Editor’s Choice 2020

>>> Best mountain bike stems in 2020

Race Face Turbine R 35 stem has featured here more than once, but I’m taking another look because it’s now available in nine(!) different anodised colours.

Black, blue, green, orange, purple, red, silver, turquoise and something called Kashmoney gold, which is actually a bit more copper than gold.

It’s also available in a new 32mm length rather than the 35mm, which has been discontinued. There are four other lengths available, but if you check the company website you’ll see the 60 and 70mm only come in black. The stem is compatible with a standard 1 1/8in steerer tube and comes with a 35mm bar clamp; the 31.8mm size has also been discontinued.

The surface anodising is first class, too. I’ve got a black version on my bike and it still looks good as new. The bolts have lost some of their paint but then I do change the handlebar quite often, it’s one of the curses of being a product tester.

At £90, the Turbine R 35 isn’t a cheap stem, but I reckon it’s one of the best-looking on the market. It’s also really stiff and solid for something so light and is definitely the icing on the cake if you’re putting together a custom build or just upgrading a tired old cockpit.