An anonymous poster wrote:
>>>But you are recommending buying a product to solve a problem with another product that was
>>>created to solve a problem that did not exist... Threadless have no benefit other than weight and
>>>then not much benefit there...
I replied:
>>The same is true with threaded headsets/quill stems! Most bike shops assemble new bikes with the
>>stem all the way up to the "minimum insertion" mark. If the customer wants the bars higher, a new
>>stem or a stem extender is needed...so where's the advantage?
>
>
> but there is still and inch and a half of motion downward... just because "most bike shops" do
> things foolishly does
I don't understand what you mean by that...are you implying that shops should set bikes up with the
stems lower when they know that almost everybody wants it higher?
If so, I don't agree; I support the standard industry practice of setting the stem as high as it
will go unless the customer desires it to be lowered (which almost never happens.)
> not detract from the fact that a quill stem has more potential adjustment than an Aheadset
> style system.
Only in theory. When you consider that threadless-type stems are generally reversible, you get a
greater range of motion than might be apparent.
In practice, neither system permits the commonly desired upward adjustment without replacing parts.
It's not specifically linked to the Aheadset system, but the prevalence of two-bolt "pillow block"
stems has greatly improved the ease of substituting stems of different amounts of rise and reach.
The net result is that it's now much easier for a shop to do a good fit, since the handlebar
grips/tape and controls don't need to be removed to swap out the stem.
> I don't deny that these extenders seam like a reasonable solution to the problem they address...
> however the problem itself originates from a change in design that achieved nothing of note..
The switch to threadless has reduced costs and probably improved safety. You don't see threadless
stems raised way above the "minimum insertion" mark as is all too common with expander/wedge stems.
Sheldon "I Like 'Em, Functionally, But Still Prefer The Look Of The Classic '7'" Brown
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| ...Which two mighty powers powers have...been engaged in a most | obstinate war for six and
| thirty moons past. It began upon the | following occasion. It is allowed on all hands, that the |
| primitive way of breaking eggs before we eat them, was upon the | large end; but his present
| Majesty's grandfather, while he was a | boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to
| the | ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers. Whereupon | the Emperor his father
| published an edict, commanding all his | subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end
| of their | eggs. The people so highly resented this law, that our histories | tell us there have
| been six rebellions raised on that account; | wherein one Emperor lost his life, and another his
| crown...It is | computed, that eleven thousand persons have...suffered death, | rather than
| submit to break their eggs at the smaller end. Many | hundred large volumes have been published
| upon this controversy...| --Jonathan Swift |
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