Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Headset help please! (w/ pic)

Alright I have an IRO Mark V complete. Looks a little something like this. Im still getting up to par with parts and everything so bear with me. I dont like how the headset hold the bars out those extra couple inches like that. I want to get track drops next but I also want to do away with that gap. So does anyone know where I would go about looking for a shorter one of those things?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/catsvszebras/iro.jpg

Honestly, I'm not super sure what you are asking.

Here's the deal: What you've circled is the stem. You have a threadless headset, and the stem attaches to the steerer tube (part of the fork) by those little bolts on the end of the stem. Stems on threadless headsets are normally between 90 and 120 mm (9-12 cm) on road bikes. You can get a threadless mountain bike stem that's much shorter, though.

Before you buy one off of eBay or Nashbar or whereever, you need to know the diameter of the steerer tube/head tube. If it's not on the spec sheet from IRO, go to your local shop, and they'll totally help you out.

not sure, but you may be able to swap out your current bars for some nitto b-123 track drops with tony, depending on how old your ride is, and whether i have any business supposing that he would do something like that.

sorry that i don't know what to tell you about the stem...i've actually been wondering myself whether or not it's possible to throw a track quill stem on a mark v, but i hate to hijack your thread, so i'll shut up now.

(is it?)

You are looking for a shorter threadless stem (http://kili.metanovus.com/Stem). The IRO site doesn't say how long the stem on your Mark V is, but whip out your trust metric ruler and measure it up. It is likely to be between 120mm and 100mm, after you know how long your own stem is you can go shopping and find a stem that fits properly.

If you are looking for basic explanations on bike parts take a look at http://kili.metanovus.com/Bike

Edit: 3 helpful replies within a minute of eachother. What is BFFG coming to?!

headset sits inside the top and bottom of the headtube,and contains the bearings which allow your fork to turn. the stem is the flat part that connects the fork to the handlebars. they come in various lengths, so you7 can get one that fits you better if you choose. go look on www.performancebikes.com or www.nashbar.com under "road stem."
yours is threadless, by the way. that matters, but you don't need to know why at this point.
www.sheldonbrown.com is a good resource for bicycle knowedge

fyi the length is mesured from the center of the top cap at the steerer end of the stem to the middle of the bars at the other. in millimeters

Yeah alright its the stem I have beef with. Thanks for the replies and websites!

jesus should someone forward this thread to koffee?

I have a feeling this is your first bike - and your question scares me like an atom bomb wrapped in det cord doused with nitroglycerin. And there you are, kicking the whole mess...slowly.

what's koffee gonna do with it? I thought we only got in trouble if we were cursing or calling 53-11 names. This is a FG bike, so may as well answer it.

Yeah this is getting out of control. We need a moderator here. BFFG peeps are helpfully answering questions left and right.

what's koffee gonna do with it? I thought we only got in trouble if we were cursing or calling 53-11 names. This is a FG bike, so may as well answer it.

i thought 53_11 was an open target.

Ok, the stem is the tubish looking thing that connects your handlebars to the rest of the bike.

Click For Example Picture (http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/1a/35/pr-Bike_Parts_Accessories-Salsa_Mountain_Moto_Ace_S_U_L_Threadless_Stem_40-Degree_Rise-resized200.jpg)

Do you not like the gap between the frame and the stem? If so, that means you would have to take out the headset spacers from under the stem. Then you could either cut off the extra bit of steerer tube on the top, or leave it jutting out a little bit.

If you are talking about the distance between the bars and the frame, that refers to your stem length. A shorter stem would decrease that distance.

I suggest you think either of these modifications through. Changing those lengths will change the way you sit on the bike, and how your bike handles.

']I have a feeling this is your first bike - and your question scares me like an atom bomb wrapped in det cord doused with nitroglycerin. And there you are, kicking the whole mess...slowly.

yeah this really really scares me. if you don't know what a stem is, maybe you shouldn't be riding a track bike without brakes. i know that might not make sense. im just saying i expect experience and know how from fixie riders.
i do a **** load of research before i touch/replace/or buy anything on my bike, i feel i must know. noobie questions like these are scary. i would never cough up 500 bucks on something i knew nothing about.

we should just start redirecting all these noob questions to sheldon's site. a lot of questions on here could easily be answered by reading sheldon's fixie articles or 63xc.com fixie 101. all noobs should take a look at the finger pics on sheldon's site, they should know how they can get themselves killed if they don't know what they're doing. track bikes are serious machines people. come on

i shouldn't have to put up these links:

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_st-z.html#stem

http://sheldonbrown.com/fixed.html

http://www.63xc.com/gregg/101_1.htm

Another good option is to go to your favorite LBS and tell them that you'd like to put a shorter stem on. They will probably have some short stems that they have taken off of other people's bikes that they will sell you cheap, or maybe free w/ installation and your old stem.

