Originally Posted by
ColonelJLloyd
No offense to Scozim, but the Gitane doesn't look good with either setup. It seems obvious to me that the bike is too small for the rider for whom it's setup.
None taken - fit is subjective. The bike is a 52cm and the most agreessive set up because it's also my favorite to ride. If the top tube was another centimeter longer it wouldn't have been an issue. 52/53 is what I've always ridden going back to the 80's. Since adding some C&V to the stable I've also gone to some taller frames.
Going back to the OP's original question - I always thought the quill stem was aesthetically more appealing. My experiment just solidified it in my mind.