Head tube extenders vs spacers. Pros/cons.

[XXtwindad]

I’m considering getting a head tube extender on one of my bikes. Don’t like the look of too many spacers. Conversely, I’m not a fan of the “Extreme Peg” look either. Maybe 15mm of head tube extension? I don’t know how the process works.

I know TiCycles has a great reputation. Ahearne has an interesting lugged one. That looks very appealing, although you’d probably want a lug for the bottom part of the head tube as well, I’m guessing.

Anyone done something/contemplated something similar?

[wallymann]

creative paint of the extension and lugs helps mask the visual length so they dont looks so pegoretti-ish.

[prototoast]

Sam Cassell (cross-referencing the bikes as 90s NBA players thread).

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Sam Cassell (cross-referencing the bikes as 90s NBA players thread).

Good one

[wgp]

I chose an extender for my Moots … wish Moots made a Ti one themselves (bead blasted to match) but chose to go with this one vs spacers.

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by wgp

I chose an extender for my Moots … wish Moots made a Ti one themselves (bead blasted to match) but chose to go with this one vs spacers.

That looks pretty damn good. Would you mind posting a complete picture of the bike? Do you know what size the spacer is?

[wgp]

Originally Posted by XXtwindad

That looks pretty damn good. Would you mind posting a complete picture of the bike? Do you know what size the spacer is?

Here's a link to my original thread with photos of the Vamoots back in the day (over ten years ago) and more updated:
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showt...=moots+vamoots

Tried to just attach a photo from that thread, but wasn't sure how to do that!

[mhespenheide]

Originally Posted by wgp

Tried to just attach a photo from that thread, but wasn't sure how to do that!

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

That looks great!

[wgp]

Thanks for the tech help mhespenheide! If you don't mind, how did you do that?

[mhespenheide]

Originally Posted by wgp

Thanks for the tech help mhespenheide! If you don't mind, how did you do that?

When you're in the old thread, right-click (on PC) or control-click (on Mac) on the image. You should get a pop-up menu. One of the options of the pop-up menu should be "copy image link" or "copy image URL". Click that.

Then, in the new thread, if you're in the expanded comment box, one of the icons above the text field should be a yellow square icon (with "mountains" inside the square). Click on that icon, which is "insert image". That should open up a pop-up box asking for the image URL. Paste in the URL that you copied from the old thread, then click on "OK".

It's more complicated to type up than actually do!

[avalonracing]

The HT extender in that first shot is the nicest example I have ever seen! I have he Spec Hover Bars on my gravel bike and I really like them.

[XXtwindad]

Originally Posted by wallymann

creative paint of the extension and lugs helps mask the visual length so they dont looks so pegoretti-ish.

My bike is stainless. The painted extenders looks really incognito, though.

[duff_duffy]

Gotta say I don’t like either, but I need them and I like spacers better. Look better IMO and also bit easier to sell down road from my limited experience. Functionally can change size spacers to fine tune setup but easier as well to some extent.

[robt57]

My 1st Strong Foco road frame built in 2000 when I was younger had low low stack. #1 until 2013. I decided to make a SS of it 2015-6 and needed way more stack. (155mm HT on a 588 TT frame). Stack prob 170-5 guessing.

I used an Origin 8 Alloy HT addition with the existing HCS3 fork. 2 seasons later an inspection showed the bottom of it had notched the steerer. Maybe a Ti one will be thinner and have a smaller ID.

But that bottom ID edge, apparently the steer tube flexes enough to have that occur. I did have to do a lot yanking and banking to get it moving from stop, like a sprint frequently until the 80 GI got up to speed.

So the bike got a steel lugged crown fork, I figured the notching which was not too terrible was not going to improve. Steel steerer does not flex enough to touch.

YMMV