Steering

Today I've pencilled in my shopping list for the remaining front end components.

I've been aware of the ESI grips for a while, just never had a good excuse to order them up and give them a try.

Everything else I've plucked from the pages of chainreactioncycles.com - so it's all subject to something else catching my eye, or finding a better price elsewhere, before I actually place the order.

The headset and stem have a combined stack height of 59mm - which is pretty much exactly what my frame/fork combination can accommodate. A Chris King headset would have been nice, but they are 31.4mm tall; the 24mm M:Part has good reviews and is less than a quarter of the price. Most stems have a stack height of 40mm; the 35mm FSA is a respectable brand and a decently low weight (150g for 100mm), especially for the price.

I wanted a 25.4mm bar, and the scandium Controltech seems a good price given its weight.

Headset:
 - M:Part In-Line low profile headset - black
 - 24mm stack height
 - 133g
 - £21.99
 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28122

Stem:
 - FSA XC-150 LX stem - black, 1 1/8" x 25.4mm (x 90mm or 110mm?)
 - 35mm stack height
 - ~150g
 - £14.99
 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=59606

Handlebar:
 - Controltech SUP MTB (scandium) alloy flat bars - black, 25.4mm x 560mm
 - ~160g (sub-150 after I've shortened them?)
 - £29.99
 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=19589

Grips:
 - ESI Chunky 100% silicone MTB grips (black, blue, green, red, white, yellow, or orange)
 - 60g/pair
 - £15.50
 - http://www.mountain-trax.com/product/3667/ESI_Chunky_Grip
 - http://www.esigrips.com/Silicone_Grips_Shock_Absorbing.htm
 - http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/grips/product/review-esi-grips-chunky-silicone-grips-11-45221