Hey, Steelie owners...
 

I've been looking at the bikes in the steelie thread. Many of you have very nice threadless stems on a very nice steel fork, that I'm sure is threaded, and 1 inch.

Do you use one of those 'quill adapters' to get the steerer up to 1 1/8, or clamp the stem onto the threaded steerer directly, or with a shim if necessary?

If you clamp onto the threads(with or without a shim), does this tend to flatten the thread, or render it unusable in the future?

If you use the adapter, any issues? I'm trying to decide which option to go with. Presently using a quill stem with a pair of handlebars I'm just not comfortable with.

Thanks for your time.

Don't call 'em 'steelies,' please.

Anyway, for those rocking modern stem/handlebar setups on old threaded forks, then yes, a quill adapter is used. Not really any other way of going about it. I've never seen a stem clamp directly onto the steerer of a threaded fork – none of the steel bikes I've owned (five and counting) have had the steerer extend beyond the headset. If you saw a setup such as a threadless stem on a threaded fork without an adapter, then you've seen something that's probably not worth replicating.

The quill adapters seem to work fine. I've never had a problem with using them, even on older steel bikes that are my backup race bikes, but I keep things good 'n' tight.

The used a quill stem adapter on my 1989 Schwinn Paramount.

"steelie"? you sound like a "fixie".

1 1/8 quill adapters are used for threaded steer tube forks. clamping a stem to the threads would be moronic :)
there are lot's of 1 inch threadless steer tube forks. for that you use a shim, or a beer can...

i own two "steelies," but one has a carbon fork. is there a name for such a bastahdization of the steel bike?

Mine came with a steel fork with a 1" threadless steerer tube.

Threadless 1" steerer w/shim. Done...

It's called, "awesomely comfortable bike".

Only if you stop using rocking.

MV

Sorry, the other thread had the term in the title. I thought it would attract the same crowd.

Thanks to all for the advice. Adapter it is then.

I've seen Thomson shims, any others?

One other thing. My frame has those nice little holes in the top tube for the rear brake cable. Do you use any particular cable cap, or just run the bare cable in. I know that's a bad thing, but it looks very subtle.

Thank you.

Love looking at those steel bikes.

I have a KHS steel bike with a 1" threaded fork. I use an quill adapter, and a specialized stem.

usually the stem adapter comes with the shim.
At least this one does. http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=A9126
The ITM one didn't, but I just used a thomson shim I had lying around.

No, but now I think I know what "non illegitimi carborundum" means.