stem size?
 

Hello,

I am helping my Dad convert his road bike into a sort of hybrid. I want to replace the handlebars with a flat bar, but am not sure what size the stem is (I have to start this process remotely). He sent this photo. It's an 80s-era Cannondale. I assume this is obvious to anyone who knows even a little bit about this -- thanks very much for any help!

Josh

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=288588

You need a standard quill stem for a 1" fork. The diameter of the stem itself is 7/8" to match the ID of the fork.

The clamp diameter will match the diameter of the bar you propose buying, most likely 1" or 25.4mm (same thing).

These are standard items and you should have no problem finding the right bar/stem combo.

Awww, poor old train depot C'dale getting flat bars :( ;)

Great, thanks! I guess I should have been more precise: I'm not going to replace the stem itself, so I guess I should have been asking for the clamp diameter. But you answered that anyway. Thanks again.

Well, my dad is pushing 75 and thinks he'll ride more if he has a bit more upright position.

No I didn't. Aluminum drop bars typically have a different clamp diameter than straight bars.

Just about every straight bar has a 1" clamp. But only drop bars from Japan or Taiwan use that size. The more common drop bar clamp br clamp diameter is 26mm and straight bars of that diameter are rare.

Measure your bar's diameter in the bulge area just outside the stem. You don't need a precise measurement, since you're only trying to confirm if it's 1" or larger (the stems brand might also be a guide). If you don't have a caliper make a gauge by cutting a dovetail shaped notch in a piece of cardboard, then carefully cutting the open to exactly 1" as measured on a ruler. You should end up with a sort of "C" cutout which will either just fit over the bar, or be too small.

Odds are you'll need both a bar and stem for the conversion, but you may luck out.

Chances are pretty good it's a 26mm bar clamp. If he wants upright I'd go ahead and get an olde MTB stem with a little rise to it. If you have good used parts shops around you can usually get 'em for $5 or less.

Make sure you get brake levers for canti brakes, v-brake levers won't work as well. Hmmm, actually I don't think I've tried V-brake levers on old road calipers before, but I imagine they wouldn't work very well.

Ah, OK, thanks, this is why I asked. I did this to my own bike, as part of a conversion into a city bike, and managed to keep the old stem with a new flat bar. So I was hoping it would be the same here.

Looks like it may be a Nitto stem, you can see the logo behind the computer. So it might be 25.4...

Cannondale started specing Nittos in 1985, it looks like, and they were paired with Belleri bars which I'd guess were 26.0. Seems like Cannondale would've went for the "fancier" 26.0.

How tall is your dad? That is a huge bike and probably has a long top-tube as well, which means for an upright position the existing stem with ~10 cm of forward extension is working against your goal.

FOr maximum choice to stems the best thing is to get a 22.2mm quill-to-threadless adapter, which will allow the use of modern clamp-on stems... which every LBS has 100s of in stock.

There are so many cheap, old MTB stems with lotsa rise/little extension to choose from though...


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8...3b7fc6f9_b.jpg
2012-12-08_13-17-14_157 by Lester.L., on Flickr

Good point. He's 6' tall, and as far as I know the bike fits him well, but point taken about the long extension. I didn't want to have to deal with a new stem but seems that may be the best option.

RIP C'dale

Seriously, +1 on 26mm.

QBP has a nice quill stem and the angle is adjustable and takes a 1" bar clamp,
common to most straight and trekking bars , then you need the brake levers ,
and to relocate the shift levers Too. so cables, 4, and housing must be purchased.

seem too much, drop it off at the bike shop and say 'make it so' ..

So would the 1" version of this do the trick?: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...88_-1___202439

Yes, that should work.

Just be sure to keep the original bars/stem/brake levers as they belong with the bike. It's a shame when a flat bar conversion is done and the original parts are gone.

Yeah, I will. I ride the bike sometimes when I'm home and it still is a really nice ride.