Upright handlebar and stem - how to?

Jack Kessler · Jun 14, 2003

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Is there any reasonable way to set up a modern touring bike like a Trek = 520 with a long stem
and upright handlebars? Sheldon has something = called a stem extender but it seems lame to have
to put an extender or = even two to be able to ride sitting upright. With the old threaded =
forks one could get a 16" or 20" long quill, usually from Sugino or = Sakae, but those aren't
available anymore.

Any ideas or suggestions?

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Is there any reasonable way to set up a = modern=20 touring bike
like a Trek 520 with a long stem and upright = handlebars? =20 Sheldon has something
called a stem extender but it seems lame to have = to put an=20 extender or even two to be able
to ride sitting upright. With the=20 old threaded forks one could get a 16" or
20" long quill, = usually from=20 Sugino or Sakae, but those aren't available
anymore.</FONT></DIV>
<DV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV>
<DVI><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Any ideas or=20 suggestions?</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Rob Myhre · Jun 15, 2003

I own a Trek 520 and faced the same problem. I tried a stem with a 40 degree rise to get the
handlebars higher (level with the saddle is where I like it) but even that wasn't enough. I end up
up buying a stem extender. It looks like the kludge that it is, but it works.

I really think a touring bike should have a geometry that easily allows the handlebars to be level
with seat. And threadless headsets are step backwards in bike technology.

Jack Kessler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]... Is there any reasonable way to set
up a modern touring bike like a Trek 520 with a long stem and upright handlebars? Sheldon has
something called a stem extender but it seems lame to have to put an extender or even two to be able
to ride sitting upright. With the old threaded forks one could get a 16" or 20" long quill, usually
from Sugino or Sakae, but those aren't available anymore.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Ronald · Jun 15, 2003

You could increase the length of your forktube with the BBB Extender:
http://www.bbbparts.com/products/bike_parts/headset_parts/extender.html

Used it this week for a friend who needed his handlebars 5 cm higher, works great. Max extension is
85mm. BBB also had some very steep stems, other possibility is a Look Ergo stem but very expensive.

"Jack Kessler" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]... Is there any reasonable way to set
up a modern touring bike like a Trek 520 with a long stem and upright handlebars? Sheldon has
something called a stem extender but it seems lame to have to put an extender or even two to be able
to ride sitting upright. With the old threaded forks one could get a 16" or 20" long quill, usually
from Sugino or Sakae, but those aren't available anymore.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Jamie · Jun 15, 2003

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Go to your local BMX dealer and check out there 4/6/8" riser bars a = friend is using one for down
hilling and a short stem .And doesn't look = that bad at all.Just a thought.

--=20
J/O Trailblazer At large !! ------=_NextPart_000_0052_01C33389.9C27DC60 Content-Type: text/html;
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6.00.2800.1170" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#b8b8b8>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2>Go to your local BMX dealer and check out there =
4/6/8" riser=20 bars a friend is using one for down hilling and a short stem .And = doesn't look=20
that bad at all.Just a thought.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D2><BR>-- <BR>J/O Trailblazer At large=20
!!</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Bfd · Jun 16, 2003

"Jack Kessler" <California [email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> Is there any reasonable way to set up a modern touring bike like a Trek 520 with a long stem and
> upright handlebars? Sheldon has something called a stem extender but it seems lame to have to put
> an extender or even two to be able to ride sitting upright. With the old threaded forks one could
> get a 16" or 20" long quill, usually from Sugino or Sakae, but those aren't available anymore.
>
> Any ideas or suggestions?
>
Rivendell can set you up. Need a long quill stem, Riv sells a variety of stems incluiding the Nitto
technomic and various shape handlebars to get you bars up here:

http://www.rivbike.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/

Ken · Jun 16, 2003

> Is there any reasonable way to set up a modern touring bike like a Trek 520 with a long stem and
> upright handlebars?

Why not get a hybrid? Hybrids are essentially touring bikes with upright handlebars. They come in
all price/quality levels.

Rick Warner · Jun 16, 2003

"Rob Myhre" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...

> I really think a touring bike should have a geometry that easily allows the handlebars to be level
> with seat. And threadless headsets are step backwards in bike technology.

You have two things here that are only partially related. Yes, a touring bike, or an 'all-around
bike', e.g., the Rivendell Atlantis, really should have a geometry that allows for the bars to me
high. I fully agree with that.

There is no real problem with threadless headsets per se; the problem is that a bike with a
threadless headset takes away one easy way for folks to hack a fix for a geometry where the top of
the head tube is too low, the long quill solution. The problem with the 520 as it sold is that in
each size the top of the head tube is only about correct *if* you are at the low end of the body
size that fits that frame. It is exacerbated by the fact that the steerers are cut and a stem
installed again on the low end of body fit for that size frame. They could do a better job *if* they
left the steerer un-cut and let the LBS cut the steerer to fit the rider.

There is one big advantage to having a threadless h/s on a touring bike. In the case where I need to
adjust the h/s on the road, I can do it with just a set of hex wrenches. With a threaded h/s you
need to carry the two mongo box wrenches. Granted you hope a loose h/s on the road is rare, but
easier to be prepared for this issue if you have threadless.

- rick warner

Jasper Janssen · Jun 17, 2003

On 16 Jun 2003 15:59:23 -0700, [email protected] (Rick Warner) wrote:

>There is one big advantage to having a threadless h/s on a touring bike. In the case where I need
>to adjust the h/s on the road, I can do it with just a set of hex wrenches. With a threaded h/s you
>need to carry the two mongo box wrenches. Granted you hope a loose h/s on the road is rare, but
>easier to be prepared for this issue if you have threadless.

Personally, I've found that a regular headset will keep fine for at least an hour or two when you
adjust by hand and tighten the locknut. Just occasionally stop and check, and you'll get home and/or
to a bike shop who'll loan you their wrench.

Jasper

Peter Cole · Jun 18, 2003

"Rick Warner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> There is no real problem with threadless headsets per se; the problem is
that
> a bike with a threadless headset takes away one easy way for folks to hack a fix for a geometry
> where the top of the head tube is too low, the long quill solution.

You can get steerer tube extenders and make threadless setups just as tall.

> There is one big advantage to having a threadless h/s on a touring bike. In the case where I need
> to adjust the h/s on the road, I can do it with just a set of hex wrenches.

The big advantage to threadless is that it prevents the common problem of stems corroding in place.

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Upright handlebar and stem - how to?

Jack Kessler

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Rob Myhre

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Jamie

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Bfd

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Peter Cole

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