Help me choose a stem?
08-12-18 | 04:44 PM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 6,280
Likes: 611
From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 78 Masi Criterium, 68 PX10, 2016 Mercian King of Mercia, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr
Thanks for the info. I’ve never seen a new Nitto other than Technomic but have seen some used Dynamics on eBay that would fit the bill in the right length. Is the Dynamic the one they’re still making or is it something else? I also didn’t know that Soma made stems and they look really nice, you can even get them in black but on their website only 80 and 100 (I think) are available. Kinda sad, I think Soma stuff is really nice. Almost too nice for my bike. I do like the 3TTTs that I’ve seen.
FWIWI - Fit looks just right to me. Yeah, it's a LeMond fit, which is the race fit everyone used in the mid 80s, including me. If you're comfortable with it, there is nothing wrong with it at all. If you want to get precise about it, the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator works pretty well.
There's always some leeway for personal preference WRT stem length. I'd expect to see about and 11 on a bike with that size and fit, maybe a 12. Depends on TT length, torso & arm length, etc. As above, use whatever you want.
08-12-18 | 04:52 PM
#27
Thread Starter
Virgo
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 106
From: KFWA
Bikes: A touring bike and a hybrid
08-12-18 | 05:25 PM
#29
Thread Starter
Virgo
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 106
From: KFWA
Bikes: A touring bike and a hybrid
Sure thing. Yeah, the Nitto Dynamic is the one. Still made. Not as nice as the top of the line Pearl, but still good, and appropriate for that bike. Best to be sure about the bar size. 25.4 and 26 are not inter-compatible.
FWIWI - Fit looks just right to me. Yeah, it's a LeMond fit, which is the race fit everyone used in the mid 80s, including me. If you're comfortable with it, there is nothing wrong with it at all. If you want to get precise about it, the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator works pretty well.
There's always some leeway for personal preference WRT stem length. I'd expect to see about and 11 on a bike with that size and fit, maybe a 12. Depends on TT length, torso & arm length, etc. As above, use whatever you want.
FWIWI - Fit looks just right to me. Yeah, it's a LeMond fit, which is the race fit everyone used in the mid 80s, including me. If you're comfortable with it, there is nothing wrong with it at all. If you want to get precise about it, the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator works pretty well.
There's always some leeway for personal preference WRT stem length. I'd expect to see about and 11 on a bike with that size and fit, maybe a 12. Depends on TT length, torso & arm length, etc. As above, use whatever you want.
I’ll put a Dynamic on my list then, thank you for the help.
08-13-18 | 03:29 AM
#30
Bianchi Goddess
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,885
Likes: 4,123
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
08-13-18 | 04:24 AM
#31
Not lost wanderer.
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 1,422
From: Lancaster, Pa
Bikes: Cambodia bike,2012 Fuji Stratos...
And check your headset for wobble inducing. Has it been lubed and retightened correctly. That frame is a good frame, not top line and not a bottom sucker. If the seat height and position are not giving you knee pain you should be good on that size frame. On my Raleigh SuperCourse I used a 90 degree stem that put my bars up a bit and gave me the reach I wanted with a less tight position.
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[img]https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...85wP0BcIIQnrsi
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72 Geoffery Butler, 72 Gugificatizion Witcomb, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 74 Raleigh GrandPrix dingle speed, 74 Raleigh international, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 85 Gazelle Primeur, 29rBMX, Surley Steamroller 650b
Last edited by bwilli88; 08-13-18 at 04:29 AM.
08-13-18 | 09:44 PM
#32
Thread Starter
Virgo
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,279
Likes: 106
From: KFWA
Bikes: A touring bike and a hybrid
The headset was a little loose. I just overhauled it a few weeks ago and I think it came a little loose changing the stem. It was only wobbling at like 25mph and over, and there aren’t any hills around here steep enough that I get up to that speed and I barely ever push that hard on the flats.
That Profile stem is flexy, too. Not sure if that’s the length, construction, angle, alloy, etc. I’m still not crazy about the idea of another one like this. It’ll be beneficial if my ride is a little less unpleasant while I wait to replace it. I taped the bars tonight, was waiting until I had the brake levers where I wanted them. Not even a removable face will keep you from unwrap/rewrap when moving brakes around.
