threadless stem choice- aesthetic question
 

I have finally gotten around to having my lugged track frame repaired and purchasing a fork for it. The fork is a threadless Soma Track (also lugged, for those who didn't know). Price and availability made the decision an easy one. Most of the lugged road forks that came up on ebay have too much rake, and the closest priced threaded track fork that came with a brake hole was chrome (my stays are not chromed) and $20 plus shipping more. I know people here don't think much of threadless stems, but hey- that's what the fork calls for, so that's what I'll be using.

Here's the question: Should I get a 90 (0) degree, an 80 (-10) degree or a 73 (-17) degree stem? Depending on how I have the steerer tube cut, I'll be able to put the clamp in pretty much the same location with whichever stem I choose. I'll be using a Bianchi (by Deda) Cro-Mo Pista drop bar and Syntace Stratos 400 bullhorns, both with a 26.0 clamp bulge.

These are my choices so far: All parts will be silver, and the frame will be painted silver.

90 degree- Rivendell (by Nitto) Lugged 100mm stem http://=http://www.rivbike.com/image...ics/16-132.jpg This one may not make it around the bends of the Syntace, so if I buy this stem, I'll have to buy another one for that bar.

80 degree- Nitto UI-5GX 100mm http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...168258541&rd=1

Thomson X4 100mm silver. I assume everyone here knows what the new Thomsons look like.

73 degree- any number of good choices.

Other components that will likely be used:

Miche Primato Crank/Campagnolo 102mm BB*
Cane Creek S2 headset, silver*
American Classic seatpost, silver
IRO 32 hole hubset w/ Velocity Aerohead or Deep V rims (all silver)
Selle Royal Viper saddle*
Cinelli cork tape

* already own these parts

My hope is to use the slightly more modern-looking parts with the modern saddle and cork tape to compliment the headset/stem rather than make them stand out so much.

Anyhow, which stem angle would you choose and why? I'm completely on the fence wrt stem choice, so I thought I'd ask the good folks here on BF for their fashion opinions.

I'll probably leave 2-3 cm of steerer tube above the top of whichever stem I choose so I'm not locked into fewer positions. Plus, I like that little bit of steerer sticking above the top of the stem (sue me). Likely at least 2cm of spacers under the stem. Feel free to add suggestions, either for stems, or for where I can get a drilled, threaded, lugged fork with track-esque rake and round blades for less than $90.

The lugged stem is godawfully ugly, and by that I mean the kind of ugly that even I can't get behind.

Which stem gets the bars to your desired height?

Well, they all do- or can (frame's still at Spicer being checked out, and the fork is in transit). The 73 would be raised on the steerer tube to match the 80 and the 90 would be lowered on the tube to match the 80. Only the 73 and the 90 potentially represent significant differences in bar height, and even that can be worked out. That's why I'm asking for aesthetic advice.

My thought isn't that the lugged stem is ugly, but that it is out of place without a Brooks, 36 spoke hubs and a vintage Campagnolo or old Shimano crankset and fluted seatpost. So no, it ain't very high on my list.

i absolutely love the new thomson stems. the angle is really up to you and where you want the bars... a 90 degree stem won't be as versatile as the other two, since if you invert it the angle remains the same.

as for the angle and length of the stem, i can't imagine choosing based on an aesthetic principle. find the dimensions most comfortable for you, then choose from what's available.

i have a thomson on my road bike, and i love it. great stem.

uh...what do the new thomsons look like?

edit: never mind, I looked. Those are bada$$ and i like their versatility and functional design as well as their appearance.

Again, the dimensions are achieveable with any of these stems. choosing the right length (either 90mm or 100mm, depending on the angle) and adjusting the stem's height on the steerer tube will allow this. If I had a protractor nearby, I'd do the math and show you what I'm talking about. And I'm not absolutely sure that I want the spacer height required for a -17 degree stem, so I may be narrowing this down even more.

