Race Face

Atlas 35 Stem

The list of potential issues you may run into if you're rigging up your bike to adopt 35mm handlebars is short, but on that list is which stem to choose. Particularly if you're looking to ride hard and go big, there aren't a lot of options for reliable, gravity-ready parts. The Race Face Atlas 35 Stem changes that, however, likely being the most stout and durable non-direct-mount 35mm handlebar-holder out there.

Race Face carves the Atlas 35 stem out of 6061-T6 aluminum, which is both lighter and less brittle than 7075-T6 aluminum, which makes it a bit more expensive, but means that engineers can pile on the strength and stiffness without weight — crafting a stem that is less likely to fail under harsh impact. Making sure that the four-bolt clamp doesn't apply stress-inducing "pressure points" onto the handlebar, the stem and its faceplate have a clever interlocking U-shaped interface that more evenly distributes loads around the clamping area, further reducing the chance of component failure. Of course, being built for 35mm handlebars, including Race Face's own all-mountain and downhill bars, the Atlas is more than up to any test thrown its way, but at 160 grams (50mm version), it weighs in lighter than many cross-country stems.

The Race Face Atlas 35 Stem comes in Black and is available in 35mm, 50mm, and 65mm lengths. It is built for 35mm-diameter handlebars.