Originally Posted by Barnaby
Thanks for that reference to the stem thing, Heavy Rider. After posting and remeasuring with a metal tape, I came out with a figure of 20 mm or so, until I bought a vernier digital caliper which agrees with your 21.1 measurement. All I can find as well to fit are the heavy steel stems, and was tempted to go this route until I read your post. If you can sand down an alloy stem by 1.1 mm and get it to work I am prepared to do that as well. Are you concerned that this may weaken the stem too much? The prospect of a snapped stem downill at 168 rpm concerns my insurance salesman.
My frame came in two parts, and as I said the frame feels very light and is in great shape. The fork with the thicker steerer tube feel heavy, and as well as adapting a stem to fit, I am also considering getting a lighter 1" threaded fork to go with it as an option, and then using the older forks with the fender eyelets for possible touring. I have a 109 mm Shimano sealed BB to put on it, and will swap in my fixed wheeset with OPen Pro rims and Tufo tubular clinchers pumped up to 140 lbs., and see what kind of personality I end up with. I am not sure if forks are that interchangeable however.
Thanks, Chris.
Chris,
The Specialized stem I used is (was) an older-style alloy mountain bike stem that had thick walls. Some of the other stems I looked at were very thin-walled, and I agree with you, those would be hazardous. The Specialized stem that I worked on still has a lot of beef left, and in fact is virtually the same in thickness as the original stem that came with the bike, even after the conversion. I've been using it for a while now with no problems, however I do check it from time to time. I hand-filed it (rather than use a grinding wheel or belt), as I didn't think the heat involved would be good for the temper.
I found several steel, Huffy-style mountain stems off old bikes that would have done the same thing, but they didn't have the extension that the Specialized stem had.
I think that ultimately I may have a quill/threadless adapter made that I can use with a threadless stem (similar to what Nashbar and Performance Bikes sells). I have a 150 mm stem that I can put on it for the extension I want. The downside is that the adapter/threadless stem, in my opinion, isn't as "elegant" in appearance. In the meantime, the Specialized will get me by for now.
Good luck with your bike...it sounds like a good one!
H.R.