Pdent Technology
Kirk Pacenti, the infamous father of 27.5-inch mountain bike wheels, has patented, perhaps the simplest idea since the rotary string trimmer better known as the "Weed Whacker." It is called "Pdent Technology" and it is a 15-millimeter dent in the center of the handlebar that allows it to nest into the steerer tube. The end result is a low-profile stem which can be as short as 10 millimeters.
Pdent solves a problem that has limited stem lengths to 32 millimeters - which is the distance that marks the point where the handlebar meets the edge of the steerer tube. Before anyone starts shouting "Mondraker," a number of sub-30-millimeter stems currently exist - right down to zero-reach - but they must be made taller than optimal in order to provide room for the steerer tube clamp. Pacenti's solution gets the job done while maintaining the low-profile of a traditional shorty stem.
Pdent is a system that includes the dimpled handlebar and a matching stem. Presently, the system is only available from Pacenti, but he is actively seeking OEM partners who can take the concept to the masses. The CNC-machined dual-clamp stem is matched with a carbon bar. Prices and weights are not yet determined.
Offsets will be offered in 25 and 15 millimeters for starters, because Pacenti says that exceeding those numbers creates unstable steering as the grips of the handlebar move behind the steering axis. Fabien Barel concurs, relating that he tried zero-rise stems, but had to move the bar forward ten millimeters to stabilize the Mondraker's "Forward Geometry" steering.
Concerns about weakening the handlebar at the center where, theoretically, the bending forces are highest are unfounded, says Pacenti, who showed a computer-generated stress model that indicated the stem's two clamps arrest all the major bending moments, leaving the center of the bar almost unaffected by those forces.
Another concern is that customers are being asked to purchase a matching bar and stem for each of the two offset options. Pacenti says that he will offer bars with a ten and 15 millimeter dimple that will nest with his 25 and 15-millimeter offset stems. Logically, the deeper, 15-millimeter dimple would fit both stems, but Pacenti insists that doing so would eliminate the self-centering effect of the closely fitting bar. He also claims that the limited angular adjustment of the correctly matched Pdent stem and bar will prevent the bar from over-rotating should the stem clamps be under torqued.
Surely, those features are optimal, but in the same breath, neither are critical to the system's purpose of providing a shorter stem to the many riders and bike makers who believe that the option will turn in a better performance. If I were a customer, I'd probably buy the bar with the deepest dimple, knowing that I could upgrade to either stem option should I have guessed wrong.
So, what are my first thoughts about Pdent? It's a simple, "Why didn't I think of that?" solution for riders who want a sub-30-millimeter stem, because it maintains all of the other ergonomics of the bike's previous setup. Pdent also proves that it can be done, which should light a fire under the rear ends of other accessory makers to offer a similar product. Either way is a win for riders in need.
Contact Pacenti Cycle DesignBe sure to check out all of our Sea Otter Classic images.
"THANS FOR CALLING PACENTI, HOW MAY WE HELP YOU? "
"Hello, warranty department please. Yes, I'll hold"
Look it's a fantastic product but please Kirk, be careful with all the philosophical background because it's nothing more but a clever way of making a short stem - we all like different things and sometimes we can't say why but things people tell us, that are good for us, feel awkward, even after 2 months of trying to get used to them
Still, I totally agree that everybody should experiment and find out what combination of stem length, handlebar sweep and handlebar width works best for them.
I never took time to check if all my bars are se same or not, I always chose 9° backsweep/6 or 7° upsweep, and now I have to verify them...
It seems that if you need to run such a short stem, the problem could be with your frame sizing.
Downhill only accounts for 18% of the MTB market. For bikes that actually have to be pedaled for more than 30 seconds at a time, climbing performance & front end build height are serious considerations. On the vast majority of frames, head tube lengths increase with frame size, so there is a trade-off in upsizing frames.
@D-Owen- I guess we'll chaulk that up to personal preference. I like what kona did with the process. every size frame gets 40mm stem(I'd like it shorter but that's me). buy a frame with the right reach. there is variations but for yrs we've been sold stems that were way too long. if your 6"7' maybe you can run a long(40mm) stem. so I think stems should only be used as fit in the slightest amount. say 20-40mm. for most the 30mm is perfect
Go out and do a few 5hr rides with 10,000ft of climbing that includes extended tech climbs north of 20%. Ask yourself whether your current setup is ideal, or even desirable for this kind of trail riding. Better yet, bring along some buddies who are 6' or taller. Even my buddy who is a former DH pro uses a stem longer than 40mm on his new-school geometry trail bike.
