Before and after - custom stems
 

Before:

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps512b1a08.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps061f1cc3.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps97c267da.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps4e758d92.jpg

After:

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...psaz8cwsbq.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...psflfnziu0.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps8ja8jnwe.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd8arrpiu.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a...psszarbh2d.jpg

Classy.

Who built them?

I probably should have mentioned that...

Simon Firth, Hanford Cycles.

Nice stems, and neat bike! But that looks like a boat anchor to me.

[By the way, I'm referring to the first after pic, and I mean a literal boat anchor.]

Nice...good looking design...

Nice looking! Was the change out a matter of size,weight or both ?

Those are some seriously smooth brazed stems, very attractive. What's the stem material and brazing material? They look like the same material?

Heh - I got it.

Steel, nickel plated. I think brass, but wouldn't swear to it.

Aesthetics. The bike is smooth and elegant, and the bulbous TIG welded stems were an eye sore.

Fantastic workmanship - those look as though they were made from a solid piece of metal!

DD

Did not want to go with a brazen on bell mount?

To me, the original stem at least for the captain was kind of thick top to bottom.

That is a small anchor for such a big cat though.

I think you set some kind of record for water bottles. People must be a lot thirstier than they used to be. I don't remember people needing to constantly carry water around with them until fairly recently. You do know that bottled water is no better than tap water, in fact you are probably drinking a lot more bacteria from the stagnant water in your water bottle then from the tap.

Well aren't you a bright ray of sunshine?

Fwiw I did a ride around Lake Superior earlier this summer. Didn't make it the whole way, but that's another story.

One of the biggest challenges was fresh water. I'm glad I had four water bottles along for hydration and cooking. I was next to water most of the way, yet we needed filtration to use it. Not always that handy.

Those are some beautiful stems.

I really love the way two tubes can flow together seamlessly.

I also really love being hydrated.

[h=1]Suckers for bottled water[/h]


"When did we get the idea that without constant hydration we'll shrivel up and die? We need a campaign of humiliation to finally kill off the bottled water industry"

This is really good How did we become such suckers for bottled water? | Life and style | The Guardian

What's water/hydration have to do with the OP's beautiful stems?
Cheers

Ah, got it. I thought is was just brushed raw steel at first and was wondering why I didn't see the brass. Love the finish!

I wasn't sure it would fit the bell I use...I don't know, it just didn't seem necassary.

I'm not sure what your issue is, but we use tap water and put it in a water bottle. In no photo above is there anything other than tap water in a bottle. I neither know nor care how much water you drink on rides - I do know that we like a lot of water on ours and are perfectly able to decide how much to drink, and pour over our heads when it's 90+ without advice from you or the guardian ;)

As a matter of fact I think bottled water is stupid...though I'll buy it if I'm thirsty enough. You do know that water bottles like these come empty and get filled from taps, not a delivery service, no?

Next time you want to go on a self righteous tirade, maybe check to see if it applies. Or don't.

Me too...it has a simple satin look that I really dig.

I agree

Those are beautiful stems, and one of the ugliest things about any tandem is that rear stem. Nice to see someone fix it.

I don't "get" the water post, because I looked and looked for bottled water, and all I saw was an anchor and boat with a hole right through it.

I have a 430-foot well. My wife drinks bottled water that can't possibly be as filtered as our tap water. Go ahead, you argue with her.

Thanks Robbie! I know it's silly, but I wanted one that better matched the feel of the frame.

It looks so much better now, the new
stems are smooth.

Nice stems and they look and probably fit much better than the originals.

Your water bottles look about right to me. I drink a lot of water since I got a kidney stone about 10 years ago. My doctor told me the best prevention was drinking a lot of water, and I sure don't want to go through that ordeal again.

There is nothing silly about beautiful brazed steel. The stems look fabulous, and they definitely add something to the bike. Simon does great work, and is rarely seen not smiling...

The master of all he surveys:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3938/...69e6d96d_b.jpg

With fellow Gumby Brian Chapman:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7528/...43a3c5d4_b.jpg

This needs some white balance work:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/...a5fd14f8_b.jpg

Ditto:
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5608/...f3eea0c1_b.jpg

Thanks all...I'm very happy with them.

Paul - Simon makes some awesome bikes...for sure. He's not as well known as some other folks, but I think his work stands up with anyone's. The randonneur he made for Joel...the one Joel rode in PBP...was a real beauty.

Ummm, who's Joel?