Cycling UK Forum

I have a traditional stem with a 1" steerer, that is the way that bikes were back "way back when", and TBH, I don't think the AHead system is an improvement over quill.

Perhaps AHead is stiffer and easier to manufacture, but I think the main reason is that frames are divorced from forks nowadays. They are bought as individual bits.

Take Wotisname, the chap that wrote a book and did a TV prog about building his dream bike. What did he do? He spent a load of dosh on a beautiful frame, and then clagged a carbon fork on it! Why? Why couldn't the frame builder build a set of forks to match?

Of course he could, but it's not fashionable, and anyway, a pair of off the peg CF forks can be inserted and clamped up. Then if you fancy a change, you can shove another set of forks up there instead! Great for the racers, crap for the lovers of good framesets.

AHead is ugly.

Just my opinion, so don't shout at me!

totaly agree with you mick. my primary bikes are 2 531 framed , scruffy, but beautiful, 80's hybrids.
the new bike lay in the spare bedroon from October 10 until this weekend ... its brill and the modern gear train is a joy to use ... however... steel rules ... and if the going gets tough i'm sure 531 will out last alloy and carbon every time ...

limey wrote:.....''How long have you got? (not steerer tube...)''


...I've got plenty of time horizon....

Well I haven't. And you certainly won't get any profound enlightenment from me.

Seriously though I cannot answer your first question and the second one I will pass on because ...... there don't have to be any "technical and mechanical advantages" because the advantages lie in the manufacturing and inventory areas. I would say by the way that I have grown to accept Ahead stems because of their simplicity. About half our bikes (out of 14) have them and I am OK with them. The main drawback is that once the steerer tube is cut, it cannot be put back on unless the whole fork is also replaced.

As regards why the steerer is cut, I have asked around a lot about this and the conclusions I have arrived at are twofold:

1. The steerer tube really is the right length for the type of bike (e.g. racing bike) that it is on. The buyer however believes that they are Bradley Wiggles and cannot understand why the bike hurts.

2. For touring, Audax and Sportif bikes the tube is in fact cut fashionably short to give a racing slant to the appearance of the bike. This is unforgiveable as it is unnecessary (Thorn leave theirs long until you've had it for a month).

I don't have a problem with stem raisers either. But there is yet another issue to do with head tube length which complicates the whole discussion. Another thing I don't understand is why budget bikes don't usually have them.

That's about enough for now and I'm not really the person to ask.