Choosing a stem?

[bluerider]

The reach section of that stem angles down. Instead find a stem that angles up. Thus, raising the level of the handlebar. Reach is really the horizontal plane your body must travel to reach the bars. So consider where you would like the bars to be. If you bring your bike to a shop and sample some of their stems you should be set it next to your bike and get a pretty good idea where things will be. However, it appears the angle of your stem is the most important.

[elcee]

Try this

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=16589&category=784

or this

http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=7424&category=784

Check that your handlebar diameter is correct for the bar clamp size.

If you’re maxing out your stem, might you need a bigger frame?

[txgoonie]

I’d ditch the integrated stem. The first link elcee gave is a good idea. On the other hand…I too have an older road bike, and I converted my quill stem to threadless — the adapter was only $20. (Something like this: http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=43651&category=784) Then you’d have a lot more options for stems of various angles and lengths.

[Bilsko]

I’m in the middle of a quill–>threadless conversion myself. Right now I have a Nitto Pearl quill (110mm) that is just too long and am waiting for the 22.2mm quill–>1 1/8″ threadless adapter to show up in the mail this week (this one: http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=23896 )

Its an old ’78 Schwinn Super le tour, and the headset measurements are all odd (31/32″, really…really?) so I’m crossing my fingers that everything will work.

If it does work, I’ll be more than happy to let you try out the old quill stem, if its something that will fit. Diameter is 22.2mm and reach is 110mm – oh and the clamp size is 26.4 (another odd measurement – fortunately there are quite a few people making 26.4mm bars – Somafab makes the good middle-of-the-road stuff, Nitto has the high-end stuff. Search universalcycles for [26.4]

[Certifried]

Thanks for the offer! I did, however, find a stem that would work. It ended up costing a mere $20. I just need to get around to dropping by Proteus to pick it up.

[Bilsko]

Cool – good to know you found something that worked. Does Proteus carry many one-off items in stock?

[Author]

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