Modern stems

[Vegan1]

Quill stems are for the ancient, those that still ride their bike with leather shoes, that pack all their kit in a Carridice bag, whose bike has CTC stickers all over it and where the stand out piece is a fold out safety reflector hanging proudly from the seat stay.

I farking hate them, slammed stems all the way.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Agree, but if you have a threaded headset then one of those pressed steel bike spanners that used to be ubiquitous in the 70s would be good to have in your kit. They weigh next to nothing.

But don't you need two spanners to adjust the threaded headset? I use a couple of plumbers compression fitting spanners (£2-ish each) from Toolstation, which I discovered were just the right size for the headset on my Peugeot. Still heavy to carry around with you though.

 

[Blue Hills]

Agree, but if you have a threaded headset then one of those little pressed steel bike spanners that used to be ubiquitous in the 70s would be good to have in your kit. They weigh next to nothing.

Do you have a link for one?

I have 3 tourers, the cheapest is in some ways my favourite and has a quill but the thought of having to possibly (only possibly possibly as I generally never touch it) fiddle with it on a longer tour does bother me.

Aren't you also going to need a big heavy adjustable spanner though?

 

[raleighnut]

Quill stems are for the ancient, those that still ride their bike with leather shoes, that pack all their kit in a Carridice bag, whose bike has CTC stickers all over it and where the stand out piece is a fold out safety reflector hanging proudly from the seat stay.

I farking hate them, slammed stems all the way.

You forgot Leather Saddles, mind this one is probably older than you are.

 

[Vegan1]

Not bad, although your frame could with a re-spray.

 

[raleighnut]

Not bad, although your frame could with a re-spray.

Not doing bad for a 35yr old paintjob though, the Brooks is from the late sixties though (it's a B5n) a gift from John at my LBS.

 

[si_c]

Not doing bad for a 35yr old paintjob though, the Brooks is from the late sixties though (it's a B5n) a gift from John at my LBS.

Paint is fine. Needs the bar tape rewrapping though. Good bit of shellac would look nice too.

 

[mjr]

But don't you need two spanners to adjust the threaded headset?

It depends. I think I've one that needs two spanners, one that uses a regular spanner and a C spanner, and one that has a knurled cone under a tabbed washer so only needs one spanner.

 

[raleighnut]

Paint is fine. Needs the bar tape rewrapping though. Good bit of shellac would look nice too.

I keep meaning to get round to re-wrapping the bars, I've had the tape for about 18 months. Not keen on 'shellacing' the tape though, tried it once and found I preferred the grip with bare 'Tressorex' but then I never really hold onto the handlebars (old school hands 'on the bends' with my thumbs facing forward, hence the wear pattern)

 

[si_c]

I keep meaning to get round to re-wrapping the bars, I've had the tape for about 18 months. Not keen on 'shellacing' the tape though, tried it once and found I preferred the grip with bare 'Tressorex' but then I never really hold onto the handlebars (old school hands 'on the bends' with my thumbs facing forward, hence the wear pattern)

I'm the same, love the look of shellac though, especially when you have the patchwork type bar tape wrapping with two colours.

 

[davidphilips]

Quill stems are for the ancient, those that still ride their bike with leather shoes, that pack all their kit in a Carridice bag, whose bike has CTC stickers all over it and where the stand out piece is a fold out safety reflector hanging proudly from the seat stay.

I farking hate them, slammed stems all the way.

Your choice, my own view is its great to see other cyclists if they are in groups clubs solo vintage new or unusual, far rather see a tandem, recumbent or mtb than a car, plus get talking to these cyclists and you may find out that they have more than one bike never know you may get hooked and find yourself on an older bike?
Have a look at this from utube.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZbVsrYPOGE

 

[Blue Hills]

Thanks for the vid. Will watch in full later. Am still shocked to hear 88 referred to as the retro era. Two of my 97 ridgebacks are also called retro.

 

[Blue Hills]

This is the sort of thing I had in mind. They are probably showing up on Antiques Roadshow these days.
View attachment 355836
If you have a tabbed washer between the locknut and the ball race as @mjr says above then that's all you need. I think. I generally don't worry about headset bearings mid ride though.

As an aside I carry an adjustabe spanner with me in my toolkit, just because it might come in useful. It's fairly heavy, but so am I.

Ah thanks.

Thanks - Wasn't aware that those things sorted headsets - I was thinking of those god awful dumbell things which, amazingly, you still see on sale. Will search for one - available on ebay I assume - if some kind soul has a link feel free to post. May take encouragement from you and contemplate carrying an adjustable spanner - mine is Bahco and you need a big/wide one for this job so yes very heavy. Suppose in these dangerous times might double as a handy weapon if kept handy. May pop off to a field to practice tomahawk throwing it.

edit - if you have a pic/link of your adjustable spanner, would be interested - maybe your travel one is a fair bit lighter than my quality toolbox one. Trouble with having it on tour is of course that it has no other use other than the possible weapon one.

 

[raleighnut]

This is the sort of thing I had in mind. They are probably showing up on Antiques Roadshow these days.
View attachment 355836
If you have a tabbed washer between the locknut and the ball race as @mjr says above then that's all you need. I think. I generally don't worry about headset bearings mid ride though.

As an aside I carry an adjustabe spanner with me in my toolkit, just because it might come in useful. It's fairly heavy, but so am I.

Even better were the serrated lockwasher onto the matching bearing cup and top nut. you could run those finger tight and they wouldn't move.

 

[Blue Hills]

Even better were the serrated lockwasher onto the matching bearing cup and top nut. you could run those finger tight and they wouldn't move.


View attachment 355837

where would I get such a thing taleighnut?