Quill stems
 

I posted the following over in Road Cycling it was suggested that i post here for better info:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...972-Quill-stem

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Anyone know a good source for quill type stems? It is rather hard to find good ones these days. I did a forum search and a Google search but the number of posts/threads with the word "stem" is massive, Google gives me a bunch of off brands, and eBay is rather thin in that department.

I'm replacing the stem on my LeMond. I ordered an quill-to-threadless adapter and threadless Ritchey WCS stem, but the total weight between the two (adapter and stem) is about 280 grams. If I'm going to be replacing the stem anyway, I'd like to go lighter.

Ideas?
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The RC guys seemed to have some good input. What ideas does C&V have?




P.S. I didn't realize my bike had become classic/vintage. This feels a little like hearing music I listened to in college being played on a classic rock station. :D

Ben's Cycle in Milwaukee, WI sells the range of Nitto stems, which have a very wide range of sizes. Quality-wise, you can't get any better. (www.benscycle.net)

Weight-wise, these are not light, so your 280 g does not sound so bad. A Nitto Dynamic CrMo quill stem at Ben's is quoted as 294 grams, and a Nitto Pearl (top-grade cold-forged aluminum) is 325 grams. I don't believe vintage Cinelli stems were lighter. Modolo stems may have been lighter than these, but only incrementally so. There used to be Ti quill stems on the market and some welded ones made of sheet aluminum.

What is your old stem, and why does it need replacing? What size do you need?

I imagine the C&V guys will want a few more requirements, such as bar diameter, quill diameter, extension, height. I wouldn't be suprised if some go diving though their parts bins and come up with some prospects.

The old stem is Cinelli, but it is too long. I've been living with it because changing out a quill is a royal pain in the ass. However, my shifters died, so I'm going to replace everything north of the steerer tube.

The stem is a 130mm. I want to drop down to a 110mm or 100mm.

I like RF's suggestion quite a bit.

I would order up a Nitto Pearl in your correct length from Ben's and be done with it.

The stem is a beauty, and it is a set and forget favorite for me.

BTW I visited Ben's Cycle in Milwaukee, and was surprised to see such a wonderful selection of goodies for C&V fans.

I was cheerfully given a tour of the basement and of the warehouse in the back of the store across the street.

The place was littered with cool bicycles, and the folks working there were super friendly and helpful.

My wife had to take my wallet away, as there interesting items everywhere for purchase.

Easily one of the best bicycle shops I've ever visited, and I've been to more than a few.

This is what I am looking at:

Length: 110mm or 100mm
Bar: 31.8mm (new lightweight bars seem to all be this size)
Quill: 22mm

Edit: It looks like Ben's has some 25.8mm bars.

How do you measure length? There are a few ways, all called "standard" by somebody at least, and which can vary by up to a centimeter (1 size!!). I have a few 26.0 in that range, but I'd hate to send you what I think is a 100 and you think is a 90, or vice versa on the top end.

If you're looking for 31.8 quill, I think you have just added a potentially fatal constraint to your search. The arrangement you bought is what you'll have to settle for.

Also, I've found a 2 to 3 cm step change in stem extension to be big. I like to do my own fit adjustments in one-size increments. I've found changes from say 10 to 8 to be too big a jump.

I do have a 120 Pearl 22.0/26.9, and some really light sheet metal thing in similar sizing, and I think a Modolo in 110 mm extension and 22.0/26.0. PM me if you want to know more.

Trying to to shave grams off a C&V bike is like trying to increase the gas mileage on a sixties muscle car. It can be done, but it is going to be expensive and time consuming. In the end, what is the point?

Wisdom. Your crankset, wheelset, brakes, seatpost, headset, saddle ..and frame...are heavy by modern standards ... going to replace those also?

Well said!

If Cinelli ever comes out with their re-issue quill stems and bars, I'll be buying them!

There are 31.8 quill stems, mostly MTB stems and they are FUGLY atmo.
for a lightweight bar & stem I'm using a Deda Murex stem and Deda 215 bars.
The Murex is designed so that you can remove bars without having to remove
brake levers, tape etc. and is available in black, matte silver or polished versions.

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/deda-mu...-med.jpg?w=350

Hey lotek, where are you sourcing those Murex stems? Wiggle as the image would suggest?