Then: Let them do it! It's quick and easy if you're a bike mechanic. It's slightly longer and slightly less easy if you're an avid home repair person. It's super sketchy if this is the first work you've done on your bike.

If you are going to do it yourself:
1) find out what the proper tools are and get them.
2) get a good bike repair/maintenance book
3) using those tools and reading that book, do the job very slowly
4) feel amazing for having done something relatively difficult yourself!
5) then maybe take it to your LBS to be checked out. You can just walk in and say "how's this headset feel to you" and they will rock it a bit and tell you whether or not it needs some work.

']I have a feeling this is your first bike - and your question scares me like an atom bomb wrapped in det cord doused with nitroglycerin. And there you are, kicking the whole mess...slowly.
^ Made my day.

Seriously, go to your local bike shop, and ask them to help you out. Try not to be arrogant, and ask them to explain things to you in detail. If they are cool, they will be happy to help you learn and explain things. Plus, they probably won't be too busy because it's winter. :)

If you are anti-social (you are on the internet, afterall), you can just randomly browse Sheldon Brown and the Park Tool websites until you learn everything there is to know about bicycles and S-A 3-speed hubs. Don't be afraid to try stuff; if you break anything consider it an investment in your education.

yeah this really really scares me. if you don't know what a stem is, maybe you shouldn't be riding a track bike without brakes. i know that might not make sense. im just saying i expect experience and know how from fixie riders.
i do a **** load of research before i touch/replace/or buy anything on my bike, i feel i must know. noobie questions like these are scary. i would never cough up 500 bucks on something i knew nothing about.



Haha I love messageboards for responses such as this. First of all, what I do or do not do with my bike should in no way matter to you. Second of all, Ive been riding a hand-me-down fixed for the past 8 months. I learned brakeless, opted to ride a front brake for now, and I can definately hold my own. Prior to owning a fixie I didnt know anything about bikes so both the riding and mechanics are new to me. So I didnt know what a certain part was called, so sue me. I asked a simple question, got a bunch of good simple answers and that was that. I dont care to argue anything back and forth because that wasnt my purpose with this thread so I will not reply to any rebuttals.

Haha I love messageboards for responses such as this. First of all, what I do or do not do with my bike should in no way matter to you. Second of all, Ive been riding a hand-me-down fixed for the past 8 months. I learned brakeless, opted to ride a front brake for now, and I can definately hold my own. Prior to owning a fixie I didnt know anything about bikes so both the riding and mechanics are new to me. So I didnt know what a certain part was called, so sue me. I asked a simple question, got a bunch of good simple answers and that was that. I dont care to argue anything back and forth because that wasnt my purpose with this thread so I will not reply to any rebuttals.

im sorry i didn't mean to be a jerk, i always feel it is my consern. your on the road and you can put other riders or pedestrians at risk, especialy if your brakeless, and im glad you now do have brakes.

original poster--
you're going to need a threadless stem for a 1/8" steerer tube with (probably) a 26mm handlebar clamp. those are important dimensions. don't worry about all the snark-- sometimes people forget that message boards are more than places to talk about what is and isn't cool, that they can be places for people to solicit knowledge from those who have it.

Original poster: You're looking for a shorter stem because you feel too stretched out. Is that your reasoning behind this change?

First of all, what I do or do not do with my bike should in no way matter to you...

beautifully put.

First of all, what I do or do not do with my bike should in no way matter to you.
then stop posting questions here.

You ask for help in some erractic manner, post hard-to-follow text, and then state how much you already know - why bother posting in the first place? Really - if you have been on a bike for 8 months you should know this stuff by now. Or one would hope.

']then stop posting questions here.


as the op said "I asked a simple question, got a bunch of good simple answers and that was that. I dont care to argue anything back and forth because that wasnt my purpose with this thread so I will not reply to any rebuttals."

looks like you're gonna have to look elsewhere for an efight, [165].

like you're gonna have to look elsewhere for an efight, [165].
not looking for an "efight" - looking to find some reason in someone asking for help and that same person who has been riding a bike for 8 months does not know what they are riding. Where the **** is the sense in that? 8 months on a bike and the rider has not taken the time to get to know the bike's parts and how they work?
I would be embarassed to ask for help in this manner - and not that we do not all ask questions of this nature at some point in time during our cycling experiences. But the fact that the person gets defensive about asking this question after being on a bike for so long? And the lack of information? Please.
That is the problem.

