Acquired a Trek 520 and need a new stem
 

I've posted here once and am a new rider with only basic bicycle experience.

I recently got a used Trek 520, it looks like an '84 from the research I have done, from a church resale shop. Picked it up for a rather inexpensive price. Trouble is I recently stripped the stem where the single bolt that tightened the handle bars inserted. So I checked with my LBS and I will need a new stem. They measured it at 22.2. They are a small shop and only had one similar stem in stock that had a raise instead of a drop to it. I've looked up all I can about, threaded quill and threadless stems. I already removed the old stem without much trouble and am looking to get into my own bike maintenance by buying and installing a new stem myself. I was hoping to get some advice on where I could look for a new stem online and any general advice.

This is a stock picture of an '84 Trek 520 that looks like mine.

http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/t...Trek_20_72.jpg

Congrats on the nice find!

You don't mention your location but many areas have bicycle co-ops like this one in Bellingham, Washington....

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-H...02211749819528

They usually have huge parts baskets full of used, older and sometimes vintage parts at very reasonable prices.

Nice find. Not saying your LBS is wrong, but look on the portion of the stem that fits into the headtube and the diameter should be engraved on it near the 'miniumu insertion point' line, I just mention this since Trek amde a few bikes with odd size quill stems in teh late 1980s-ealy 1990 (I've got a 1992 8000 MTB with a 25.4 stem). It should be easy to get a 22.2mm quill stem from one of the online bike shops. You can find some more pricey ones at Velo Orange that have longer 'stems' so you can raise the handlebars higher (the Nitto stems).

One more thing . . . .we need to see pictures ! ! ! :)

Comprehensive List of Community bike shops:

http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/..._Organizations

Too lazy to look it up, but that sounds close to a standard, 1" threaded stem.

You may be able to get the bars up where you need them AND satisfy the fashion police with a Nitto stem. Check Rivendell (or do a google search) to see what's available.

Thanks for all the comments. One thing I'm worried about is fitting the handlebars into the stem. For example with this stem
http://www.bikesonline.com/origin8-c...lver-58233.htm
do I have to remove the grips and brakes and thread it through the clamp or? also how's the price? If I do have to remove all of that does anyone have some suggestions for tutorials, I couldn't find any videos that were anything besides putting the stem in the frame

yes, with that stem you would need to remove grip tape and shifters first. they do however make modern quill stems that have 2 or 4 bolt fronts like all the threadless stems do. just have to keep looking

+1, you have to un tape the bars, to get them out..
Remove from bike... rotate so inside of curve faces bolt-side of stem,
its narrower there..

there are open face plate stems, to replace that one
so you wont have to do that each time.

NB there are some quill stems, like that + with an adjustable angle rise.