I grabbed the photo from Wiggle, I got mine on ebay I think Ital-Techno was running them a while back.
The one that's difficult to find is the polished version, I've got the matt finish and that matches
the 215 bars I have.
Also check out defietsenmaker (Mario Vai ) on ebay.
Other quill stems that open at the face are the 3TTT Motus and Mutant,
looks wise not to everyones liking but the choices are rather limited.

Marty (who desperately wants a Cinelli Alter quill stem).

To use automotive vernacular, my bike is a resto-mod. It is actually a mid-90's LeMond. Everything is original except the saddle and wheel set. This entire process started here: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hlight=dilemma.

So, I've got new shifters, crankset, headset (existing one is worn), rear derailleur, and threadless stem with adapter. Soon to be added are new bars and a quill stem instead of the stem/adapter combo.

The bike is 22lbs right now. I was hoping to find 750g (2lbs), but it appears that getting much more than 1lb off will cost a small fortune.

I like a lot of the ideas posted ITT, though.

Yes. Some of those anyway.

I measured from the center of the tightening bolt to the center of the clamp.

It looks like Ben's has some narrower bars.

I based the jump and my own decidedly unscientific methods. Basically, the hoods are about 1 inch further out than where I would like them to be to not feel stretched out. Probably not the best way to determine stem length. I'm open to suggestions.

Will do.

Neat! Thanks for introducing these to me!

+1 on Roadfan's recommendation. The Winged-C on my original Cinelli stem looked really cool, but that stem was noodlier than overboiled capellini. The Nitto stem I got from Ben's didn't look as cool, but was much stiffer and they have a more convenient size selection.
http://www.calamarichris.com/images/090814-masi-1.jpg

You could always get a 1" threadless fork and then just get the lightweight shim that's needed to use a 1-1/8 stem. I have this setup on my 650c custom frame. 1" threadless forks are still pretty readily available and I think you can even get them new at Nashbar but in carbon. It looks cleaner then the quill adapter and quite a bit lighter.

Or you could find a Cinelli Grammo stem as they weigh as much as nice modern threadless stem and look extremely sexy.

Had I know you were gonna show a Masi, I'd have said there is nothing better than a cinelli! But really, I don't see Cinelli stems as noodly. Yes, you can crank on them with your hands, but that doesn't translate to any ride issues. My Masi still has it's Cinelli. Even more seriously, I don't think Mr. Masi and Mr. Cinelli were happy as supplier/customer, seeing as their bikes were mutually seen as "best Italian" and "best Italian except for ....... " We'll need a thread on which was which.

Measuring, then you go across the top of the extension of the stem?

Sorry, the Pearl is 26.0, not 26.9!

A method for determining reach and hence minimum required stem extension? Sorry, that's too hard for me!!!! Your method sounds as good as any.

I know three people looking for Grammos, plus myself, right at at the moment.

Found one, but just about threw up when I heard the price.

Agreed on the sexy part. :)

Did some searching for this stem and it is not released yet. Expected in January 2012.

Found this one as a possible alternative (ignore the color):

http://www.origin-8.com/images/new_400/58333.jpg

...which is eerily similar.

wow, I've had mine for at least 5 years.
I wonder if Deda is going to start producing them again, if so that's
a good sign that 1 inch quill stems aren't going the way of
buggy whips.
There are a few listed on ebay, and Mario Vai in the Netherlands has them.

Marty

I find my quill stems on eBay. I need LONG ones (130mm) and they are difficult to find, except on eBay.

ive got a murex/215 combo on two of my three bikes.

i had to resort to ebay for my last one. fortunately it was the correct color, length, and came with the matching 215 bars (that i also needed)

both ended up on the bianchi you helped me with:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...x/DSC01131.jpg

the polished version is very hard to come by. i just resorted to polishing a matte one:
http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/k...d/DSC00895.jpg

i hope they rerelease them! i actually had an in depth correspondence with the director of deda usa last winter regarding the murex. the wedge bolt on my "ebay murex" was seized. he promptly sent me new parts free of charge even though i let him know it was an ebay purchase and i was willing to pay. he refused my payment, gave me the torque specs, and made me promise i woundnt use the top cap because they were NLA

edit: i just looked on dedas site. it is in fact scheduled to come back out in 2012!!! after my experience with the director of deda usa they are now my vendor of choice for bars, stems, bar tape, and chain watchers.