Commentary about my frame - I know it’s fine. You couldn’t have convinced me that until I learned how to ride and how to set it up to fit me. I actually can’t think of a better frame for my size and purpose. It’s not gas pipe, not electro-forged, it’s not light nor is it heavy. As pictured, bike is 27 lbs. The components are what they are. I don’t care. They work and when they stop working, I put working ones on, and 6 speed stuff is cheap. The wheels aren’t super but they’re smooth and quiet and true and when they die I’ll get nicer ones. I updated the shifters, bars, and brakes. The only thing I’m missing out on with this frame is braze ons, but one bottle cage is enough and p-clamps aren’t offensive on a commuter (I don’t think practicality or utility are offensive). I think vintage bikes are sexy and I think vintage bikes that get ridden hard are sexier. Feel the same way about vintage guitars. In both worlds it’s fashionable to some to spend more time polishing, admiring, and boasting the price/value of their hardware. There’s nothing wrong with that. Vintage stuff is great to look at, better to use. How much does anybody want to see a Paramount covered in road grime, sand, grease, and horse crap? (I work in Amish country).
Edit: I‘ll pretty much always put a plug in for old 12 speeds as great commuters.
Edit 2: Last week my RD exploded on my ride home one day. I bypassed it and rode 52/28 for another 6 miles before I flatted. I just pulled another derailer from the parts bin, this one works even a little nicer. I don’t need the drama of figuring out how to replace a vintage Campy RD or a new 11 speed for that matter on short order. I suppose I have a CV “membership” on a technicality since my bike isn’t classic and is just on the cusp of vintage, and it’s certainly not collectible, but I get a lot of bang for my buck. Or 50, in this case.
Edit 3 (final): I do have a ‘73 Fuji Special Road Racer that at the moment am spending a lot more time looking at than riding. It’s a taller frame, 25”. I hope that may satisfy the “frame too small” and “not nice enough” concerns.
That Profile stem is flexy, too. Not sure if that’s the length, construction, angle, alloy, etc. I’m still not crazy about the idea of another one like this. It’ll be beneficial if my ride is a little less unpleasant while I wait to replace it. I taped the bars tonight, was waiting until I had the brake levers where I wanted them. Not even a removable face will keep you from unwrap/rewrap when moving brakes around.
Commentary about my frame - I know it’s fine. You couldn’t have convinced me that until I learned how to ride and how to set it up to fit me. I actually can’t think of a better frame for my size and purpose. It’s not gas pipe, not electro-forged, it’s not light nor is it heavy. As pictured, bike is 27 lbs. The components are what they are. I don’t care. They work and when they stop working, I put working ones on, and 6 speed stuff is cheap. The wheels aren’t super but they’re smooth and quiet and true and when they die I’ll get nicer ones. I updated the shifters, bars, and brakes. The only thing I’m missing out on with this frame is braze ons, but one bottle cage is enough and p-clamps aren’t offensive on a commuter (I don’t think practicality or utility are offensive). I think vintage bikes are sexy and I think vintage bikes that get ridden hard are sexier. Feel the same way about vintage guitars. In both worlds it’s fashionable to some to spend more time polishing, admiring, and boasting the price/value of their hardware. There’s nothing wrong with that. Vintage stuff is great to look at, better to use. How much does anybody want to see a Paramount covered in road grime, sand, grease, and horse crap? (I work in Amish country).
Edit: I‘ll pretty much always put a plug in for old 12 speeds as great commuters.
Edit 2: Last week my RD exploded on my ride home one day. I bypassed it and rode 52/28 for another 6 miles before I flatted. I just pulled another derailer from the parts bin, this one works even a little nicer. I don’t need the drama of figuring out how to replace a vintage Campy RD or a new 11 speed for that matter on short order. I suppose I have a CV “membership” on a technicality since my bike isn’t classic and is just on the cusp of vintage, and it’s certainly not collectible, but I get a lot of bang for my buck. Or 50, in this case.
Edit 3 (final): I do have a ‘73 Fuji Special Road Racer that at the moment am spending a lot more time looking at than riding. It’s a taller frame, 25”. I hope that may satisfy the “frame too small” and “not nice enough” concerns.
Last edited by Phamilton; 08-13-18 at 10:15 PM.
