Design: Larry Koo, Chuck Teixeria
Project lead: Larry Koo
The goal set for the EC90 carbon fiber stem and seat post was to establish the benchmark for the lightest competitive cycling components in the world. They were designed to withstand years of rigorous abuse on racecourses like Paris-Roubaix. In fact, the EC90 class components were so strong that they held up just fine to cyclocross and XC mountain bike racing.
The stem came in multiple lengths to fit various body sizes. For the 100-millimeter version, the weight was reduced to just 115 grams. The technology used to achieve such an impressive aspect ratio was called TaperWall™ technology. The inner side of the carbon fiber sidewall smoothed out the old stepped-style tapers with seamless, fluid changes in thickness. By doing this, many of the stress points typical of the older design were negated, thereby making a much more durable bar at the same weight, if not a touch lighter. All metal alloy hardware was made of titanium to further optimize weight reduction. Last but not least, the aluminum faceplate was designed with Easton’s proprietary Top-Lock™ feature to maximize the handlebar/stem interface, which gave the rider grip stability.
The Easton EC category represented the top of the line in cycling component ranges. It established a distinct, iconic design language to influence the rest of the component products. The overall body of the carbon stem was crafted to be sleek yet masculine. Starting from the front of the stem, the raised details on the carbon body, where it housed the screw bosses, blended seamlessly from the aluminum faceplate into the carbon body. The scallop recess on each sidewall was designed not only for cosmetic reasons. It helped to increase the side profile's structural integrity to withstand the tensile strength applied from twisting movements. The overall design of the stem had to be scalable to adopt 6 different length sizes ranging from 90mm to 130mm. It was crucial to maintain a consistent look and feel throughout the range.