Slipping on swept back handlebars

[Ethan VanValkenburg]

I just put some swept back handlebars on my bicycle and I am having trouble with slipping. The handlebars sweep back 7 inches or so with a 26mm clamp diameter. My stem is a nitto tallux and I'm switching in an old 130mm Ritchey stem for more reach, but I'm still worried about the bar slipping. Is there a good solution for gripping big bars that increase torque at the stem clamp, especially when riding on gravel/off-road? 

I might be able to tighten it more, but I'm worried that going tighter will strip or deform the bolt. Do folks ever use thread-locker or some adhesive for extra stick? Or do I need a 2-4 bolt faceplate stem for the extra gripping strength?

Let me know if you have any tips/tricks/ideas! Thanks,

Ethan

[Cyclofiend Jim]

Are you sure about the clamp diameter on the swept-back bars you have? What is the brand? 
If the bar is chromed or even highly polished, that can create a smooth enough surface that slippage is a problem. 
I will point you to "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" to the description of the shim... 
Might just be all you need. 

Jim

[Mackenzy Albright]

I've never fully trusted tallux stems for swept back off road use. A steel stem gives a bit more confidence with added stiffness. I've had great luck with a single bolt 130mm Ritchey in the past on trail riding. Make sure the bolt is greased well so it snugs up with the least amount of resistance as possible so you run less change of slippage. If I recall Jason said it's about a 30% increase of clamp force vs dry. You should be careful not to over-tighten as bolt snapping can become an issue if you're not careful. 

I think also take into account Grants philosophy of "ride like a Mongolian" - try to use balance and position over the bike to give nimbleness and lightness to the bar over obstacles and smooth out your riding vs heavy handed leveraging the bars for all your movements. Drops are where it does get exceedingly tricky - but adapting riding to the equipment is half the fun. 

[Dan]

Swept back bars with a 26.0 clamp diameter? Must be the Crust Ron’s Ortho Bars!

I had slipping issues with mine initially until I just really tightened down on the stem. I’m running an old Velo Orange Crand Cru steel stem. Looks great, but I could indeed go with more reach if I could ever find a stem that had it. 

[Dan]

To add: I ride single track semi regularly and no issues since tightening. 

[Jacob Kersey]

After tightening a single bolt Ritchey stem to the point where it compressed/deformed a pair of chromo Bosco bars, I started using carbon friction paste/gel to prevent slippage in these situations. No issues since.

-Jake in Oakland 

[Eliot Balogh]

Yeah, I would definitely try some carbon paste

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[ricksteves]

Could always try a 25.4 clamp stem with the 26.0 diameter HBs - the muscle it takes to get that clamp onto the wider HBs is more than enough to keep it in place when riding.

A faceplater stem is never a bad idea either, since 2 or 4 bolts is more secure than 1.

~ NJD

[Bill S]

This is probably not recommended, but I had a pair of choco bars that slipped a bit when I first put them on, and ended up using the old soda can shim trick and it's worked like a charm for about 2 years now.

[James M]

I couldn't for the life of me get Ron's Ortho Bars to stop slipping.  I switched them out for a Choco-moose and never looked back!  The -moose bars are the perfect swept back system for rough terrain.

[Garth]

Nitto Technomic single bolt designs were never intended to use with such bars, it's just a matter of leverage, a long lever being held by a single bolt clamp. With 2 or 4 bolt stems you need no friction substances or heroic torque to get the bars to stay.

[Chris Halasz]

Nitto (and Kalloy) 25.4mm dirt drop stems have worked fine for me with my 25.4mm Tosco and Albatross bars.