jdawginsc 

My post upstairs didn’t display the pictures.

ITM Eclypse and the 3TTT prochrome can really be made to stand out. Cinelli Pincchio (is that the Grammo?) is pretty cool as well.

I have a few of the the two latter ones that I removed the stickers and the shine like the sun. And they are stiff and strong as heck.

jamesdak 

Ah the voice of reason!

I remember strangers on various forums giving me crap for riding this bike. "Your bars are too high", "Your fit is all wrong", yada, yada, yada. Like they could know about the 5 blown discs in my lower back and the constant pain I was in for couple of years.



As the back got sorted I was able to be quite comfortable with the bars lower and lower up to where even this bike wasn't an issue.



Then I had the wreck that jacked up the AC joint in my one shoulder. Add in age and a little more cushioning in the belly and I tend to start heading back up on some of the bikes. My fit is still pretty precise for handlebar reach amongst all the bikes but I vary a fair bit on the saddle to bar drop. I need to get some rides in on each new setup to feel things out and see what I like best.

Weirdest thing about the jacked up AC joint is that I feel like I'm always shrugging with my opposite shoulder when I ride now. LIke I'm compensating or something.

Anyway, looks come in a long second to being comfortable on the bike. Rant over, LOL!
"

jamesdak 

Hmmm.....I may have one of those on the way....maybe....possibly.

Camilo

Those bikes look perfectly sane to me. I always get a kick out of folks criticizing fit based on photos with no knowledge of the actual rider's fit, physique or challenges. A corollary being people who prioritize style over function in a bike with their comments*. Another corollary being those that think they know what gearing you "should" need (or not need) because they don't need it.

*I do understand the "hot or not" threads with photos, because they are obviously focused on style not function, although I often disagree with peoples' aesthetic taste. I like looking at those bikes. I also have made a decision on component "a" or "b" based on aesthetics, assuming they both serve the function. I do like the seat post, stem and crank, even the rims, to match - silver or black - but that only comes into play if I happen to have the functional matchy parts available.

rogerm3d

Cinelli is the nicest look/fit
For the bars stuck in the Cinelli stem remove the bolt and try gently driving a wedge (either a flat stubby screwdriver or a chisel (V-wedge)) into the split to expand the opening up.
The Cinelli Grammo stem is really nice but it's really flexy as it's thin light titanium. Also make sure to keep track of the stem cap because you will never be able to find a replacement

Andrew_G 

I've found that Cinelli stems (1/A, 1/R) are often a tight fit in the steering tube. On more than one occasion I've had to have the inside of the fork's steering tube reamed out a slight amount to fit a Cinelli stem. In contrast, 3ttt and Nitto stems would drop right into the fork without fuss. (Columbus steering tube.)

I've found that 3ttt handlebars often slipped in the stem. The bars rotated down, towards the front. I had significantly fewer problems with Nitto or Cinelli.

I've also found that a traditional quill stem with bars to match (~26mm diameter at the clamp) feel a bit too flexible when used on a more modern frame with oversized tubes. This is more of an issue when standing ("dancing") on the pedals. So I prefer 31.7mm/31.8mm bars to use with an oversized tube frameset.

For a quill stem, I recommend Nitto, with Nitto bars to match. The Nitto quality is top notch (in my experience better than Cinelli) , and there is a great range of handlebars available, with various reaches as noted per each model's specifications. Otherwise you may want to consider a threadless stem with a quill adapter. Nitto makes some silver finish bars and stems in 31.8mm diameter. Ritchey also makes a stem and bars in silver finish.

For stem diameter, I think the stem looks 'right' when the diameter of the horizontal part of the stem is about the diameter of the top tube.

Narhay

The cinelli looks best but i would go with the one that feels the best.

smd4

It may be hard to see from the photo, but the Cinelli stem pictured is a 1R--the binding mechanism is internal, and there is no "split" into which one can force a screwdriver.

smd4

Have to agree with you there. Nitto made the Dura Ace stem--arguably the best looking quill stem ever made.

SJX426 

My personal favorite at the moment is the XA. I like the transitions and the hidden bolt. this one is a bit long and was replace with a 1R, which has a lot of appeal but subject to poor clamping and failure.
P1020201 on Flickr

jamesdak 

Bingo! And repeated soakings with PB Blaster did no good which surprised me.

jamesdak 

Ahhh......I'll take a Nitto Pearl over a Dura Ace anyday. Just something about the look and finish of the pearl. I'm pretty sure I saw a long Dura Ace in my stash when I was looking but if it doesn't fit my need it has no purpose this time.

jamesdak 

I too am normally a Nitto fan and use a lot of them. The Pearl is my all time fav and I'm a repeat customer at Ben's Cycles for them. Even have a few Nitto's in the stash right now including a brand new Pearl that is about 15mm too long. It's the first thing I grabbed. In this case I was trying to not spend money on the build. I mean I failed but that was the idea, LOL!

Nitto Noodle is a bar I use a lot too but I've just come to like the Soma HWY One better.

smd4

I guess they're fine if you like a giant bolt/clamp system hanging below your bar! (and if I wanted that, I'd get a Cinelli 1A). And I think I'd put the Dura Ace finishing over the pearl any day!

kroozer 

IMO the Profile goes best with that frame, but whatever fits best is best.
I also have a Cinelli 1-R that won't release the bar. Luckily the bar is where I want it!

jamesdak 

Pure sex!!

smd4

I believe we're all in agreement that the stem should fit, be the right length, etc. I can only assume that jamesdak has stems in his collection that fit this bill, and that he knows what size to get if he has to purchase outside his stash.

Of course, proper stem size was not the question posed in this thread.

smd4

Well, like hookers, they are at least readily available. I will say that for 'em!

jamesdak 

jamesdak 

Well....actually I did say it needed to be a 90mm and that I was keeping it to parts on hand.
But I diverted the thread as much as everyone else.

Steel Charlie

Just put the bolt back in almost all the way and tap it lightly with a small hammer to break the wedge loose. Take the pieces out, clean, grease, reassemble and Bob's your uncle...

SJX426 

@jamesdak Hard enough to get the 1R tight enough to keep the HB from rotating even with the correct HB diameter. The cap screw pulls down on a piece that has a ramp matching the ramp of the wedge. By taping on the cap screw lightly while it is loos will move the wedge up and should release the clamping force.

I have a 1A in 80 that I don't need.

jamesdak 

Check you guys out! I just went to grab this to test out your method and as soon as I loosened the bolt it came free. I guess sitting a year or so in the stash after I last messed with this let the PB Blaster do it's stuff. Feel sorta stupid that I didn't even check this yesterday.

Anyway if not for your suggestions I probably would have tossed this back in the handlebar box and forgotten about it. Thanks!

smd4

So the good-looking stem is back in the "possible" rotation?

jamesdak 

Maybe, the quill is a bit rough looking.