question for Pista owners
 

Anyone know the type/size of stem that comes stock on the bike--i need to get a shorter stem.

Why dont you just measure the one you have?

i didnt mean in terms of length--don't they come in different diameters?

you mean 1" vs 1 1/8"? i know the 06's are 1" and i am almost *positive* the older models are 1" too. you can just measure that too, take it off and measure the diameter of the clamp (inside)

also make sure the bar clamp is the right diameter too... once again 06's are 26.0mm... i'm pretty sure it hasn't changed.

skanking biker--

don't know what you're unclear on but here's a quick primer. threadless stems for the kind of bikes we talk about here are generally one of two sizes-- 1 1/8", or 1". that refers to the diameter of the steerer tube, which is the part of the fork that goes through the headtube. there are other important measurements--the clamp diameter, which is generally 26mm and refers to how fat the bars should be where the stem grips them [stems w/ removable faceplates can hold bars a bit bigger or smaller, though]. there's length of the stem. that's straightforward. and there's also angle.

a google search for bianchi pista brought me here:
http://www.bianchiusa.com/05_pista.html

...which told me that it has a 1" threadless headset. which means that you need a stem for a 1" steerer tube.

hope that helps.

thank you--i'm not a mechanic type and get confused by all the measurement numbers and what they refer to---i didnt realize a 1" threadless headset meant that was the size stem the bike took---i understand now--thank you for the info--that was what i was looking for


[edit]: i am "unclear" because i just really got into biking 2 yrs ago and fixed gear riding this past summer--As i said, i have no mechanical background, none of my friends ride bikes, and i never had anyone as a kid to teach me about tools---this forum is my primary source of info on bikes---sorry if this inconviences people. i try not to ask dumb questions like "whats a top tube protector for" or "how do you stop on a fixie" etc.

"---i didnt realize a 1" threadless headset meant that was the size stem the bike took" .. No... it means the diameter of the steering tube... not the diameter of the stem clamp?. A stem for 1 inch steering tube in quill are 2.22 mms diameter (or so) but untill now I have no idea if u really have integrated headset or not u know... Threadless could be integrated or not.. so at least my self IM quite lost wiith your descriptions.

The thing Is that im quite unclear too.. pista? wich pista? Bianchi pista? fiji pista???? Olmo pista? Ridley pista? colnago pista********** Would u start saying exaclty what bike do u have???

What I would do is go to the net... look for the bike u have and paste the link in here so we sould figure it what do u have... or... take a picture of it and post it (go to advance when replying then down ull fine a bottom saying attachments)

I understant that nobody tought u about this stuff.. I was confused too when I came back to cycling after 15 years and the stuff has changed a lot but I catched up in a few weeks... Sorry us for be so technicals sometimes but w/o some data is hard to help u know..

UM

i have an 05 bianchi pista---it does not take the quill type stem

well it says VP headset 1 inch.. thats all u need to know.. get a stem with 1 inch clamp ... the handlebar clamp no clue... looks like isnt oversize so get a regular 1 inch stem...

cya.

Headset
VP AheadSet, 1" threadless

Handlebar
Bianchi/Deda steel track, 26.0mm

get this...


http://cgi.ebay.com/3T-alloy-Road-St...QQcmdZViewItem

hmm thats black... wonder who is doing chrome stems (from the good brands) looks like noone... somebody should know...

cya :)

yeah. steerer tube, headset, stem, and headtube measurements all go together. the whole assembly, as it were-- the steerer tube goes into the headtube, headset provides the bearings, and the stem holds it together.

One thing you need to consider is the depth of the portion of the stem that clamps onto the steer tube. This depth varies from stem to stem. You bike probably has a stack of aluminum spacers underneath the stem. You might need to remove a spacer or else replace one of the spacers with a thinner one. Bike shops sell steer tube spacers in all sorts of thicknesses. Make sure you mention it's for a 1" stem. When I set up my bike, I like to leave a couple millimeters clearance between the top of the steer tube, and the top of the stem. This way I can tighten down the steering assembly without bottoming-out on the steer tube. Depending on the depth of the stem, I'll sometimes put one spacer above the stem. This way the steer tube fully engages the stem, and I can still compress the steering assembly.

p.s. I recommend you get yourself a cheap plastic vernier caliper for measuring spacer thicknesses. It's also useful for figuring chainline, and about a thousand other things. I've found this tool to be absolutely indispensible.

this and wheelbuilding are the two areas of bike mechanics that give me a headache. but to be clear here...from what i've gathered from a couple posts (resurrecting this for my own purposes here)...is it correct that a bianchi pista won't take a 1" quill stem? damn! there's one i want for cheap!

If your frame is stock then the answer is no. The pista has a threadless fork so it requires a threadless headset and a threadless stem.

You would need to get new fork and headset to use the stem (and ensure that the stem had a clamp diameter compatible with your bars).

Only other option is to get Bernie Mikklesen (or other competent frame builder) to convert your threadless fork to threaded, but its hardly worth it for a Pista.

you can use a 1" quill stem with a threadless steerer and headset, you just need to find something to hold the headset bearing assembly together.

if you find the right-sized seatpost binder bolt, you can use that around your steer tube to hold the bearing assembly together, taking the place of the (threadless-style) stem, and then insert a quill stem (1" of course). sheldon brown talks about this method somewhere on his website, but i can't find it.

Interesting.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/handsup.html#threadless

Not recommended for 1" though.

hmmm...damn. i might just pick it up though, as i do intend to replace the headset and fork as soon as i can.

If dudes Pista is 2001 or before it's threaded

and nobody has mentioned that he can use a 1 1/8" stem with a shim.

I am not sure where this talks about using a quill stem with a threadless fork/headset combo. I have had this picture linked as a quill stem in a threadless fork...but it is actually just a threadless stem on the WAY top of a threadless fork, with a seatpost clamp taking the place of the headset cap/star nut combo.

Am I missing something?

http://photos-046.facebook.com/n10/4...61046_7731.jpg

every pista owner should convert to threaded...

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2005...eBrannan-1.jpg

very very sexy.

Do I count as a pista owner if I own a pista Concept? or is that a seperate catagory?

Baxter's right on point... most threadless stems come with a shim so you can use it on 1" or 1 1/8".

no, you're not missing anything.
the same *technique* could be used for a quill stem, rather than a threadless stem way at the top of a long steerer.
the clamp removes the need for a star nut and top cap. So, in theory you could cut off the steerer at the top of the clamp and insert a quill (provided that the quill diameter and the steerer inner diameter are compatible - and

there are actually headsets out there that are designed around this feature, so you don't have to use the seatpost clamp kludge. like the YST GeForce.

Cool, thanks Baxtefer...now to research options for that route...