Back in March we mentioned the StemCAPtain in an entry titled “TIME to Ride with StemCAPtain” and happily a few weeks later we had our very own to test. We were sent the thermometer version and the clock version of the StemCAPtain with both red and black bases. The thermometer version is still being tested, but here is our reaction to the clock version.
The clock version of the StemCAPtain is one of those products whose success is based on either working or not working – there is really no middle ground. It is a simple accessory that replaces your threadless headset stem cap with an aluminum base cap that acts as a holder for the clock, thermometer, compass or picture frame version that you choose. The faces of the clock and thermometer are available in both black and white so we received a black faced clock and a white faced thermometer. It is true that the functions that the StemCAPtain perform are redundant if you have a cycling computer with these features, but the Stem CAPtain performs them in a more stylish way and frankly simple way when compared to most computers. Also, as a bonus with the clock version, you can leave your wrist watch at home an have one less tan line!
On the day that I received the clock version of the StemCAPtain I was running late to meet up with a group to do a training ride on the road, but I really wanted to put this on my bike. I was going to be riding my fixed gear Spot Mod SS that has a normal 1-1/8” threadless headset; plus there is no computer on this bike which makes it a perfect candidate for the StemCAPtain. I had about two minutes to get the installation done so it needed to be fast. I popped the StemCAPtain out of the plastic case, the same type used to hold those plastic football helmets that you might have bought as a kid from a gumball machine, and got to work. Putting the StemCAPtain base on my bike was a breeze – remove the old stem cap and replace it with the new aluminum base. The stem bolts did not need to be touched, but just make sure that you have 2mm of clearance between the top of the fork steer tube and the top of the stem.
If you do not, the StemCAPtain will not tighten the headset properly. This in fact happened to me when testing the thermometer version, so heed to their warning and verify this measurement. The most difficult part of the installation was setting the time. The clock fits inside the base with ease and is held in place with a rubber gasket that is wrapped around the base of the clock. The time is adjusted in the same manner as an analog wrist watch is adjusted, but the knob is under the gasket. The rubber gasket is held snug to the clock so it took a few tries to peel it back and get to the knob. I was using just my fingers because that is the only thing that holds the clock to the base, but luckily this adjustment only needs to be made twice a year or whenever the battery dies. Once the time was set, I pushed the clock into the base and headed out for my ride…and I made it on time according to the StemCAPtain.
Since the ride started at 6pm, the route that we took was just over 25 miles due to the shorter days of Spring, but we did hit a good percentage of dirt roads. The back roads around Boulder county tend to be heavily wash boarded and these roads were no different. The Spot Mod SS is a rigid steel cyclocross frame that does not have the same shock absorption that a mountain bike with a suspension fork has so each bump and vibration was felt throughout the bike. I looked down at the StemCAPtain while riding over these wash boards and it did not twist or move at all in the base.
The following weeks I had the chance to use the StemCAPtain on my mountain bike while hitting some of the rockier trails in Boulder county at Heil Ranch. The story was the same, after 24 miles of rocks (about 75% of Heil Ranch has rocks or at least seems that way) the StemCAPtain did not move once. The constant pounding did not affect the clock function at all and it still kept perfect time. The clock version worked exactly as promised even after hosing the bike down at home. When cleaning a bike, it is recommended not to use a power washer since it is possible to actually damage your bike by pushing the necessary grease out of bearings and pivots under the high pressure of the water. The StemCAPtain was tested the same way and there was no obvious water penetration of the clock casing. The rubber gasket around the clock is only designed to hold the clock to the base so a little water did accumulate under the clock. Though it could be left there and would probably evaporate over time; the wise move is to just dry it out when drying off your bike.
The StemCAPtain is advertised to replace 1” and 1-1/8” threadless headset stem caps, but it should be noted that it may not work if you are looking to put it on a road bike. A majority of the modern mid- to high-end bikes on the market do utilize a standard 1-1/8” headset stem cap, but a few road bike forks with carbon steer tubes use a propriety stem cap… like the Reynolds Ouzo Pro that is on my road bike. That Reynolds stem cap serves two proposes, to tighten the headset and to keep the carbon steer tube from being crushed when the stem is tightened. The StemCAPtain base is not designed to accomplish the second task so sadly I can not mount it on that bike which I was hoping to do with the temperature version to see the change that occurs when I ride my favorite road, Peak to Peak Highway that tops out at over 9000‘.
One other point that should be made before considering the purchase of the StemCAPtian is that the color of the base needs to be selected wisely as there are four different colors to choose from. The main selling feature behind this product is that it adds ‘style’ to your ride, but honestly it looks a little goofy on some setups. If you are running an aluminum stem with a thick wall of material in the area that clamps onto the steer tube of your fork, I think any color that is coordinated with the rest of your bike is fine. On a couple of my mountain bikes though I am running titanium stems that have the clamp bolts oriented towards the front of the stem. The titanium stems have a very thin wall in the clamp area and the StemCAPtain base is much wider than that the clamp area of the titanium stem. Though this is just my opinion, the StemCAPtain looks out of place when bolted on top – especially the red base. When using the StemCAPtain on those bikes, the black base is a better option since it does not seem to highlight the two different diameters as much.
Overall the StemCAPtain is a novel product and performs exactly as advertised. There are two different sizes of clock faces that are now available ranging from $19.95 – $24.95 and can be ordered directly from StemCAPtain or purchased from the growing list of retailers that carry their products. I look forward to seeing how this product holds up over time, but it seems as if there should be no real issues as the all-metal and glass face construction seems very solid. Up until recently, StemCAPtain was based in Boulder, Colorado, but moved this past April to Grand Junction, Colorado so they may still be settling into their new digs.