Where are the quill stems?

[H1449-6]

We recently bought a 15 or so year old Santana Arriva and I (the captain) need more stem. Specifially. I need a 140 or 150 with a little rise (10-15 degrees).

I can't seem to find anything at a reputable dealer, either LBS or the major online shops such as Nashbar, Colorado Cyclist or Performance. In fact, the online stores don't seem to stock quill stems any more.

Ebay has just one or two and I suspect that the examples I have seen there are actually mountain bike stems.

Any suggestions for a reputable source? I am particularly interested in a shop that will allow me to return the (undamaged) stem if it's not quite right.

PS. I know that I can get one of those goofy quill adapter things and use an Ahead-style stem but that's an inelegant solution and frankly I don't want my knees anywhere near protruding bolts.

[zonatandem]

Local bicycle swap meets are a great source for 'vintage' stuff, but a 140 to 150mm stem extension? Sound like that frame could be too small for the pilot.
Contact bill McCready at Santana, they may have some old stock quill stems still in inventory.
BTW those 'goofy' Aheadstem adapters work quite well; unless you are really knock-kneed you'll not hit the bolts with your knees.
Workable/elegant? Diametrically opposed notions!

[wagathon]

I got a nitto stem from rivendell bicycle, i.e.,

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/webalog/handlebars_stems_tape/16044.html

:)

[TandemGeek]

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=quill+stems]

[H1449-6]

Local bicycle swap meets are a great source for 'vintage' stuff, but a 140 to 150mm stem extension? Sound like that frame could be too small for the pilot.


Good point. The frame is probably a little small at about a 60cm seat tube where I ride a 62-63cm single. The current top tube/stem length combo is about 25mm too short and that's how I get from a normal 120mm or so to a 140 or 150. Of course, my road bike, which fits like a glove, has a 140mm stem.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion.

[ElRey]

try this: http://www.lickbike.com/ Lickton's Bike Shop

He's got a loty of old school stuff like that. And he's a nice guy.

[rlong]

I recently purchased a 1 1/4" quill stim with 160mm quill from Harris Cyclery through QBP their catalog source. It's a Kalloy adjustable, cold forged, black anodized. It's a very nice stim, especially for an adjustable. The Nitto from Rivendell is considerably better though.

[lala]

Ditto on the Nitto. QBP distrubutes Nitto, so any bike shop should be able to order.

[ElRey]

'zona... don't want to get into a fracas here but the average stem length in the pro peleton last year was 140mm (read it in an article at Velonews...). Given the mechanical advantage from the length, I'd say a tandem is more in need of a long stem than even a racing bike. Having said that, I use 120mm on both my tandems and my road racing bike.

[zonatandem]

ElRey:
Never claimed to be a "pro" and doubt of many of us are . . . but do have a good size trophy case for medals/trophies and other type dust catchers.
Stem length on our Zona tandem is 110, on single 90mm.
Seems as I age (am only 73) the tendency is to sit a bit more upright instead of keeping 'nose to the wheel'. Don't even use TT bars any more.
Growing old is not for sissies!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[gregm]

I am very happily using one of these Nitto adapters to join threadless steams to my threaded fork:

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&Description=column&Brand=267&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0

-Greg

[gregm]

PS. I know that I can get one of those goofy quill adapter things and use an Ahead-style stem but that's an inelegant solution and frankly I don't want my knees anywhere near protruding bolts.

Almost missed this bit. ;)

I find it elegantly simple, and I like the flexibility of being able to easily swap stems. I'm not even sure I could bring a knee up to meet the stem when I'm clipped in... but I haven't tried. :)

Also, the quality of the Nitto part is much higher than another brand I've tried. Nitto makes groovy stuff. In this case, it definitely makes the other brand look "goofy".

Good luck, whichever solution you use!

-Greg

[rlong]

I am very happily using one of these Nitto adapters to join threadless steams to my threaded fork:

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&Description=column&Brand=267&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0

-Greg
The Nitto 1 1/4 adaptors are so popular they are not even available. I have used Profile for some time and it has been fine.

[ElRey]

Zona: As I said, not wanting to start a fracas. BUt I don't think there's a lot of good data to support the notion that a 140 is a really long stem. Personally, I think anything under 100mm is too short- makes for quirky steeering- especially on a tandem or a TT bike. You're right that, as we get older and want to be more upright, there's no choice in the matter unless we get new bikes. And please note I wasn't parading my own palamares or my opinion, just the common choices of the pros last year.

[zonatandem]

El Rey:
No sweat! Am an amateur that still pedals!
. . . and new bikes are always fun!

[merlinextraligh]

'zona... don't want to get into a fracas here but the average stem length in the pro peleton last year was 140mm (read it in an article at Velonews...). Given the mechanical advantage from the length, I'd say a tandem is more in need of a long stem than even a racing bike. Having said that, I use 120mm on both my tandems and my road racing bike.

The reason for that would appear to be pro racers riding frames that by conventional standards would have been considered too small. There's been a trend in the pro peleton toward small frames with lots of stem and seatpost, presumably for weight reduction, and arguably frame stifness (although you would seem to give this back in the stem and seatpost.) I'm not sure this bike set up is something the rest of us necessarily want to emulate.

[ElRey]

This may all depend on riding style. I ride either in the drops or on teh aerobars, almost never on the hoods even climbing. A 120mm stem works very well for me road and tandem, and I'll use a 135 in the summer when I get really sleek.

[H1449-6]

Thanks to all for the recommendations. I couldn't find a suitable quill stem so I wouind up with the goofy adapter.