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Culprit Covert Op cockpit hides everything in stem, offers quick-adjust aero bars

culprit covert ops aero stem with hidden cable routing for road bikes
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Originally masterminded as a carbon complete handlebar, stem & aero bar system, the Culprit Covert Ops cockpit kit has been refined to completely hide your cables, wires and junction boxes with any road handlebar. And, for triathletes and time trialists, offer a widely adjustable, easily removable aero extension setup to reduce packing and travel headaches.

culprit covert ops aero stem with hidden cable routing for road bikes

The Covert Op aero stem starts with a more aerodynamic nose cone and very flat shape. It further reduces frontal area and drag by sending the cables or wires directly from the bar into the stem. A removable cover lets you easily route everything, and hide/access a Di2 or EPS junction box. Because it’s designed to work with any frame and handlebar, it has to send the cables somewhere, so there’s an exit port off the back, just above the steerer cap. Depending on your particular frame’s cable stop placement, your results may vary, but for electronically shifted bikes, it should keep a lot of things out of the wind.

Small holes provide either side or top access to the Di2 junction box function button, so no need to remove the cover to adjust it, but you will to charge it.

culprit covert ops aero stem with hidden cable routing for road bikes

Another feature is the built-in cable stop, which eliminates any hanger needed for center-pull aero brakes (commonly found on triathlon bikes). All that’s seen is the brake cable, minimizing clutter and drag.

Specs include 31.8 bar clamp diameter, 1.25″ steerer diameter with included 1.125″ adapter shim (so it’ll fit Giant and other oversized steerer tubes as well as regular), 90/100/110/120mm lengths, forged & CNC’d 6061 T6 alloy body with a composite cover, and claimed weight around 340-370g. Retail will be $110, but they’re offering it on IndieGoGo for $60 (campaign video at bottom of post).

Available separately is their easy on/easy off aero bar attachment system. The extensions have a massive range of adjustability, going from flat up to 80mm stack, and almost 120cm max reach from the pads. Add in width adjustments and you have 1,632 claimed combinations…more if you consider the four different stem lengths.

What sets the design apart is the bar clamp mounts, which you install once and leave on the bike. Then bolt the extensions to those when you want them, and easily remove each side with a single bolt when you don’t. Adjustments are also easy, with laser etched marks showing the angles, and similar marks showing the lengths on the extensions.

These will come in alloy (365mm length, 630-660g) and carbon (384mmlength, 620-650g). Retail is set at $110, with early bird deals of $90.

Last up in the program is their saddle bag tool kit with a complete socket set (2/2.5/3/4/5/6/8/T10/T15/T25/Slot 2/PH 2) and mini socket wrench, mini torque wrench, patch kit, chain breaker with spoke tool, tire levers, Co2 chuck, and internal organization for two CO2 cartridges (not included). There’s also room for a standard tube inside, and it’ll allow for a small pump to slide in and hold in place when strapped to the saddle. It comes altogether for $100, or $65 during the crowdfunding campaign.

Check out the campaign to get yours.

CulpritBicycles.com

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11 Comments
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A
A
6 years ago

Looks great!!!! I’m in!

Simon David Burt (@SimonDBurt)

Though because the top half is not structural it would not be permissable on the UCI circuit as it would be considered a Cowling. Have a look at the USE R1 stem, that was designed to have the mk1 DI2 box intergrated.

Joshua Colp
Joshua Colp
6 years ago

Yes and no. I am aware of that law but that would make the following bikes illegal if uci followed that law strictly. New bmc road machine has plastic cover under stem hiding cables,new giant propel disc stem and aeeo spacers, trek madone brake flaps.. Trek domane cover over iso speed.etc.

Mike
Mike
6 years ago

I saw one of those Ventum frames being built up at my local shop. It was almost enough to inspire me to do triathlons. Those frames look amazing.

Marc Smith
Marc Smith
6 years ago

The only problem here is poor understanding of positionning from to TT. We dont really care how aero you will be until we put a human body in that position. To think that you can take a 110 mm stem road bike and keep a 110mm stem to a tri bar is basically throwing everything away. So unless you offer a much shorter stem, rider will be stretched out and have poor power output in upper legs and open shoulders, the number one surface in the way.

Joshua Colp
Joshua Colp
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc Smith

Marc 90-120 range in stems. What size do you need?

TruckNutZ
TruckNutZ
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc Smith

The stem does not need to dictate stack & reach in tri/tt positioning. The aerobar adjustment is now dictating that. Most top end Tri/TT bikes have fixed or very limited stem adjustment for that reason. I suspect you are looking at fit mechanics incorrectly, or in a dated fashion.

Joshua Colp
Joshua Colp
6 years ago
Reply to  TruckNutZ

Have you looked at the campaign page? Clip on and stem fit combos are almost 10,000. go look at comparison charts comparing design to others. Im a triathlete and cyclist myself. I think there is need for more stem sizes in tri because it affects base bar position. Not only your stack,reach.

Marc Smith
Marc Smith
6 years ago
Reply to  TruckNutZ

The stem does not need to dictate stack & reach in tri/tt positioning. The aerobar adjustment is now dictating that.

I am sorry but I don’t think this statement makes your product any different than any clip bars on the market. At least I can plug in a zero stem and use the full UCI allocated measurement and be above stearing/wheel for proper handling. If the goal of your stem is to create a cable house as opposed to position the body properly, then you also missed the point.Looks good but will feel so so.

You go ahead and google any UCI pro tour TT machine and the integrated cockpit is almost at zero and that is with a reduce top geometry and TT saddle, shorten nose. There is a reason for that… which apparently is not a 90 mm reason which could easily be manufactured. Ask any poor child without a TT what he`she does with a proper clip on set up, and its reducing the stem, not lining up like a plank on their bike. I am fairly versed in positioning thank you and if you had shorter stem, you would sell them more.

therealgreenplease
6 years ago
Reply to  Marc Smith

With a 90mm stem it’s pretty easy to achieve an effective stem of ~60mm by shifting the pads rearward (depending on the pad). If you need a shorter effective stem than that, you need a smaller frame.

Muchachos
Muchachos
6 years ago

Covert Op? Did these guys hire the producers of Die Hard for a marketing team?

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