Adjustable stem for threadless forks...

There's the look ergostem
http://www.laboutiquelook.com/boutique/index2.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.catalogue&product_id=54&catalogue=1&lang=en
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2.cfm?PRRFNBR=27719

For alot less money there's usually a few of the Giant OEM ones that come on
the OCRs.

Theres also one in the ritchey pro line
http://www.ritcheylogic.com/stems.htm

The look model I believe gives adjustments in length and angle, while the
ritchey is only angle. I'm not too sure about giant

-josh

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

Quoted message said:

In the past year (while doing research on getting a bicycle frame and
forks built) I remember seeing an adjustable front stem for a threadless
fork. It can change the handlebar "height above ground" if that is the
appropriate term. I cannot remember/find the URL.

Anyone have any ideas on what it is, or who makes it?

My frame and forks (and wheels) are being slowly assembled (by me) into
a bicycle I will use for travelling this summer in Australia. While
technology is great, sometimes the body can compensate for a
while....... I am just looking for another optional "degree of freedom"
in case the supplied stem results in handlebars that are too low/high.

One last question: has anyone tried "skateboard deck tape" to cover
chain stays, etc to keep them from getting battered by road "debris" aka
gravel and crud? It seems to me that this stuff will provide more
protection than just powder coat paint or "duck tape".

Ken
Winnipeg, Canada

Per Josh:

Quoted message said:

There's the look ergostem
http://www.laboutiquelook.com/boutique/index2.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.catalogue&product_id=54&catalogue=1&lang=en
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2.cfm?PRRFNBR=27719

For alot less money there's usually a few of the Giant OEM ones that come on
the OCRs.

Theres also one in the ritchey pro line
http://www.ritcheylogic.com/stems.htm

The look model I believe gives adjustments in length and angle, while the
ritchey is only angle. I'm not too sure about giant

Also, if you have not purchased a fork yet; note that they come with quite-long
tubes on them. Just don't trim the tube and use a big spacer stack to give you
up/down adjustment.

With my MTB, I've been advised that the max official size of the spacer stack is
something like 1.25 inches. Maybe some experts can comment on this. Seems to
me like a higher stack can't be any weaker than most of the stem extensions that
I've seen.
--
PeteCresswell

Josh said:

For alot less money there's usually a few of the Giant OEM ones that come on
the OCRs.

Theres also one in the ritchey pro line
http://www.ritcheylogic.com/stems.htm

This one looks like the one I seem (??) to remember. The price of the Ritchely does NOT leave me as breathless as the other ones do ;-) Thank you for your
assistance!!

Ken
Canada

Ken Pisichko said:

In the past year (while doing research on getting a bicycle frame and
forks built) I remember seeing an adjustable front stem for a threadless
fork. It can change the handlebar "height above ground" if that is the
appropriate term. I cannot remember/find the URL.

Anyone have any ideas on what it is, or who makes it?

Several exist. I've tried a couple. Any good bike shop can get them
(or will have one or two types in stock), and they often appear on
eBay.

Quoted message said:

My frame and forks (and wheels) are being slowly assembled (by me) into
a bicycle I will use for travelling this summer in Australia. While
technology is great, sometimes the body can compensate for a
while....... I am just looking for another optional "degree of freedom"
in case the supplied stem results in handlebars that are too low/high.

Suggestion: If you haven't yet acquired one, get a fork with a
steerer that's two inches too long, and fill the extra with spacers.

Quoted message said:

One last question: has anyone tried "skateboard deck tape" to cover
chain stays, etc to keep them from getting battered by road "debris" aka
gravel and crud? It seems to me that this stuff will provide more
protection than just powder coat paint or "duck tape".

It would work. So does the plastic spiral wrap used to cover wiring
harnesses in electronic equipment, as long as you've got adequate tire
clearance. Deck tape's main feature is that it provides superior
traction, which isn't the effect that you're seeking...but it's fairly
tough stuff. The idea behind taping the chain stay is to keep the
paint from getting scarred when the chain hits it. (On a carbon stay,
this is protecting more than just the cosmetics.)
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Ken Pisichko said:

Josh said:

For alot less money there's usually a few of the Giant OEM ones that come on
the OCRs.