OP - go to the LBS and have them label each part for you if you do not understand the terminology - If this is not an option, you can also find this type of information ONLINE: http://bikes.jump-gate.com/basics/basics.shtml
google is your friend.


Edit - maybe I should expect that people do not feel the need to know what they are doing anymore. This post shows that people should really get to know more about what they are doing with cycling and the associated realms. Safety is a huge concern - glad the OP opted for a brake here. If there is such a desire to ride, I would expect a desire to learn about what is being ridden, no?

']not looking for an "efight" - looking to find some reason in someone asking for help and that same person who has been riding a bike for 8 months does not know what they are riding. Where the **** is the sense in that? 8 months on a bike and the rider has not taken the time to get to know the bike's parts and how they work?

he's taking the time now. yeah it's weird not to know what a stem is, but he explained himself in the op, and now he's got the info sources to learn.


']I would be embarassed to ask for help in this manner - and not that we do not all ask questions of this nature at some point in time during our cycling experiences. But the fact that the person gets defensive about asking this question after being on a bike for so long? And the lack of information? Please.That is the problem.

He says he's riding his bike fine and has a brake and doesn't feel like being patronized. i don't blame him. not knowing what a stem is is weird but won't necessarily impair your riding ability.

and even if he were the world's worst rider and a danger to himself or others, that STILL doesn't mean he shouldn't ask questions.

and even if he were the world's worst rider and a danger to himself or others, that STILL doesn't mean he shouldn't ask questions.
okay - off topic too much here. Check you PMs eddie.

back OT

Alright I have an IRO Mark V complete. Looks a little something like this. Im still getting up to par with parts and everything so bear with me. I dont like how the headset hold the bars out those extra couple inches like that. I want to get track drops next but I also want to do away with that gap. So does anyone know where I would go about looking for a shorter one of those things?


The part you speak of is called a "threadless stem." They are available in various lengths of forward extension and also different angles.

I'm guessing that you find the reach to the bars uncomfortable, but I suspect that it's more because the bars are too low rather than too far forward. This is easily fixable at no cost, if you own a 5 mm Allen wrench...all you need to do is remove the stem and flip it over so it angles upward.

This should make a BIG improvement in comfort, for no investment.

"Track drop" bars are probably not gonna be a good option for you, by the way. That design is for folks who ride in the drops (the lower part of the bars) pretty much all of the time, and you'll likely find this uncomfortable.

We aren't all Lance Armstrong, and setting up our bikes to look like Lance's is not likely to be good biomechanically, even if it looks kewl.

See also: http://sheldonbrown.com/handsup

BTW, I highly recommend adding a front brake...it makes riding a lot more fun!

Sheldon "Comfort Matters" Brown
+-----------------------------------+
| Fashion exists for those people |
| who have no style of their own. |
| --John Moore |
+-----------------------------------+

[165] is always looking for an efight,
but as we all know about arguing on the internet (http://www.blamonet.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/normal_******_Win.jpg)...
no offense to anyone.

The part you speak of is called a "threadless stem." They are available in various lengths of forward extension and also different angles.

I'm guessing that you find the reach to the bars uncomfortable, but I suspect that it's more because the bars are too low rather than too far forward. This is easily fixable at no cost, if you own a 5 mm Allen wrench...all you need to do is remove the stem and flip it over so it angles upward.

This should make a BIG improvement in comfort, for no investment.

"Track drop" bars are probably not gonna be a good option for you, by the way. That design is for folks who ride in the drops (the lower part of the bars) pretty much all of the time, and you'll likely find this uncomfortable.

We aren't all Lance Armstrong, and setting up our bikes to look like Lance's is not likely to be good biomechanically, even if it looks kewl.

See also: http://sheldonbrown.com/handsup

BTW, I highly recommend adding a front brake...it makes riding a lot more fun!

Sheldon "Comfort Matters" Brown
+-----------------------------------+
| Fashion exists for those people |
| who have no style of their own. |
| --John Moore |
+-----------------------------------+


i don't think this is about comfort much, he want's a shorter stem cause it's probably killing him or he feels long ones don't look as nice. probably the latter. he also wants track drops which are as far away from comfort as you can get. this is all about aesthetics.

So does anyone know where I would go about looking for a shorter one of those things?

Sorry, my thing is long.

Sorry, my thing is long.

haha, i hope i'm laughing for the right reason