tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post6550451452327505880..comments2024-03-28T11:56:48.304-04:00Comments on The Retrogrouch: Threadless and Quill StemsBrookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-69459080582478495542021-03-04T13:45:06.901-05:002021-03-04T13:45:06.901-05:00I'm new to all this, and am dumbfounded how ug...I'm new to all this, and am dumbfounded how ugly the threadless stuff is compared to the quill stems, I'm after modern and timeless, not a thing.Nimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08066206179869521787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-2213862085324081722017-08-24T16:25:03.879-04:002017-08-24T16:25:03.879-04:00Found this post googling. Seeking reassurance tha...Found this post googling. Seeking reassurance that I'm making an okay choice buying an expensive (for me) road frame that has a threaded headset. I'm an overthinker. Threadless just seems the simpler more trouble free route. Shoving a wedge into the steerer tube doesn't seem like the best option, as you've listed the drawbacks :p. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07177322393654448406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-34247999909650128962017-04-23T01:03:49.133-04:002017-04-23T01:03:49.133-04:00When I was a much younger faster ATB rider, the th...When I was a much younger faster ATB rider, the threadless 1 1/8 was a gift from god especially before really good suspension. If you are on a road bike that does not go over 40mph on a descent or regularly push above 27-30 mph in a sprint, I am not sure if there is much of bonus to outweigh the aesthetics for a steel road bike. I do like the way flared headset handle shock and handling.S. Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13724748195286669414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-45061206686953181392016-09-19T08:19:51.396-04:002016-09-19T08:19:51.396-04:00Some of that shine aspect you mention comes from t...Some of that shine aspect you mention comes from the type of alloy used in the stem. Cold forging takes stronger alloys, and they are typically the ones that can take the nicest shine (and keep that lustre longer). If the stem had been anodized originally, you'd need to remove all traces of the anodizing before you'd be able to get a good shine. If it's a softer alloy - as might be used on a hot-forged or melt-forged stem, you can get a decent polish, but as you mention, it doesn't seem to last long.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-8204660555560785452016-09-19T06:45:36.479-04:002016-09-19T06:45:36.479-04:00I agree totaly with the author of this article and...I agree totaly with the author of this article and with John.<br />And this is wright ... steel bikes are svelte and have the right proportion.<br />Well this is of course personal opinion.<br />I should like to ask if there is anybody who know what treatment is applied on stems made in Italy to be so shiny. I bought some time ago a Dancelli from '80 and the former owner did not care too much about the aspect and the stem was with scratches. I mechanically polished it but I can not get the shine which is present also on stems from this article and, more than this, after polishing I observed that the surface is extremely sensible and is very easy to scratch it.<br />So, does anybody know the right treatment to get the original aspect and also hardness of stem surface?<br />Anodisation is out of discussion as it give dull or mat surface.<br />Thanks.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237448900442047636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-45599752467156120712016-05-23T12:41:43.305-04:002016-05-23T12:41:43.305-04:00Interesting commentary. I'm sure you've s...Interesting commentary. I'm sure you've seen threadless stems attached below the top of the steerer tube with more spacers added above it - as an alternative to having the steering tube cut. I'm tall enough that cutting is usually not a consideration, but for those with extra length in the steerer, I would advise them to leave it uncut. It gives you better adjustability and the next buyer of your bike will appreciate that.<br />Rich von Lehehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17500344133446937870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-82788098561023911232014-09-08T16:11:30.372-04:002014-09-08T16:11:30.372-04:00death quills -- you must be referring to those old...death quills -- you must be referring to those old Ava stems from the 70s. I've never actually seen a broken one, but I do know they were awfully light -- apparently too much so.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-47998644514728085632014-09-08T14:37:02.977-04:002014-09-08T14:37:02.977-04:00I don't mind the aesthetics of threadless. I d...I don't mind the aesthetics of threadless. I don't care for the stack of spacers - if it were me I'd simply have an appropriate length tube cut as a single, tall spacer. <br /><br />I also don't mind a carbon fork on a steel frame (I have a Felt F4130 in my collection) - they don't have to be ungainly.<br /><br />http://www.motostrano.com/Felt-F4130-Athena-Road-Bike-p/f4130-a.htm<br /><br />One nice thing about Aheadsets is the variety of stems available - lots of lengths and angles - way more than with quills. Finally, although you can get "capped" or two-bolt quills, they are rare. That means bar tape comes off more frequently for maintenance. And quills often scratch the bars.<br /><br />You didn't mention the "death quill" either :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-83925113033437846912013-10-07T07:03:26.038-04:002013-10-07T07:03:26.038-04:00The Stronglight A9, and the Stronglight Delta, wer...The Stronglight A9, and the Stronglight Delta, were some nice headsets -- they'll last a long, long time.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-61300436773331360512013-10-06T18:35:57.360-04:002013-10-06T18:35:57.360-04:00The threadless stem/headset travesty is primarily ...The threadless stem/headset travesty is primarily to save OEM manufacturers assembly time and money. Loose ball bearing headsets maximize the surface area touching the race and minimize possibilities for brinelling. Then caged bearings were "innovated" which speeded assembly, reduced costs but reduced the number of bearings and increased the likelihood of brinelling of the races. Change not progress. I'll just stick with my Stronglight A9.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-36319420589792134792013-10-05T21:35:27.283-04:002013-10-05T21:35:27.283-04:00I agree with you -- as I mention in the post -- fu...I agree with you -- as I mention in the post -- functionally I don't have any issues with them. My main complaint is aesthetic -- especially with steel-framed bikes. The best way to go for a threadless stem on a steel bike is to have something custom-made out of steel.Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12110998345857993287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8492685525705691186.post-70005277430253456892013-10-05T11:12:44.478-04:002013-10-05T11:12:44.478-04:00To me the drawback of the threadless stems is that...To me the drawback of the threadless stems is that they're extremely ugly. I hate the ugly external clamp screws and the fact that the stem extension is almost never horizontal, like God intended it to be. (Okay, sometimes it's parallel to the sloping top tube of the new bikes, which is another "modern" feature that assaults my sense of aesthetics). It saddens me to see today's builders, who tout themselves as "keepers of the flame", using these ugly, klunky 90 degree threadless stems. The stem in your third picture doesn't look quite as bad, but it would be 100% better if the extension were horizontal, not sticking up in the air like a sore thumb.johnbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15624063335422874333noreply@blogger.com