There are many variables, but "just get a bigger frame" is a solution that is of limited help unless you are willing to make major compromises in bar height.
Putting the "wheel further in front" does not limit front wheel levitation. That is determined by your ability to *weight* that front wheel. Steepening seat tube angles helps get you part of the way there, but a shorter stem works against this.
It's simple math: my new XL Santa Cruz has a 25" top tube. My previous bike had 23.5." Both have the same 73 degree seat tube angle. Proper pedaling dynamics determines my saddle position relative to BB. I can knock 35mm off my stem length without compromising climbing performance. Anything beyond that is trading the up for the down.
Pick your poison, but don't try and sell everyone else the miracle Koolaid.
www.pinkbike.com/news/ns-bikes-introduces-radical-new-geometry-for-mountain-bikes-2015.html
Even though the regular Joe might not see it, but wherever there is money, greedy money wolves will eat eachother and mainly the little ones alive. If you don't patent it, other companies will already be selling it while you're still at the point of trying to find the right distributors. Yes, the cycling industry is also filled with companies who would gladly f*ck you over and make all the money with your idea.
1. The bars can be rotated. The "dimple" was designed to accommodate head tube angles between 63* and 69*, plus a few extra degrees of rotation on either end of that range, to fine tune bar position.
2. All pre-production bars have passed CEN testing.
The bars sweep would be set, a little too far forward or back and the bar would contact the steerer.
Under a heavy impact where a conventional bar would turn within the stem (yeah your bar shouldn't turn in the stem, but we've all had it happen) this bar would impact the steerer and being at the farthest point from the ends of the bars would have a pretty high leverage ratio. Depending on the bars back/up sweep a 2" rise bar would have like a 4-5 to 1 ratio. Damaging or denting the top or bottom of the "dent" would be a real concern in my opinion.
Next next trend: No more bars. Use clip ons like the sports motorcycles.
Ehh, sounded good in my head. Not so funny typed... I'm ashamed!
Unless, some-one thought is was funny... Ehh you guys won't read this way down here. dang it!
This idea is nothing for me, as I prefer stems around 50-70mm (I even don't like the feel of 35mm), but it's still a good idea and I'm sure there are many people out there super happy that this product will come onto the market
Just go away Placenta. Please, stop wrecking our sport so you can profit off of it. :s
"Patented" is no more than a marketing term most of the time 'cuz half the shit that's patented is totally f*cking stupid, like this handlebar.
It's a f*cking crock of bullshit & you're a dope. There's a greater good than the greed of one person that should be everyone's priority. Multiple entities can easily profit from the same thing, the world does it all the time. No one has a patent on the bicycle, the car, the computer, the TV etc. & a shit ton of separate entities (especially in the bike industry) obviously do just fine financially.
Get your head outta your ass.
To get back on the argument, it's not that I like patent. It's just that sadly it is very often neccessary to survive in business.
Actually I have my own company and I'm about to start a second one aswell. I studied marketing at the uni and know many people who had their own companies and got f*cked over by the big guys. They invested all the money, and the big guys stole their ideas and started putting it into production before he was actually able to start selling it.
Another good example is Kickstarter. Any idea how many companies have people to check all those ideas everyday to find something they can steal and start creating? Many big guys can easily spend ten thousands on releasing a new product, so as soon as one of them sees your idea, you with your €2000-3000 budget have lost the battle.
In the two years I've had my company I can't even count how often clients have tried to f*ck me over by not paying. When the job was done, suddenly so many of them never replied emails or answered my phone calls. But if they play hard, I'll play the game with them. As soon as my debt collecting agency called them, I always received the money within 24 hours. The game is hard, so to survive you have to be able to be hard aswell.
''You seem like that one person who everyones hates, has no friends, and will never be appreciated. (...) but sadly there are too many semi-retarted people out there like you.''
sorry i had to
What I ment was that we were having a perfectly normal discussion until 'free-ride forever' out of nowhere started swearing against me and calling me names etc, purely for having a different view about the subject. I have no idea what was wrong with him for doing that.
I indeed should not have lowered myself to his level though.
It's a gimik to make money. Nobody outside a lab will notice a damned bit of different at all.
I ride bikes from my azonic ds1, santa cruz v10 and some oldies like a dk bmx.
I couldn't give 2 shizz where the handlebars are.... Other than they are comfortable and within reach.....
Ponces with "the latest kit" are just that........
Get off your ebay/chainreaction accounts and ride.
Pinkbike should just post the whole write up from Pacenti. Very thorough, well thought out, and made me really want to try this setup out. Pretty content with my 35mm Race Face setup, but a 17% reduction in stem length might be perfect.