super short quill stems
 

Is there any company out there that makes a really short quill stem? I am talking about 20-30mm.

Nitto.

Cheers

http://aebike.com/product/nitto-tech...m1151-qc30.htm

50mm is about as short as you're gonna find. Remember though, raising the bars also shortens the overall cockpit length.



PS: I won't bother pointing out that 20-30cm is..............

you could also try a threadless adapter, and then one of the really short BMX stems, but that would look all kinds of hideous.

Sounds like you are getting a short stem for reach issues. if the short 50mm stem isn't short enought and if you are using drop handlebars. Get a bar with a short reach like the Salsa Poco bars.

20-30cm**********??? are u sure u want a stem 20 to 30 cm??? Just being an ars but probably the kid doesn't know the difference between millimeters and centimeters? , whats longer? a terrestrial mile or a marine league? :P

If you need a super short stem and even that way you are short why dont you put the stem backwards? Thing i have seen more than once, look hysterical but it works :)

I know, the real issue here is that the top tube is just too long. Which really sucks because I love this bike. Ultraman, I actually did consider putting the stem backwards but that would look awful.

Well, my fault for getting a frame thats too long.

Make sure your seat is not too far back. Don't necessarily depend on the knee over pedal axle "rule," though it's not a terrible place to start. My position happens to be forward of that.

If you need a stem that short then chances are the frame is to tall also...?

the frame is not too tall - the height is actually perfect. its just the distance to reach the bars/levers is pretty long.

another option is different handlebars. I know it's not ideal, but if the fit is really that off, it might at least give you a comfortable bike, even if it's a different bike than you intended. A pair of North Road or Porteur bars will dramatically decrease overall reach. If you still want drops, you can try a randonneur bend that sweeps back a little. It might help.

Check the response on VS.

What size stem do you have now?

80mm

May not be something off the shelf, but, A custom fabrication will get the job done.

essentially you are brazing the handle bar clamp to the Quill tube, directly. thats slightly over 24mm between centers.

some old 3 speeds had a stem sort of like that , sourced thru the WABAC machine.
or, luck and estate sales..

any shorter and it will need to be machined so the clamp for the bar splits
directly over the quill .. that can be done too.

Functionally for installation, just have to tighten the quill first and then clamp
a top/faceplate on top of the bars which are on top of the quill.. zero reach.

or could be made so the the quill has a plug machined to seat the stem bolt
then cut to lay the clamp for the bars just barely ahead of the bore
for the stem bolt head.

call your nearest frame-builder.. or machine shop..

Are you having trouble reaching the break levers?If so try moving them up a little that should help a lot.80mm is pretty short as it is.If the bike is not to tall for you and its just the reach for the breaks then I think all you need is to move the break levers up a little.With out a pic of your setup its hard to see what could be the problem for you.

TTT used to make a 6Cm. key word Used to.

80mm is pretty short as others have said. You can get a 50 from Nitto if needed. I just wonder how the OP really fits on the bike or how their riding it. OP how do you fit on the bike, what are you feeling? What makes it feel to long? Are you riding drop bars and want to continue with drops? or are you looking for an upright position?

Origin8 60mm extension quill stem: http://www.bikepartsusa.com/bikeparts/item/01-134662/
Note that this is 25.4mm clamp, not 26.0mm as you'd expect for "road" bars.

Nitto Technomic stem is available in 50mm extension, 26.0mm clamp: http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/stems...onethreadstems

I have bought 30 mm & 0 mm bmx quills so they are out there. Also I have a folder with a 0 mm threadless. Many recumbent riser threadless stems are 0 mm or other short reaches.

Also consider adjustable stems-both road bike and comfort bike.

Many of those can adjust to 70 degrees from horizontal.

+1, this is where I'd start. Tell us more about the bike, the seat post, the seat, &c. Older bikes that were made for a relatively upright posture while riding often have the seat clamp mounted to the front of the seat post, which moves the seat about 2" forward; most saddles have an inch or two of rail space where you can mount the clamp, so you may be able to get another inch there. One way or another, see how far forward you can move the seat.

What exactly is your stem? And your bar? It seems to me I have some pretty short stems in the bin....

Well, that was not the point of my post. DO NOT just shove the seat forward - that's a great way to stress your knees. You need to find a proper seat height and fore-aft position and then determine what you need as far as stem and bars.

But note that I asked about the bike. If the bike has really steep angles, then it may not be such a good idea to move the seat farther forward. But I have a couple English bikes from the 50's that have very relaxed frame angles, and these really were made for the seat to be mounted in front of the post; and that's how I ride them.

I'm not familiar with the connection between seat position and knee stress, though I could see where there would be a connection. Can you point me to a discussion of that?

I have an old 60mm quill stem that i don't envision myself using. pm if your interested and I can get you a pic of it.

Yes, I worked on many of the old Raleigh and similar 3 speeds and we sometimes did that as well, but it's rare that a bike these days would have that relaxed a seat angle.

I can't point you to a discussion of that - comes from many years of helping people with fit and pedaling problems and seeing knee problems on people who moved their seat too far forward. I'm no exercise physiologist but trying to push the pedal forward and down with your knee far forward of the foot would seem to be stressful on the knee, similar to a deep knee bend.