Stiffest Stem-Handlebar Combination?

toddio said:

Cheers,
riding a Columbus-MAX-Road-Frame, I'm looking for a stiff stem/
handlebar-combination. It has a 1-Inch, threaded steering tube, so i
won't be able to use an ahead-Stem. So far, i've been using a Syntace
Force88 stem and a Modolo 8x tenos (or so) Handlebar - which flex
considerably under load. Is the 3ttt pro chrome stem (welded from
columbus thron-tubing) any stiffer, what handlebar should i use? Any
suggestions. I will not be able to use trackie parts, as i am a little
impaired in my back.
Thanks a lot, Thorsten from Hamburg, Germany.

I don't "know" the 3ttt Pro Chrome stem. I use 3ttt Mutant stems, both
quill and no-thread styles. Seem to be acceptably stiff, have a
detachable faceplate, 26.0 diameter. Out of production but still
around at least in the USA, NOS on ebay for example <g>.

Use a "threaded to threadless" adapter, and you can use a threadless-
style stem just fine. Which will let you choose a stem with positive
rise, also, if that would help with your back situation.

I've seen a Nitto adapter that had a real nice look to it, as you'd
expect from Nitto I guess. Cheaper units are available.

Bars? You probably need to start with shape you want, ergo or "Merckx"
or whatever, and go from there. Something from the heavier end of the
weight choices would seem more likely to have the stiffness you want.
--D-y

toddio said:

It has a 1-Inch, threaded steering tube, so i
won't be able to use an ahead-Stem.

Why not? Depends on whether you can find a part like this:

<http://tinyurl.com/43gp97>

toddio said:

Cheers,
riding a Columbus-MAX-Road-Frame, I'm looking for a stiff stem/
handlebar-combination. It has a 1-Inch, threaded steering tube, so i
won't be able to use an ahead-Stem. So far, i've been using a Syntace
Force88 stem and a Modolo 8x tenos (or so) Handlebar - which flex
considerably under load. Is the 3ttt pro chrome stem (welded from
columbus thron-tubing) any stiffer, what handlebar should i use? Any
suggestions. I will not be able to use trackie parts, as i am a little
impaired in my back.
Thanks a lot, Thorsten from Hamburg, Germany.

The Nitto lugged steel stem looks exceptionally stout and has a very
tall quill:

http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/handlebars_stems_and_tape#product=16-088

It sure isn't cheap, though: $200. Or about three euro, these days. 🙂

Hank said:

toddio said:

Cheers,
riding a Columbus-MAX-Road-Frame, I'm looking for a stiff stem/
handlebar-combination. It has a 1-Inch, threaded steering tube, so i
won't be able to use an ahead-Stem. So far, i've been using a Syntace
Force88 stem and a Modolo 8x tenos (or so) Handlebar - which flex
considerably under load. Is the 3ttt pro chrome stem (welded from
columbus thron-tubing) any stiffer, what handlebar should i use? Any
suggestions. I will not be able to use trackie parts, as i am a little
impaired in my back.
Thanks a lot, Thorsten from Hamburg, Germany.

The Nitto lugged steel stem looks exceptionally stout and has a very
tall quill:

http://www.rivbike.com/products/list/handlebars_stems_and_tape#product=16-088

It sure isn't cheap, though: $200. Or about three euro, these days. 🙂

Yes, but it's "hand brazed by a 42 year old Japanese woman"! Hard to put
a price on that...

toddio said:

Cheers,
riding a Columbus-MAX-Road-Frame, I'm looking for a stiff stem/
handlebar-combination. It has a 1-Inch, threaded steering tube, so i
won't be able to use an ahead-Stem. So far, i've been using a Syntace
Force88 stem and a Modolo 8x tenos (or so) Handlebar - which flex
considerably under load. Is the 3ttt pro chrome stem (welded from
columbus thron-tubing) any stiffer, what handlebar should i use? Any
suggestions. I will not be able to use trackie parts, as i am a little
impaired in my back.
Thanks a lot, Thorsten from Hamburg, Germany.

If it were me, like the other poster said, I'd get a quill -
threadless stem adapter. There are several options, many on line
sources. Then you could easily change your stem for length, rise,
stiffness, etc. and you could enter the world of "oversize" (31.8 or
31.7 mm) handlebars, which supposedly tend to be stiffer.

On the other hand, some of the quills look awfully nice. One that
really catches my eye is the Cinelli Frog - which has a removable
faceplate and looks cool (IMHO, of course). It looks pretty
substantial, and I'll bet you could get an opinion on stiffness on
www.bikeforums.net, or www.roadbikereview.com.

Good luck!