Originally Posted by
velo-orange
why do you require a 'stiffer' bar/stem? Are you competing? Or, do you truly like and want a threadless stem solely for the convenience of changing bars often, and aesthetics?
More posing than competing. I'm a larger guy (6'2", 178 lbs.) and I mislike being passed by the wiry, pony-express fellows when climbing Palomar. I'm no masher, but I love the way my Thomson stem feels when I do stand.
Part of it is admittedly aesthetics--quill stems may look elegant and classy to most, but to me they scream inefficiency--the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, no? And I further confess I'm a silly, vain creature who likes the idea of a white stem & bars on the front of that sexy frame. And both the Ritchey & FSA white stems have a little red accent, just like my Peloton:
But if there is a quill stem out there that is stiffer and lighter than modern threadless... well, familiarity is a magician that is cruel to beauty and kind to homeliness.