Stems

[cisamcgu]

I have always had a quill stem, but as I wander the web in search of a new bicycle, I see that most have the "ahead" type.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4893/240811026.jpg

Why ? It is much uglier, and looks heavier - what benefit does it give ?

Andrew

 

[RebornBumbler]

I'll hazard a guess that moving from a threaded steerer allowed the use of alloys and composites that couldn't be used previously.
Apart from losing the infinite range of adjustment available with a quill, I'd say it's pretty-much all beneficial, and far easier to take apart, adjust and reassemble.

 

[cosmicbike]

You can swap bars without having to strip them first as the clamp is split.

 

[fossyant]

The headset is much easier to adjust, and it's so easy to pull to bits. You can also replace bars without taking off the old tape. Yes it's much more ugly though, although I have Ritchey stems/bars which are nice, but not Cinelli XA nice (quill) !!

 

[RebornBumbler]

My threaded-steerer hybrid has a quill adaptor, so I use a normal stem on that too
I'll admit many quill stems are elegant, but elegance isn't what I'm after.

 

[Drago]

Lighter, stiffer, simpler to replace/maintain/adjust. What's not to like?

 

[SimonJKH]

Lighter, stiffer, simpler to replace/maintain/adjust. What's not to like?

Well... as the OP said, they sure don't look as nice!

 

[cisamcgu]

Some quill stems allow you to change bars without stripping them, they open at the front.

Hmm.... *ponders*

 

[cisamcgu]

OK, I order a quill stem yesterday from SJS cycles and it arrived about 15 minutes ago But ... I had carefully measured the diameter of the old stem using a digital caliper and it came to 25.3mm - so I ordered a 1" stem: now, when I look at the one that arrived it has a diameter of 22.2mm - but it claims it is a 1" stem. I am rather confused and SJS are not open until Monday so I cannot phone them and ask advice. but, as far as I know, 1" = 25.4mm - so I assumed that I wanted a 1" stem ?

So, have they sent me the wrong stem, or am I being completely daft ?

 

[arch684]

HI both my 1 inch stems on my vintage bikes measure 22.2 so I think it will fit ok.

 

[Spoked Wheels]

My brother converterd an old bike with quill stem to ahead. I quite like the solution. Height, length and angle adjustments are much easier. This is not one of those devices that you adjust the angle but two parts. What I like about it is that the choice of stems is the same as for a moderm bike.

Incidentally, I changed the length of the stem on my bike at the beginning of the year. I saw some pictures of me on the bike and made the change for a stem 1 cm longer ( I used a stem length website to base my decision) such small difference brought so many troubles lots of back and shoulder pain. Two months later I went back to the shorter stem and the problems went away after a few weeks.

This is how fitters earn their money I guess

 

[cyberknight]

I have always had a quill stem, but as I wander the web in search of a new bicycle, I see that most have the "ahead" type.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/4893/240811026.jpg

Why ? It is much uglier, and looks heavier - what benefit does it give ?

Andrew

WOW thats a lot of spacers !