Theres also one in the ritchey pro line
http://www.ritcheylogic.com/stems.htm

This one looks like the one I seem (??) to remember. The price of the Ritchely does NOT leave me as breathless as the other ones do ;-) Thank you for your
assistance!!

Ken
Canada

I'm returning my Ritchey adjustable stem to Nashbar. They have it for
about $40. I finally put it on the bike and wiggled the handlebars.
And I do mean wiggled the handlebars. The design for the Ritchey
guarantees the bars will wiggle. The reason for the guaranteed wiggle
is as follows. The pivot point has grooves in it. One of the side
pieces that clamps around the steerer tube has grooves that mate up
with the grooves at the pivot point. Good. But the other side piece
has no grooves and is smooth so it does not lock up with the pivot
point. Just the bolt through the pivot point keeps one side piece
connected to the pivot point. Guaranteed wiggle. The adjustable stem
sold by Nashbar for mountain bikes has grooves on both side pieces and
it is secure when it is bolted together. Not the Ritchey.

Quoted message said:

I'm returning my Ritchey adjustable stem to Nashbar. They have it for
about $40. I finally put it on the bike and wiggled the handlebars.
And I do mean wiggled the handlebars. The design for the Ritchey
guarantees the bars will wiggle. The reason for the guaranteed wiggle
is as follows. The pivot point has grooves in it. One of the side
pieces that clamps around the steerer tube has grooves that mate up
with the grooves at the pivot point. Good. But the other side piece
has no grooves and is smooth so it does not lock up with the pivot
point. Just the bolt through the pivot point keeps one side piece
connected to the pivot point. Guaranteed wiggle. The adjustable stem
sold by Nashbar for mountain bikes has grooves on both side pieces and
it is secure when it is bolted together. Not the Ritchey.

I've been using the Ritchey for a couple seasons on a TT bike. I had the
wiggle you refer to when I first installed it. Found that unacceptable, so
looked it over and installed it on the steerer by snugging the single bolt
in front of the steerer tight (so the two sides were snug up against the
extension). I did this with the steerer clamp bolts (in back) completely
loose, then I tightened those on the steerer. No wiggle in all the 2 years
since.

For the OP, more adjustable stems:
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=SM2084
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=SM5400
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=SM4104
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&Category=149&Brand=485&type=T

John Verheul

In article <[email hidden]>, Ken Pisichko <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

One last question: has anyone tried "skateboard deck tape" to cover
chain stays, etc to keep them from getting battered by road "debris" aka
gravel and crud? It seems to me that this stuff will provide more
protection than just powder coat paint or "duck tape".

For protecting your chainstays I suggest neoprene (with velcro
closures) wraps. They[1] go on and come off easily, are washable, and
relatively inexpensive. Your bike's seat-stays can also be wrapped to
protect from damage incurred in leaning the bike against walls, etc...

Luke

[1] Scroll halfdown the page to the item Specialized -Slapstick
Chainstay Protector
http://ramsays-online.com/fendersmenu.html

Ken Pisichko said:

In the past year (while doing research on getting a bicycle frame and
forks built) I remember seeing an adjustable front stem for a threadless
fork. It can change the handlebar "height above ground" if that is the
appropriate term. I cannot remember/find the URL.

Anyone have any ideas on what it is, or who makes it?

My frame and forks (and wheels) are being slowly assembled (by me) into
a bicycle I will use for travelling this summer in Australia. While
technology is great, sometimes the body can compensate for a
while....... I am just looking for another optional "degree of freedom"
in case the supplied stem results in handlebars that are too low/high.

One last question: has anyone tried "skateboard deck tape" to cover
chain stays, etc to keep them from getting battered by road "debris" aka
gravel and crud? It seems to me that this stuff will provide more
protection than just powder coat paint or "duck tape".

We have them as do most LBS now.
I've seen that and a hundred other things stuck on bicycles.
de gustibus. . .
--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971