Gratuitous stack?

scott <[email hidden]> wrote in news:%XZTa.34455$Ma.7744299 @news1.telusplanet.net:

Quoted message said:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less
weight and flex?

The buyer (or shop) is always welcome to cut the steering tube down once they figure out what
handlebar height they want. Manufacturers are wise to leave the tube tall to fit a wide range
of buyers.

BTW - in this case, the stem appears to already be angled down, so flipping it would *raise* the
handlebar.

Quoted message said:

BTW - in this case, the stem appears to already be angled down, so flipping it would *raise* the
handlebar.

...thereby allowing you to cut off excess steering tube & spacers bringing the bar back to original
height. n'est pas?

In article said:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

doesn't look excessive to me...but i'm sporting a gratuitous 5cm myself. and what's worse is that i
alternated black and silver spacers, to even call MORE attention to it.

quick, somebody do the math: how many grams did it cost me?

phred

In article said:

Consider the following bicycle photo:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less weight
and flex?

Some people think that a stem that points up says "fred" and a stem that points down says "racer"...
even if its on a stack of spacers. Some frames even have extra-long head tubes to allow one to use a
"racer" downward angled stem without the discomfort of a real racer's low bar position.

Eric

scott said:

Consider the following bicycle photo:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less
weight and flex?

They'd also have to cut the steer tube. More labor == more cost. Spacers are cheap.

I'm [censored] that my Giant TCR2 doesn't have enough length in the front brake cable for the stem I
bought for it; now a small project becomes a big pain in my [censored]...new cable, new housing,
re-wrap bar...

--
Rick Onanian

Quoted message said:

Consider the following bicycle photo:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less
weight and flex?

I have about 5cm of spacers (1 1/8" steel steerer) and 0 degree stem and haven't noticed any "flex".

It gets me where I wanna be. I thought about cutting the steerer and getting an upward stem, but
why bother?

BTW - does anyone know where I can get a 5 cm spacer? Right nwo I have 5 1cm spacers, and as they
don't fit snug on the steerer, they don't line up all neatly. A 5 would be nice.

Quoted message said:

Some people think that a stem that points up says "fred" and a stem that points down says
"racer"... even

Simply put, "dork" factor.

Quoted message said:

if its on a stack of spacers. Some frames even have extra-long head tubes to allow one to use a
"racer" downward angled stem without the discomfort of a real racer's low bar position.

How lame is that? I always thought that bikes with long head tubes and thus, top tubes that
weren't parallel with the ground, looked like circus bikes and ridiculous anyways. The geometry
that looks "correct" to most people most of the time is a horizontal top tube, chainstays, and a
short headtube.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

scott may have said:

Consider the following bicycle photo:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less weight
and flex?

Perhaps they feel that leaving the tube length provides the purchaser with more options.

--
My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

KBH said:

BTW - does anyone know where I can get a 5 cm spacer? Right nwo I have 5 1cm spacers, and as they
don't fit snug on the steerer, they don't line up all neatly. A 5 would be nice.

Nashbar offers a 2cm spacer in this kit:

nashbar.comprofile.cfmOpen ↗

--
Rick Onanian

Fred Clydesdale <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article said:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

doesn't look excessive to me...but i'm sporting a gratuitous 5cm myself. and what's worse is that
i alternated black and silver spacers, to even call MORE attention to it.

Huh, that's _nothing_! I got about the same stack (mebbe bit more.....), but I have alternated,
black, silver, and blue ano! So, 'ner'!

Quoted message said:

quick, somebody do the math: how many grams did it cost me?

A fortune, probably.

Shaun aRe - not counting grams in his 36lb world.

In article said:

Consider the following bicycle photo:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less weight
and flex?

Even better, why not run a threaded headset with a longer stem that's at a reasonable height, looks
svelte, and as the appropriate classic 7-shape?
--
<a href="poohsticks.orgdrewOpen ↗">Home Page</a> The Congress shall assemble at least once in
every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law
appoint a different Day.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Scott
Consider the following bicycle photo:

ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less
weight and flex?

You could still flip the stem with all those spacers and bring the handlebars up even higher! That photo is just an advertising shot - they're not recommending anything.

Rick Warner said:

Yes, I think that is what the racer dude I smoked going uphill thought this morning as I passed
him with my upward pointed Forgie stem and wearing Shimano sandals and sporting a commute bag. He
was at least 25 years my junior, also.

