Cockpit. A weird phrase regarding bikes since it refers to a place where all the fighting goes on.

The last thing you want from your bike is a fight, so cockpit sounds like the wrong phrase to use for connection points designed to control and enhance the riding experience. But as bike enthusiasts we all know what is meant when we hear that phrase.

To be fair, PNW Components use that phrase too. So… let’s just go with it. Bars, grips, pedals, dropper posts have all come under PNW’s purview and now they have almost completed the set with the Loam stem. I say almost – there’s no seat post collar in the range… yet.

I’ll be honest, I’ve never tried any of PNW’s gear but equally, would be very happy to do so. Pricing appears competitive in a reassuring but not outrageous sort of way and their components appear well thought through to let them work together.

For the magpies among us, PNW branding also allows you, the ever eager consumer, to get all matchy matchy with your, er… cockpit.

Take the new Loam stem for example.

It comes in a range of colours including orange that would sit well with the colour scheme on my Pace.

I could go further; an orange stickered carbon Loam handlebar and grips and an orange accent colour on a Loam dropper. Maybe even an orange thumb pad on the Loam dropper lever.

You see? The sky is the limit or in my case – since I already have functioning components on the Pace – my wallet is the limit.

All this is to say if I was considering a new build (maybe an on trend silver build), PNW would be on my shopping list for tricking out my, ummm… cockpit.

The new PNW Loam stem

It’s good to see brands bringing new MTB gear to the party in a world of gravel-with-everything.

Available in both ‘old skool’ 31.8mm and ‘quelle moderne!’ 35mm diameters, the Loam stem is 100% meant for MTB, as evidenced by stem lengths of 32mm or 40mm only. A 50mm version is also promised.

For me, 40mm is getting into super short territory but 32mm is teeny tiny. Good for them.

Machined from 6061 alloy and finished in lustrous anodising with sharply etched logos, my orange and/or purple boxes are ticked. If I were going silver (and not just my hair), that is covered too. And of course, there’s black for JR.

Weight-wise, the 35x40mm option is a competitive 162g and the stack height is also on the low side at 38mm across all versions.

Cut aways on the 58mm wide face plate allow easy alignment of the handlebar, helped by a subtly etched centre line marker. The no gap design means you butt the top edge of the face plate against the stem body and then tighten the bottom bolts to the correct torque. Again, it all seems easy peasy.

A lifetime warranty rounds out the spec and promises years of quiet service. If a seat collar materialises – and that seems an obvious thing for PNW to do – or if you are planning a bike build, PNW could be well worth a closer look.

About the author

Matt is one of the founding Molefathers of the Muddymoles, and is the designer and main administrator of the website.

Having ridden a 2007 Orange Five for many years then a 2016 YT Industries Jeffsy 29er, he now rocks a Bird Aether 9 and a Pace RC-627.

An early On-One Inbred still lurks in the back of the stable as a reminder of how things have moved on. You can even find him on road bikes - currently a 2019 Cannondale Topstone 105 SE, a much-used 2011 Specialized Secteur and very niche belt drive Trek District 1.

If you've ever wondered how we got into mountain biking and how the MuddyMoles started, well wonder no more.