trek blendr stem accessories

Bontrager RSL Blendr Stem review

No clutter on the handlebars and perfectly centred accessories sounds great, but does it work.

Cyclingnews Verdict

An excellent option if your needs line up. Double check though, because making changes takes a bit of time and it’s not as universal as the concept sounds. The strongest pull for this design is going to come from those who have a desire to stick with Trek products for a matching look.

Light, stiff, carbon stem

Price of the stem includes mounting pieces

Plenty of stiffness even over rough gravel roads

Captured screws make for easier installation

Making configuration changes requires removal of handlebars

No Wahoo adapter included or available from Bontrager

Included mount places the computer too high

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Modern cycling often means accessories on the handlebars. Mounting those accessories is a challenge that has given rise to a wide breadth of manufacturers with innovative solutions. Brands such as K-Edge and Bar Fly have filled a need and created mounts that handle everything you could need. What those solutions tend to have in common is that they are an add-on. 

If you are looking to upgrade to something from our list of the best road handlebars you might be replacing your stem anyway. Why not choose a stem with an integrated mounting solution? It could clean up the front of the bike and keep your accessories mounted to the exact centre of the bike. If you are picky about how your bike looks there's a certain draw but it has to work. With that in mind, we spent time with the Bontrager RSL Blendr stem understanding how it works and what it does best. If you like the sound of simplifying the front of your bike, keep reading to see our thoughts on the Bontrager take on a solution. 

Design and aesthetics

Let's be honest here, you could use an alloy stem and get similar performance for a lot less money. Bontrager itself offers the Pro Blendr stem with the same features for less than half the price. The RSL Blendr stem does win on weight, saving 13 grams with a weight of 120 grams for a 100mm stem, but that's an awful small difference for the price. There is also some additional stiffness and better vibration reduction possible with carbon but that's not why it makes sense for some people.

In most situations, this is an emotional purchase. It's all about matching the style and looking great on your bike. That's okay, those are important considerations also. Your bike is a collection of design choices that lead to high performance and there are certain pieces that make sense to keep matching. A stem is one of those pieces and the Bontrager RSL Blendr stem is a choice you won't regret making. 

Staring at your stem while making your way up yet another climb is sure to bring a bit of joy when it looks this good. The shapes are smooth and organic with elegant curves and valleys. The finish is a matte black that somehow manages to ward off fingerprints that are common to finishes of this style. It's not completely impervious but it's not a magnet either. From the top, these are the features you will spend time staring at.  

Off the bike, you can take in the other details. Sitting in contrast to the matte black is glossy, bronze, metallic text. On either side is a large RSL wordmark while the underside displays the text "Race Shop Limited." The text on the sides reads in the same direction so keep that in mind if you are considering switching the direction of the 7-degree angle. On the other hand, if you were to swap it, you'd have the pleasure of regularly seeing the elegant typesetting of the otherwise hidden "Race Shop Limited" text. 

At the front of the stem are the pieces that make everything the Blendr integration work. Instead of a connected faceplate the RSL stem holds the bars with a pair of bands. That leaves the centre section free for either a single, or double, Blendr mount. What you can't see is that moulded into the carbon at the top and bottom is a small space where tabs on the nylon mount fit into the stem. You'll need to remove the bars to fit the mounts but once in place they are flush and completely secure. 

Performance

The first thing you'll need to deal with is setting up the Bontrager RSL Blendr stem in a way that makes sense for you. You can run it with no mounts installed and no one would think something is missing. That's not really the point though so you'll want to think about what makes sense. 

It is actually possible to snap the Blendr mounts onto the bars without removing them. You can't fit the tabs into the pockets that secure them though and the mounts aren't secure like this. That means if you want to make a configuration change you've got to remove the bars. Not a huge deal but it will mean getting out your torque wrench and getting the angle of the bars just right again. 

This is further complicated by the fact that you have to choose between a double and single base mount. In the box you only get the mono base but if you'd like to mount two accessories, you'll need the duo base. That means if you want both a light and a computer at the same time, or a computer and a camera is another possibility, then you'll need to make another purchase.

Once you've made a choice of base everything from that point bolts on without much trouble. You'll have a Garmin high mount and an ion mount on hand without any extra purchases. There are some details about those pieces though. The Ion mount is too short to work with the Ion Pro RT so expect to use that with the Ion 200 RT. Meanwhile, the Garmin mount will put the computer up above the bars and there is no Wahoo mount available. If you want to keep the computer in front of the bars you can flip the base so the mount is lower but that only works for a single accessory and won't fit a 1030 series Garmin. If you want to run Wahoo you'll want to either pick up the Garmin mount adapter from them or look for a third-party Blendr mount. 

