The first stress on the bar occurs along the edge of the stem clamp. The smoothness and shape of the edges determines how rider force is transmitted to the bar. This stress is represented by the curves in the illustrations above — the higher the curve, the higher the stress. |
The second stress on the bar is the clamping force generated by tightening the stem bolts. The height of the curves on the chart represents the amount of clamping stress being applied to the bar. |
Under actual riding conditions the bar is subjected to the combination of both edge and bolt stresses. While this combining of forces may not be an issue with heavier bars, these forces can severely damage today’s high-performance, ultra- lightweight handlebars. |
What all this means to your lightweight handlebar |
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Because Easton manufactures both stems and handlebars, Easton engineers analyze the stem/bar interaction as a system. In reality the design of the stem directly affects the performance and longevity of the handlebar. The EA70 stem was specifically designed with ultra-light, high-performance handlebars in mind. By better distributing the clamping stresses on the bar, | 
| Easton’s design greatly reduces peak stress areas—reducing the chance of bar failure under load. Easton does extensive testing of its own products as well as those of its competitors. Through this testing, Easton’s EA70 stem with DST design has been shown to be markedly superior at protecting lightweight, high-performance handlebars. | |