Bicycle Mechanics - AVA stem replacement

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lt smash
03-31-09, 12:38 AM
I currently have an ava stem which I understand have a habit of breaking. I also understand they are hard to replace due to them being french sized. I believe they are 22.0 mm and most fit 22.5 but I'm bidding on a french stem on ebay that's 21.9 mm it a tenth of a milimeter going to make the part incompatible? and if so any other ideas for a stem replacement?

relyt
03-31-09, 03:39 AM
A tenth of a millimeter probably matters. If the stem slips, you could crash.

Sheldon Brown recommends buying a standard stem, which is 22.2mm, and sanding it down: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/velos.html#stem

Your handlebars are also probably going to be a French diameter, but they can probably be shimmed.
lt smash
04-02-09, 04:19 PM
does the standard stem matter on weather its a quill stem or not?

relyt
04-02-09, 06:20 PM
does the standard stem matter on weather its a quill stem or not?

I'm not sure what you mean. I assume the AVA stem is a quill stem. You could replace it with a new quill stem, or use a stem adapter with a threadless stem. Either way, you will be doing some sanding.
Grand Bois
04-02-09, 06:54 PM
It takes me about 15-20 minutes to sand a 22.2mm stem down to 22mm. If you don't want to do that, It shouldn't be hard to find a French stem. I was just looking at a stem and bars from Peugeot PX10 on eBay that would work for you. They're the same as ones I took off of my PX10 and put on my PA10.

http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/6804/2795710660068014369S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2795710660068014369mqjzEl)