For most people this dance of figuring out how to make things work isn't going to be an ongoing problem. It's rare to switch computers and if you think through how things are going to fit before torquing down the bars you'll find something that works. It does pose a problem for occasional use of a light though. You'd need the Duo base to run a light but many people only sometimes run a light. In that scenario adding a light would require removing the handlebars or leaving the Duo installed and ruining the clean look you were after. 

Assuming you find the setup that works for your needs though, it does work. The first ride I took it on took me on a 27-mile road ride before getting to the gravel. The road offers the possibility of small but high frequency vibration. Although the larger tyres I was running certainly helped, there was no issue with a vibrating computer. As I took to the gravel trail things remained steady but that wasn't the real test. 

The real test was not expected. The gravel loop was 44 miles and a good portion of that was relatively smooth. That was all expected but as I climbed, I eventually turned off onto a logging road. I continued to climb and this is when the weather changed. When it began to snow I was under dressed and things got scary for a little while. For the next thirteen miles I descended on rough logging roads as quickly as I could. 

There was no careful picking of lines. Instead, crashing through big cuts and holes in the road was how things went. My dexterity was low and I wasn't thinking clearly plus I was moving faster than I should have been. More than once I wondered if I'd damaged a wheel but through it all my computer was rock solid. It never drooped and certainly never fell. If the Blendr mount survived that, it'll survive anything. 

The way that Bontrager implements its mount isn't the best solution. The Enve carbon stem is a product with a similar concept but it uses a single mount and connects it to an aluminium K-edge computer mount. The K-edge mount means the computer is down low, there's tons of adapters available, and there's a GoPro mount underneath for lights or cameras. You don't have to remove the bars if you don't want to run a light and also keep everything looking clean and tidy. 

That consideration might be a secondary thought though. A carbon stem is already an emotional purchase and the Bontrager RSL stem is beautiful. If you'd like to stick with Bontrager to match your bike, or your handlebars, then you aren't losing out. It just might mean you have to work a little harder to find the configuration that works for you. 

Tech Specs: Bontrager RSL Blendr Stem

• Price: £239.99 / $288.99 / €289.99 / AU$399.99
• Rise: 7 deg
• Available Length: 70mm-140mm
• Weight: 120g for 100mm length

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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. Height: 5'9" Weight: 140 lb. Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx

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• RCS Pro Blendr Stem

Trek RCS Pro Blendr Stem

A lightweight alloy stem with a flush mount top cap and seamless cable routing offer a fully integrated and elegant aesthetic. Integrated elegance The RCS Pro Blendr Stem is a sleek alloy stem offering all of the performance you crave, with looks to match. Specifically designed for use with model year 2023 Domane SL, SLR, and RSL bikes, this stem fits seamlessly with the headset top cap to provide ultimate integrated elegance. A flush mount top cap, under-stem cable routing cover, and Blendr compatibility further add beauty and sophistication. Product details - Lightweight 7075 alloy construction - High-quality M5 corrosion-resistant face plate bolts with 5.2Nm torque spec - Cable routing cover keeps up to six cables and wires tidy under stem - Included Blendr Duo Base makes it easy to integrate accessories - Blendr accessory mounts sold separately - Compatible with model year 2023 Domane SL, SLR, RSL bikes

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Review: Bontrager Pro Blendr 7 Degree Stem

Stems can do more for your bike than you think. As an essential part of you bike’s cockpit, the stem serves as a primary part of your overall bike fit and can often do even more than that. The new Bontrager Pro Blendr stem is a great example of a stem that can do more.

Bontrager Pro Blendr 7 Degree Stem Features:

• Pro-level quality 31.8mm clamp diameter stem weighs less than many carbon stems
• 4-bolt dual band clamp securely holds handlebar
• Uses high-quality M5 corrosion-resistant faceplate bolts with 5.2Nm torque spec
• Integrate accessories with included Blendr Pro base and Blendr XXX accessory mounts
• Mounts intended for use with Ion and Trip, Garmin, GoPro and SRM accessories
• Approved for carbon bars and steerer tubes
• Safe installation requires 5mm spacer above and below stem
• Weight: 143g (110mm)
• MSRP: $114.99

Will it Blendr? Yes it will.

