The Paul Box Car Stem and the Thomson x4 stem are two iconic stems.
The Paul Box Car is a machined aluminum stem that combines a bold, rugged, and undeniably tough look, typical of American brands with lightweight construction.
The Thomson x4 is a classic staple that continues to be used in demanding conditions, despite being whittled down to the bare minimum in the pursuit of even greater lightness.
It goes without saying that both models boast an exceptionally clean look.
What I really like about those two stems is that they offer 0° angles as an option. That means it mounts at a right angle to the fork steerer tube.
I personally think that the look of 0° stems are better than that of angled stems, especially for bikes that have a slanted headtubes that are often built with dirt tires, such as gravel bikes.
This is just a weird fetish of mine at this point, but I really don’t like the look of the cockpit of bikes when the stem has too much of an angle.
I can already hear people saying, “Isn’t it more fun to have an angle so you can switch up your position by tilting it up or down?”
But that’s exactly why my heart races at the boldness of this o° design, a choice that sacrifices versatility, which could be seen as a kind of safety net.
I’m not trying to say “o° is only the choice for me.” I’ll probably have a completely different opinion on other types of bikes.
Even Blue Lug, which we pride ourselves on having the world’s largest selection of 31.8mm stems currently offers only two options: the Paul BOXCAR and the THOMSON x4.
Given that this 31.8mm handlebar has remained virtually unrivaled for so long since it first gained widespread popularity, it could be described as a somewhat niche product.
If you’re the kind of person who finds that niche status strangely appealing, I definitely want you to give it a try.
