My rigid MTB has a quill stem. I like the reach, but need to change the height as I'm pinching the neck and getting headaches. I need about 2" rise. This puts it clearly beyond minimum safe insertion.

What is my best and least expensive option for getting what I need? It is a 1" diam. stem.

Thank you.

Three options are available:

1) An adjustable stem that will let you raise the bars by varying the angle but that, of course, changes the reach too.

2) Using a quill stem adapter ( Nashbar Stem Adaptor ) will let you use a threadless stem and these are available in a wider variety of angles and reaches, including adjustable ( Nashbar Adjustable Stem ) so you should be able to find a combination that works.

3) A long quill stem like the Nitto Technomic ( Nitto Tallux Stem ). The Nitto isn't particularly cheap but it is a high quality stem and seems to be just what you want.

Nitto stems are beautiful and will get the job done. Kalloy makes a few different quill stems that can do the job and will be less expensive:

Kalloy Tri/Mtn Quill Stem - 1" > Components > Handlebars, Headsets and Saddles > Stems | Jenson USA

Kalloy Dirt Drop Quill Stem at Tree Fort Bikes

Any bike stores/ co ops carry used stuff near you?

also there are Steel-tube stem raisers in BMX .833" ; 1" ; & 1.125" .. it goes in fork then your stem goes in It..

+1. These do the job well, and cheaply.

Be careful when ordering a 'one inch' quill stem - the quill diameter on a '1 1/8"' stem is 25.4mm (exactly one inch). The diameter of the quill in most 1" assemblies is 22.2mm (approximately 7/8"). Many 'one inch' assemblies also used 21.1 mm diameter quills, although this was usually only common on very low cost bikes.

But if you order a 'one inch quill stem' and your current stem is 25.4mm in diameter, the new stem you receive will not fit.

What do you charge as a rental fee to use a digital caliper?

But seriously, thank you for the heads up. I was eyeballing it with a ruler. Is the diameter stamped on it perhaps?

Diameter is usually stamped on it, either right above or right below the minimum insertion line. However, the sizes are different enough (1 inch or 25.4mm vs. 7/8 inch or 22.2mm) that you should be able to figure it out with a ruler.

Wrap a piece of paper around it, mark where the paper overlaps, measure in millimeters, divide by 3.14.