The famous Blendtec blender videos show the company’s founder blending all kinds of things. While that kind of test might be fun, you’d never know just what makes Bontrager’s new Pro Blendr stem unique. For starters, it’s a light and stiff stem available in a nice 7-degree or 17-degree rise/drop. Unless you’re a pro, the 7-degree is the ticket and what I’ve been riding aboard the new Trek Domane SLR Disc.

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again — stem length is a critical factor in proper bike fit, but remember that it works in concert with the reach and drop of your handlebars. I vary between 110 and 120mm stem lengths based on the frame measurements and bar reach. Know your measurements and if you don’t, it’s probably time to head to a bike fitter.

Aside from the proper length, stems can provide stiffness and some of them can even provide chatter reduction (like the Zipp Speed SL ). With the Pro Blendr Stem, you’re not getting chatter reduction, but you are getting a lightweight and stiff stem at a price on par with other high-quality alloy stems. The icing on the cake is the Blendr integration that enables hard mounting points for lights, computers, cameras and more. If you find yourself with limited bar space or have an aero bar, this stem will do the trick nicely.

With Blendr, your accessories will be out front and centered on your bike. This is great for lights, like the Bontrager Ion 100 R but will also work with Trip, Garmin, GoPro and SRM accessories. There are two options — single or double Blendr. Going double is awesome because you can mount your Garmin with a light underneath, but if your bars have cable grooves on the frontside of the tops (like the Bontrager IsoCore VR-CF), the double mount might not work so well. I tried it but my cables were bent awkwardly, so I just stuck with the single mount and used it primarily for the Bontrager Ion 100 R light.

I found myself wishing that the Blendr base could be installed without disassembling the stem, but, as I learned, that’s necessary to ensure a solid mounting point. There are stepped grooves that keep the mount in place on both the top and bottom of the stem clamp. It’s easy to get the top in place and not the bottom, so make sure and pinch the mount in place and hold it there until the bar is snug, then make fine-tune adjustments. Interchangeable mounts can then be swapped as needed. I put them in place just snug enough to stay steady, but loose enough to make small adjustments.

Something else worth mentioning is that center marks may no longer be visible with the base installed and you get separate front faceplate clamps instead of a unified design. Because of that, installation can be a bit of a cluster, but have patience and it all works out just fine. Don’t forget carbon paste and a trusty torque wrench (I use the Park Adjustable Torque Wrench ).

All-in-all, the Blendr Pro base is nice to have and adds to the flexibility of the Pro Blendr Stem, but the stem itself is also quite nice. It has a nice, clean look and can be set up as plus 7 or minus 7 degrees, as needed.  Alternatively, there is a 17-degree model should you like to get extra low. Lateral stiffness is solid and this stem works as advertised. The 143g. weight is respectable and within range of the competition.

• Blendr integration is great for lights, computers, etc.
• Great stiffness and respectable overall weight
• 7-degree rise/drop is good for most of us
• Mono or Duo Blendr mounts available
• Excellent clamping reliability
• Frees up real estate on bars
• Duo Blendr base may interfere with cables
• Blendr base can be tricky to install

The Bottom Line: Bontrager Blendr Pro Stem

When looking at a lightweight stem for your ride, Bontrager has taken things up a notch with Blendr integration. I’ve loved it for mounting lights, but did have trouble getting the Duo base mount to work with my existing cable routing. A little planning ahead will likely ensure the double mount will work for you.

Buy Now: Visit Bontrager.com or Your Local Trek Dealer

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A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. With extreme attention to detail, he has been a technical product manager for top 10 web properties, eCommerce businesses and SaaS companies for 20+ years. The combination of outdoor experience and technical savvy gives him a unique perspective that is channeled into every gear review. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground. He rigorously tests every product and usually uses them beyond their intended purpose -- just for the sake of testing. (Note: Jason receives sample products in exchange for authentic reviews. He is not paid, nor influenced to share anything other than his honest opinions.)

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Trek RCS Pro Stem Blendr Duo Base

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Clean up your RCS Pro Stem and bar with Blendr bases.

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Blendr add-on to Handlebar/Stem

Interface solution between RCS Pro Stem and Blendr accessory mounts.

• Blendr works with this simple formula: Stem + Base + Mount. Add accessory
• Add any accessory mount (sold separately) for an elegant, integrated look
• Torque for base bolt is 2Nm and accessory mount bolt is 3Nm

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Declutter your handlebars and make your bike look even better by integrating your electronics with Blendr. Blendr lets you seamlessly mount computers, lights, and phones to your bike with ease.

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Not all Blendr bits are created equal. Click Learn more to view our compatibility chart and ensure you get the right parts for your bike.

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