Hmm...a sandal-wearing, upward-stem Rick? We must be related...

Quoted message said:

Some try to look the part, others just do. Better to be comfortable and enjoy the ride than to
look cool and tortured ;-)

Amen, brother!

Quoted message said:

- rick

--
Rick Onanian

"Rick Warner" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Phil, Squid-in-Training" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Some people think that a stem that points up says "fred" and a stem that points down says
"racer"... even

Simply put, "dork" factor.

Yes, I think that is what the racer dude I smoked going uphill thought this morning as I passed
him with my upward pointed Forgie stem and wearing Shimano sandals and sporting a commute bag. He
was at least 25 years my junior, also.

Some try to look the part, others just do. Better to be comfortable and enjoy the ride than to
look cool and tortured ;-)

- rick

Were you then passed by someone 20 years your senior on her recumbent? If so, did she ring her bell?
Just kidding.

Chuck Davis

rault-<< ifbikes.comticrownjewel p1.shtmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

Why not flip the stem and skip the stack of spacers for the exact same bar position and less weight
and flex?

Perhaps they feel that leaving the tube length provides the purchaser with more options.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

Agree, when we build a bike we stack to the max allowed by manufacturer if carbon and don't cut it
at all if aluminum, until the final delivery fit...

" I've cut it three times and it's still too short!!"

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

"Rick Onanian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rick Warner said:

Yes, I think that is what the racer dude I smoked going uphill thought this morning as I passed
him with my upward pointed Forgie stem and wearing Shimano sandals and sporting a commute bag.
He was at least 25 years my junior, also.

Hmm...a sandal-wearing, upward-stem Rick? We must be related...

Quoted message said:

Some try to look the part, others just do. Better to be comfortable and enjoy the ride than to
look cool and tortured ;-)

Why do people get off on passing other riders when the speed someone rides at is usually a matter of
context (end of a long ride? first mile? heart rate monitor training?). Can't ride with my heart
rate pegged for the duration of my ride just to keep old balding farts from feeling good about
themselves 🙂

reminds me of those kids on a bike path who race you on their bike, then turn around and go back to
the picnic table their family is at.

Quoted message said:

Amen, brother!

Quoted message said:

- rick

--
Rick Onanian

"ari" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Rick Onanian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Rick Warner said:

Yes, I think that is what the racer dude I smoked going uphill thought this morning as I
passed him with my upward pointed Forgie

stem

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

and wearing Shimano sandals and sporting a commute bag. He was at least 25 years my junior,
also.

Hmm...a sandal-wearing, upward-stem Rick? We must be related...

Quoted message said:

Some try to look the part, others just do. Better to be comfortable and enjoy the ride than to
look cool and tortured ;-)

Why do people get off on passing other riders when the speed someone rides at is usually a matter
of context (end of a long ride? first mile? heart rate monitor training?). Can't ride with my
heart rate pegged for the duration of my ride just to keep old balding farts from feeling good
about themselves 🙂

reminds me of those kids on a bike path who race you on their bike, then turn around and go back
to the picnic table their family is at.

Quoted message said:

Amen, brother!

I just smoked some kid whom wanted to race me on an electric scooter the other day! Actually, I was
[censored] he was out on the street with it.

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I just smoked some kid whom wanted to race me on an electric scooter the other day! Actually, I
was [censored] he was out on the street with it.

Ugh. I've been trying to find some way to screw up scooter riders. Can't just throw something in
the spokes...

Gas scooter riders are the worst. 2-stroke motors, plus they're noisy as
f00k.

It's "who wanted to race" by the way.

--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

"ari" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Why do people get off on passing other riders when the speed someone rides at is usually a matter
of context (end of a long ride? first mile? heart rate monitor training?).

And knowing if we 'got off' on passing someone you would have to know our context ;-) Personally, I
rarely 'get off' on passing someone unless they've done something stupid first to [censored] me off. Last
fall a couple of young ladies I ride with got into having me chase down and pass the young racers
that passed us on hill climbs *if* the racers had done something to [censored] them off; the 'getting off
by proxy' phenomenon.

Quoted message said:

Can't ride with my heart rate pegged for the duration of my ride just to keep old balding farts
from feeling good about themselves 🙂

Hey, I have all my hair, and it is thick :-) Not that there is anything wrong with balding ;-)

- rick