Ritchey calls their handlebar clamp the C220, and the WCS Trail Stem is the model that proved the design. It was the brand's first stem specifically designed for 5-6" travel trail bikes using wide bars, and Ritchey revised the patented C260 clamp into a 220° version that fits a wider variety of riser bar bends . The math is straightforward — wrapping more material around the bar spreads clamping force across a bigger contact area, which lets the faceplate and stem body run lighter without giving up stiffness or strength.

The body is forged from 2014 aluminum with a zero rise, a 45mm stack height, and a 40mm faceplate width, built for a 1-1/8" steerer. The 31.8mm bar clamp is the version you want if you're running standard-diameter risers rather than the newer 35mm format. A 4-bolt face plate handles clamping force distribution, and the handlebar clamp bolts are routed from the front on 45, 60, and 70mm lengths, then switch to rear-facing on the 80, 90, 100, and 110mm lengths — worth knowing before you start an install so you're not fishing around for hex keys from the wrong direction.

The Blatte finish is Ritchey's matte black anodize, and it pairs cleanly with most cockpit setups without trying to be the loudest thing on your bar. This is the stem to grab if you're running 31.8mm riser bars on a trail or all-mountain build and want something that's been in the Ritchey catalog long enough to have its bugs sorted out. The 220° clamp design has carried over into the rest of the WCS lineup since this stem launched, which says something about whether the engineering held up.... Read More