Re: New stems vs. quills - New features ?

A Muzi <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

The main disadvantage I see is that you need a new stem
with a different angle if you want to change the height.

Even worse, many shops chop the steerer down to the minimum height
possible above the headset, so if you need to raise the bars more than
a cm or two you need to add an adapter ('stem raiser'😉 or in the worse
cases look for a new fork. Blech! Note to all shop owners and
mechanics: leave the blanking steerers long and put spacers above the
stem.

- rick

A Muzi <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Retro Bob said:

OK... having been out of the bicycle arena for about 25-30 years, I've
recently returned. I'm having trouble getting my hands around some
changes, but I'm getting there. The one that has me the most confused
is the new style stems vs. the quill design. What are the advantages
to the new design ? I can;t see an overall weight advantage, it's
not simpler, it's definitely not more elegant... ?

PS. Anyone know why there are so many stems (new style) for sale on
Ebay ? A quick check show s 850+ for sale, out pacing even (all) tire
listings by 2:1.

As Sheldon once quipped, they allow you to get your stem
lower. Just in case a rider ever walks into a bike shop
asking for that some day.

Seriously, that design permits very light materials in the
steerer you could not use with a quill.

The main disadvantage I see is that you need a new stem
with a different angle if you want to change the height.

It would seem that many of the complaints about the adjustability of
threadless would be avoided if bike manufacturers did not cut the
steerer tubes too short at the factory, which they almost always do.
Trying to make up for a too short steerer with a steeply angled stem
is a losing game. Depending on the height desired, the required stem
may not exist or is not stocked by the LBS. I may be paranoid but I
suspect the reason for this is that manufacturers know that LBSs don't
want to have to trim steerers as part of bike setup, and would prefer
to make some extra $ on an "upgraded" stem.

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Retro Bob said:

OK... having been out of the bicycle arena for about 25-30

years, I've

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

recently returned. I'm having trouble getting my hands around

some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

changes, but I'm getting there. The one that has me the most

confused

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is the new style stems vs. the quill design. What are the

advantages

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to the new design ? I can;t see an overall weight advantage,

it's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not simpler, it's definitely not more elegant... ?

PS. Anyone know why there are so many stems (new style) for

sale on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ebay ? A quick check show s 850+ for sale, out pacing even

(all) tire

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

listings by 2:1.

As Sheldon once quipped, they allow you to get your stem
lower. Just in case a rider ever walks into a bike shop
asking for that some day.

Seriously, that design permits very light materials in the
steerer you could not use with a quill.

The main disadvantage I see is that you need a new stem
with a different angle if you want to change the height.

With a +7 degree stem, for example, you can get a great amount of
adjustability by flipping it over and changing spacers. And if
you need more rise, you buy a different stem super cheap from
Nashbar and others.

I just switched a 25 year old steel bike to threadless, and
although the Fisher-Price stack-'em up headseat thing is still a
little odd to me, threadless has given me more height options
than my old quill stems.-- Jay Beattie.

(WTD) said:

Depending on the height desired, the required stem
may not exist or is not stocked by the LBS.

This is true for quill stems as well.

JT

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Jay Beattie said:

"A Muzi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Retro Bob said:

OK... having been out of the bicycle arena for about 25-30

years, I've

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

recently returned. I'm having trouble getting my hands around

some

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

changes, but I'm getting there. The one that has me the most

confused

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

is the new style stems vs. the quill design. What are the

advantages

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to the new design ? I can;t see an overall weight advantage,

it's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not simpler, it's definitely not more elegant... ?

PS. Anyone know why there are so many stems (new style) for

sale on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Ebay ? A quick check show s 850+ for sale, out pacing even

(all) tire

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

listings by 2:1.

As Sheldon once quipped, they allow you to get your stem
lower. Just in case a rider ever walks into a bike shop
asking for that some day.

Seriously, that design permits very light materials in the
steerer you could not use with a quill.

The main disadvantage I see is that you need a new stem
with a different angle if you want to change the height.

With a +7 degree stem, for example, you can get a great amount of
adjustability by flipping it over and changing spacers. And if
you need more rise, you buy a different stem super cheap from
Nashbar and others.

I just switched a 25 year old steel bike to threadless, and
although the Fisher-Price stack-'em up headseat thing is still a
little odd to me, threadless has given me more height options
than my old quill stems.-- Jay Beattie.

I expected to not notice any advantage for threadless, and in fact
there probably aren't many for me, other than being able to safely use
a lighter steerer tube.

But suprisingly, I find adjusting the bar height in some ways more
convenient than with a quill stem. I ride with two positions -- one
in general and a second one for time trials, and for switch it's nice
to be able to adjust the stem height with no measurement -- I just
move some spacers from below the stem to above and vice versa. I
guess it's slower than with a quill stem, but it only requires an
allen key, as opposed to an allen key and some measuring device or
tape to mark heights.

JT

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