Touring - Picking a stem

Hi everyone,
Im building up a nos schwinn voyageur circa '89. Right now Im thinking of using a vintage S stamped schwinn quill stem about 80mm long. My question is, should i get a stem with an upward angle or should I just use a regular stem? If anyone has used both I would love to here what you have to say about it.

Thats a nice bike, don't let anyone tell you that its to old and you can't get parts for it. You might ask in the C&V forum, they tend to have lots of opinions about things like this.

My opinion is that a stem with lots of upward angle sort of limits how low you can sink the quill, if you want to lower the bars for any reason. But if its a small frame, then you can only go so far down anyway. So a lot of it(other than asthetics)depends on how well the frame size suits you. If its a frame at the top end of what you can ride, then a regular stem is in order, cause you probably are not going to be raising it that high.(I could be wrong)

I like having the option of lowering the bars for things like extra strong headwinds, while being able to raise it for spending some time cruising around a city.

I actualy use an avenir adjustable quill stem with a face plate http://www.niagaracycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=433715 on my old tourer, a Univega. Its heavy and is not a realy classic look, but it works for me. Most of my other bikes have a regular stem, exept one, a small framed miyata, that has an angled stem. And thats because the headtube is to short to worry about lowering it that much.


heres a picture of a voyageur with a nitto stem. I like the way they look a lot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhvu/2702266296/

It's a mater of personal fit, you have to figure it out from other known rides or some other fitting technique. I'm not comfortable in a racing type posture, but I agree with shipwreck that sometimes even if you aren't comfortable you have to get low. Really heavy winds aren't easy on a rider either. So I would want a somewhat higher set, but the ability to get low. I no longer use a quil stem on my touring bike, but I am set up for a lot of adjust ment anyway. Touring is different. Most folks pick their time for recreational rides. Even if they think they go in all weather. But touring you really are out there in all weather.

Use the stem that gives the position you find comfortable. Personally I do not subscribe to the idea that bars should be higher on a touring bike and like my bars 4-5" below the saddle, but folks have preferences all over the place.

Thanks everyone,
Im thinking ill just stick with what i got for now. if i dont like that maybe a nitto technomic stem so i can move it up and down.

Consider an angle adjustable stem, quill type..

Cannot judge whether your stem length helps bike fit, online.

Visit a Bike Shop, and ask 1st hand.