Steer stopper

[ringle1968]

Hello everyone

I’m researching different kind of steer stoppers to help quickly stabilise my fully loaded Nomad when on its click-stand and keen to hear of any experiences or thoughts from fellow forum members. 

At the basic end of the scale there is a shoe lace or piece of Velcro connecting the front wheel to the frame but I was hoping for something a little more elegant.

I’ve come across the Steer Stopper https://steerstopper.com/ which looks compatible but I preferred the look and function of the Ergo Stop Plus by Tout Terrain https://tout-terrain.de/en/the-products/accessories/378/ergo-stop-plus but wasn’t sure if this could be retro-fitted to my Nomad (anyone tried?)

Grateful for any thoughts!

Cheers

[Danneaux]

I believe the Tout Terrain Ergo Stop is a specific fitment for their branded bicycles, which have lands (blocks) brazed to the tops of their head tubes, one each side. A bracket clamps to the steerer and extends downward to hit these lands and so limit the arc of the fork, sparing a headlight from crashing into the downtube while parked. (Thorn/SJS Cycles makes a clamp-on version for recent models with an extended head tube. Like the original TT fitting, it only prevents light damage and doesn't hold the fork stationary while parked).

If you look closely, the lower stainless plate of the TT Ergo Stop sits between the headset and end of the top tube and is folded over these lands at the front to prevent the baseplate from turning while the stopper is engaged. This is what makes it specific to Tout Terrain bikes.

Best,

Dan.

[hendrich]

We tour/camp with a tandem. While in the past I have used webbing/buckle to hold the front wheel (with panniers) in check, I find the steer-stopper to be a superb upgrade.  I no longer fumble for the strap and then attach to lower front wheel while balancing bike.  Instead, just stop and click. The steer-stopper replaces about 1 cm of stack on front steerer. The ball on the spring loaded pivoting arm clicks into a cradle socket mounted on the top tube. It is a nicely/well crafted piece of gear.

On the other hand, a $120 piece of gear replacing a $2 strap is somewhat extravagant. I received the steer-stopper as a gift, but after using for several years now, I would buy it. It is an elegant solution to holding the front wheel and I am all for that sort of thing when it comes to bicycles. Could that be the reason the bike also has a rohloff? 

If you add it to your bike...DO NOT FORGET TO RELEASE BEFORE RIDING! .... else you may find the bike has a mind of its own.

[Dave B]

Just checked out the steer stopper website, I am impressed. Thinking of upgrading  my Nomad II. Two questions: firstly, was yours purchased from the States via their website or another supplier; secondly, was it easy to fit? Thanks.

[hendrich]

Dave B, it was purchased from a bike shop in the States, but direct from website will work. The maker (Thomas) is a 1-man operation, send him an email, he is happy to converse. Simple to fit, replaces 10 mm of stack space under the stem, you must remove the stem to add to the stack. The split cradle/ball receptacle clamps onto the top tube with two 2.5mm(?) socket screws.

[Dave B]

Hendrich, thanks for your response. I delve further. Dave

[John Saxby]

Versatile lo-tech does it: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/home/storage/ties/65393-quick-release-rubber-ties

For front wheel/frame fixits, the 8" or 12" ones work well.  Or, you can buy a bunch of the 4" items, which cost about 25¢ each, and make a daisy chain.

I discovered these things about 15 years ago, and use them extensively in camping, cycling, canoeing, gardening, usw.  Now, I wonder how I ever managed without them.

[ringle1968]

Many thanks to all for the feedback.   John’s response has inspired a lo-tech cheap Amazon purchase for testing on an upcoming trip across the south of the UK.   I’ll report back in due course to see if lo-tech prevails.

[Rouleur834]

Voile straps, https://voilestraps.co.uk/, are excellent. Need to make sure the buckle is in a good place so they don't mark anything, but solid fixing. Restrap now do some useful straps but they are not so substantial as Voile.

[energyman]

Velcro aka  'Hook and Loop Nylon strap Cable Ties with buckle Band ' On ebay.
Also v.good as cycle clips as they don't pinch the leg. (Do touring cyclists on expensive bikes wear cycle clips ?)

[Thierry]

send him an email, he is happy to converse.

I sent him two emails, but I didn't get an answer :-(
 and on his website, you can't pay by credit card ...

[j-ms]

I travel with two front panniers and a handle bar bag and so "wheel flop" has been the bane of my life when trying to park the bicycle on its kick stand.  Last week I fitted a Hebie Steering Stabilizer which I ordered from SJS (SJS part# 33857) and it seems to have eliminated the excess wheel flop.  See the attached pictures with the stabilizer disconnected versus with it attached.  I tested with the panniers carrying about 3Kg of contents each and the handle bar bag about 2Kg.

Steering while riding isn't affected negatively but a slightly more positive force is needed to maneuver through tight spaces (eg. getting the bicycle past furniture).

The frame fitting is supposed to screw into an eyelet on the rear side of the fork crown but my Raven doesn't have one.  So I needed to use the eyelets on the underside of the crown where the mudguards are fitted and make my own frame fitting.  I simply and crudely straightened a small metal bracket and drilled holes to match the eyelets underneath the crown.  While it works fine it is quite inelegant and I might fashion a better solution in the future.

[ringle1968]

** UPDATE **

As a cheap solution to fully loaded wheel flop I bought these on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0846SCWQY/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and linked them together.

They seemed to work OK on our recent two week tour and we avoided our bikes crashing to the ground when on their click stands.  It’s not quite the elegant solution I was originally after so will continue to look out for reasonably priced alternatives.