2021 Andy Gilmour Medium Reach Brake

[Mark Davison]

Actually there are lots of cyclists who cannot get good fits on commercially available carbon fiber frames. In my experience shorter riders (under 5 feet) or riders with long legs relative to their reach may end up wanting a custom frame, and steel is an excellent material for making an affordable custom frame.

Some builders (Waterford and Rodriguez come to mind) have extensive lines of stock sizes which can accomodate many more body types than the typical S, M, L, XL sizes of commercial frames. In addition they will do full custom if necessary.

There is a quiet sizing crisis in the industry right now prodced by the collision of two forces—using 700C (or 29er) wheels on every frame, no matter how small, and using stock carbon fiber forks with fixed rake. In order to provide reasonable front center distances, small frames get slack head tube angles, and in combination with the fixed rake standard fork, the trail figures get ridiculously large. With a custom steel fork you can increase the rake to keep the trail the same. The alternative for really small frames is to design around a smaller wheel, 650B or 26”.

I think fit is far more important than saving 3 lbs of frame weight.

[bicycletricycle]

Also, nitto pearl stems are the most beautiful way to hold a handlebar

Originally Posted by Clean39T

Fair points. My tongue was mostly in cheek. And I'd be more tolerant of a custom 1" quill that's nice and stiff anyway.. though at that point, just give me a custom threadless and let's be done with it. ha ha.

[Bici-Sonora]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

Also, nitto pearl stems are the most beautiful way to hold a handlebar

I love a good Nitto pearl and I'm more or less stem agnostic and like both the quill and threadless types. But, I've fought enough battles with stuck quill stems that I would not order a new custom with one, unless I was getting something like a Rivendell Roadeo.

The best core workout (and perhaps minor hernia) of my life involved a stuck stem from a Panasonic DX-4000 that I picked up as a "bargain" and spend about two weeks freeing the stem through all manner of ungodly means.

#gooseneck

[Bici-Sonora]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

One mans noodle is another mans dinner?

Facts- quill stems absorb more shock and pack easier

I can get behind the absorb more shock idea, but pack easier? I'd much rather pack a bike with a threadless stem if it is going in a breakaway type case where you will have to remove the fork anyway--which is almost always the case on a big frame.

[bicycletricycle]

Originally Posted by Bici-Sonora

I can get behind the absorb more shock idea, but pack easier? I'd much rather pack a bike with a threadless stem if it is going in a breakaway type case where you will have to remove the fork anyway--which is almost always the case on a big frame.

I have done both, I like to leave the fork on but I do like to take the stem off of the bars. So I guess a quill stem with a faceplate would be my packing preference.

[ColonelJLloyd]

Originally Posted by Bici-Sonora

#gooseneck

lol

[bicycletricycle]

One time I got a "good deal" on a giordana for a friend. It came with a seized seat post and stem........... What a f'ing nightmare.

Originally Posted by Bici-Sonora

I love a good Nitto pearl and I'm more or less stem agnostic and like both the quill and threadless types. But, I've fought enough battles with stuck quill stems that I would not order a new custom with one, unless I was getting something like a Rivendell Roadeo.

The best core workout (and perhaps minor hernia) of my life involved a stuck stem from a Panasonic DX-4000 that I picked up as a "bargain" and spend about two weeks freeing the stem through all manner of ungodly means.

#gooseneck

[Mark Davison]

For long term ownership of a bicycle, quill stems offer the advantage that you can reduce the drop from saddle to handlebar by simply raising the stem, or going to a Nitto Technomic stem with a longer quill. This isn’t a matter of correcting an incorrect fit, but changing the fit to accomodate an aging body.

Accomodating future changes of fit with a threadless headset requires leaving more steer tube uncut, and stacks of washers above and below the stem. The antithesis of the clean slammed washerless look.

[mhespenheide]

Or you can just change the angle of the threadless stem.