Getting a lot of good feedback about the Thomson. I very much like the newer design myself. Now... how many of you would be comfy with this Thomson on a lugged frame, without a different post (Thomson posts and lugs do not go together)? I'm leaning toward either the Thomson or the Nitto (non-lugged).

Someone in this forum had a threaded steerer attached to a soma fork. If you would prefer a more traditional look, it's certainly an option - I believe it cost him less than $50 to have done. If you have threaded components (headset, stem, etc) already, that might save you some money relative to buying a new threadless headset and stem.

m.

I have both threaded and threadless headsets, but I don't have an acceptable stem for either right now. So if I could have that done, I'd be fine with it. Is this the fork that the Mikkelsen guy welded a threaded steerer onto? I'm very interested now that I know the price, but does he have a website?

ok, i follow. i like the look of a 90 degree threadless stem... they look a little weird to me when they drop. dunno why, but hey, you asked!

so, yes, another vote for the thomson. not cheap, but very, very good (strong, stiff, light, etc.)

mikkelsen's web site is http://www.mikkelsenframes.com/pages/803201/index.htm

Well, I did the search on "Mikkelsen" and it revealed the thread where th guy had this work done for around $40. So I left Bernie Mikkelsen a message, and am now waiting on his return call. Thanks for the site, Weed eater.

Looks like I'm about to be delayed again in my quest for lugged track beauty, but I'd rather have threaded if I can get it.

i also like the fact that thomsons are made in the usa...

Pick any two and come visit my garage ;)
If you ever want to use these 2-3 centimeters currently above a stem to rise it you wil end up with 4-5cm of spacers - that's too much.

An aesthetic answer- I'd go with whatever stem puts the bars where you want them, without having to use any/many spacers. A pile of spacers and a drop stem looks kinda like something I wouldn't want my bike to look like.

I'll add another alternative to the list - a Salsa SUL stem. The cromoly ones. Superstiff and strong and with a thin look (non-bulky/bulgy) which make them a perfect match for the thinner look of steel frames. Not sure if you can get em in silver but they look good with a Soma:

http://dcc.absenter.org/foto/misc/salsa_01.jpg
http://dcc.absenter.org/foto/misc/salsa_02.jpg
http://dcc.absenter.org/foto/misc/salsa_03.jpg

They are thin. That's a good thing. But it does need to be silver. My take on lugged frames is that they need silver parts (rims excepted- they can be silver, black, gray or any blend of the three :) ), unless they're Richard Sachs frames. And even then, the Campagnolo Pista gruppo he'd spec is still silver- only the modern Campagnolo road componentry has gone to mostly black.

Hey, are you the guy with the Soma with the Phils and Cinelli Alter stem? What made you change it out? Maybe I'm thinking about another bike.

I hear you on the all silver part. Since the Soma is both fillet brazed and threadless, the Salsa works well.

And yes, I am that person - that's the bike above. The Alter was nice - but I ended up stripping the lower threads by my overzealous anxiousness at being at the track a few weeks ago when I was swapping out bullhorns to drops. Fortunately, I found a very well though of stem. But now I'm on the drops. It matches the bike pretty well.

I believe SOMAS are tigged not fillet brazed.

absntr, i am so glad that you switched out that cinelli stem.. the salsa looks infinitely better.

Yep. That was me. I had Mikkelssen do it, and its held up perfectly. I'm not at all worried about this thing breaking. It doesn't cost much, either, to get it done. http://sfrecording.com/bikes/forkconversion.jpg

dokushoka, your bike is bike is stunning.

Whoops sorry, had a brainfart - did the ol' switcheroo.

Shants - thanks. I too am pleased with it. While I liked the Cinelli for all its awkwardness, the Salsa rocks.

isotopesope - we miss you in these parts.

Wow thanks
:D

I still need to get a white saddle and build up a proper wheelset for it.

awww... thanks. i've been super busy at work lately and also nearly approach an anuerism every time i come to this site... yet i still do frequently.

also, that salsa stem suits your bike much better. i agree it's quite an improvement, though i do like the look of alter stems quite a bit. they're so weird.