Threaded to Threadless - Minimizing Ugliness
 

I want to do threaded to threadless stem conversion. I want to try the Jone-H bar on my 1989 Mariposa touring bike. If I get ambitious I'll also swap out the 700c wheels for fatter 650B's. Trouble is, over the years I've been raising the stem to compensate for my ageing, decrepit backbone. Acquired the bike in my 30s and now in my 60s. I rarely use the drops anymore. A regular length adaptor would be too short.

I figure I got a couple of choices: 1) a long stem adaptor or 2) a regular length stem adaptor with a 1 1/8 stem riser plunked on top. Seems to me both solutions are NOT particularly elegant. Either I've got the skinny pipe of a long adaptor erupting like a drinking straw out of the steerer tube with a fatter modern stem on top or I've got a three bits of hardware with the stem adapter, stem riser, and stem, shishkabob style.

What's the least gross way to do this? And, is there anything creative or eccentric I can do to add a touch of creativity to this project?

Thanks!

Why not just use a tall quill stem like the Technomic?

Sell it and buy a bike that fits?

Yes, I could do that, but the skinny pipe sticking up looks kinda weird. Or maybe I'm weird...I dunno.

It sounds like you need to decide which tall stack of weirdness you find the least aesthetically objectionable. No one else can do that for you.

Yeah, certainly, selling, that's a viable option. But it's a nice bike and if I can hang onto it longer, that my first choice. And I have a hunch I may not need so much extra height switching from a drop bar to a flat or trekking or Jones H bar.

I'm in the process of doing this switch on a MTB. Main reason is that the existing suspension fork is frozen up and the reasonably priced replacement fork I found for it is a threadless. The bonus is that I already had a stem that will fit the new fork and a spare set of MTB handlebars I also had on hand. So, all I really needed to buy was a threadless headseat of the proper size. Found a FSA Hammer headset for $13 so with that and the new fork, I should pretty much be in business.

Only other issue is that the original fork had cantilever brakes and it had a cable stop integrated into the fork whereas the new one does not but it does have a mounting hole where I can rig one up. The other option would be to mount a V-brake on the front which isn't that great of an option because it would differ from the rear brake. I'm pretty sure I can fabricate a cable stop with some scrap steel I have on hand and a bit of welding.

You're right. I guess I was hoping someone might have had aesthetically pleasing workaround to suggest.

At 66, my back as occasional flareups from sitting wrong or lifting things wrong; relieving pressure by riding in a somewhat stretched-out position is usually the best thing I can do to ease the discomfort.

To that end, all my bikes have clip-on aero bars that comfortably stretch my back. The pedaling motion seems to work as well as physical therapy would.

It works for me because my discomfort is from simple compression. If you have damaged disks or other structural problems, consult a doctor, of course.

This works for me and I'm doing a similar setup on a drop bar MTB conversion; quill adaptor, riser threadless stem and bar of choice.

Okay, so it's not pretty. Once I'm on the bike I don't look at it much. I used a tall Technomic on a previous bike and that took less adjusting to its looks but both approaches work fine as long as you get your rise and reach. Pretty is as pretty does.
Attachment 593459

I went with a Factory 5 stem to get 31.8 bars in a quill stem. Only comes in 90mm though.

Nitto has a 31.8 quill in various lengths, but it's not as pretty. Do you need a lot of height with your Jones bar?

A number of products available for threadless and cantis

https://paulcomp.com/shop/components...-cable-hanger/

https://www.amazon.com/Origin8-Brake.../dp/B00SYZJ90K

https://problemsolversbike.com/produ...hangers_-_6374

http://365cycles.com/tektro-front-ca...xoCPPcQAvD_BwE

https://brandscycle.com/product/orig...BoCkr0QAvD_BwE

Replace the fork and headset for threadless ones.

Having a fresh new un-cut steerer is a good thing, considering you want to raise your handlebars.

Plenty of adjustment that way, no ugly adaptors.

It’s a personal choice, but it seems to me a Technomic is going to look a lot nicer then a threadless stem adapter unit sticking on a threaded fork section. I’ve never liked the look of that, but understand the usefulness, especially installing the h-bar.

With the Technomic, you can always drop it down to a height that works.

the Technomic is a single bolt stem with no removable faceplate

how's he supposed to thread a Jones H-Bar into that?
http://cdn6.bigcommerce.com/s-6jcqg/...937503.jpg?c=2

Riser bar.

Hey, you're in your 60's.
Nonody cares what your setup looks like, they're just amazed you're still riding.
Do what works for you, let the fashionistas worry about what's cool.

(ps: I'm 66)

+1 i am 61.

i am guessing the bike fits for standover height, its just that he doesnt bend like he used to. with an arthritic neck i completely understand what he is doing.

Minor problem...

JK, you are correct of course

Yeah, maybe, but I'm specifically wanting to try the Jones H bar. Riser below clamped to a threadeded-to-threadless adaptor should work, if a little clunky looking.

Thanks Thumpism. Looks better than what I imagined.

Trouble is I'll need a stem with a removable faceplate to fit the Jones bar. I probably need 2 to 3.5" height.

Whoops, just noticed that Steve has already pointed that out. Gonna need a removable faceplate.

Makes sense. Most simple, most elegant is most expensive. Why am I not surprised? Thanks xenologer.

Oh, but wait...my original fork has braze on galore, including studs for centre pull brakes. I think I hear Frankenstein's footsteps! And the bank manager licking his chops.

You're right and I don't care if anyone cares. But I still shower and shave, pick a clean crisp shirt, maybe wear a bow tie, comb my hair, file my nails.

Ugly on the bike will do just fine if it's functional, but only after I've made an effort to find the least visually offensive fix.