of the fibers. While all the fibers in UD carbon run in one direction (unidirectional arrangement), the "K" fabrics feature a crossover (biaxial arrangement). The "K" in turn denotes the number of tiny carbon fibers (filaments) that are combined in a bundle (roving): 1K stands for 1000 filaments, 3K for 3000 filaments, etc.

The differences between the fabric types are mainly of optical significance, but there are mechanical distinctions. The carbon fibers in woven fabrics are slightly bent due to the manufacturing process, which slightly reduces the tensile and flexural strength. The correspondingly slightly higher load-bearing capacity of the UD fabrics is in turn offset by the absence of the net-like bond, which counteracts crack propagation in the event of breakage. For this reason, Schmolke always uses a fabric component on the inside of safety-relevant components.