Bicycle Mechanics - 1997 Campy Record Headset need help with a new stem purchase?

Hi,
I would like to change my stem from longer to shorter to bring in my handlebars an inch or two. I never worked on this part of the bike and I was wondering if I have a threaded or non threaded headset? Secondly, what would be a good place to buy another stem?

you have a threaded headset and a quill stem.

If you need to shorten the stem by 25-50mm, the frame is the wrong size. You current stem is long - looks like at least a 120mm, but having to something shorter than a 90mm indicates a frame size issue.

Quill stems are getting harder to find since few bikes use them these days. You need to measure your handlebar diameter to be sure that you get the right size of bar clamp. Your bars could be 25.4mm Japanese, 25.8/26.0mm or the oddball Cinelli 26.4mm.

Changing quill stems is so much more work than the new open faced stems that you might want to consider getting an adapter that allows the use of a threadless open face stem, unless the traditional look is important.

Changing quill stems is so much more work than the new open faced stems that you might want to consider getting an adapter that allows the use of a threadless open face stem, unless the traditional look is important.

Some of the new quill stems are made with a open face stem design.

Google "Nitto quill stem" and you'll see that they're not at all hard to find. That's just one brand, there are others.

Thanks guys, the reason I want to bring the handlebars back is that as I am getting older I need to adjust my reach. Just had a back injury and I believe its partially due to long reach that was okay when I was 30.

What size stem do you think I could be safe with? I dont feel like buying a new fork for the bike.

Thanks


How do you measure the stem? From edge to edge or middle?

Quill stems are measure along the top, from the center of the bars to the center of the bolt in the quill. If you take the stem out, the length will probably be stamped on the quill.

What size stem do you think I could be safe with? I dont feel like buying a new fork for the bike.

Thanks

Standard stem diameter is 22.2 mm or 7/8" for a fork with a 1" steerer. As stated above, you need to know the bar clamp diameter.

If you want to also raise the bars, look at the Nitto Technomic and Technomic Deluxe. Lots of us old guys use them. See the rivbike.com site. Bear in mind that raising the bars also moves them back.

thanks guys for the tip, I'll head into the garage tomorrow and measure the stem I have on it now, i think its a 120mm