quill stem - making my old Raleigh useable for me

[malverncyclist]

I have a 1973 Ti Raleigh replica which has quite a few original parts on it. I have struggled for a while with the front end - race type quill stem and narrow bars (both of which have "Raleigh" ingraved on them), which are too low and too narrow for me.

For a while I had an adjustable stem on the bike and a wider bar (larger in diameter) but that makes the bike look wrong and requires too much reach.

I have now tried putting on a quill stem that is much higher and use a flat bar, which is an improvement (height) BUT I now need a bit more distance between saddle and bar (part of my problem is that terminology is somewhat difficult to get head round).

In essence, I'd like to extend the bars a bit more forward but cannot find a suitable quill stem (for bars with 25 mm width). Does anyone know a solution for this? You can see the bike here [/url]http://martinheuter.wordpress.com/cycling-and-all-that/[url].

thanks

Martin

[Brucey]

I'd suggest a quill stem originally meant for an MTB. These are mostly steel, but some are alloy. Most have a centre-pull hangar, but some do not.

This is an 'ETC' one; might do the trick (edit; bar clamp dia is 25.4mm )



several different lengths available here;

http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p32609/ETC-MTB-Quill-Stem.aspx?utm_source=googleps

cheers

[malverncyclist]

Hi Brucy

thanks for that. firstly it looks to me that this stem is too short (i.e. height) and also - I'd really like to stick with the original kind of quill stem, which the bar threads through (so the old fashioned way of fitting handlebar to bike/stem.

Anyway, I may have to revert to this solution although not my preferred one.

Martin

[Brucey]

These stems angle upwards at about 40 degrees; I doubt very much that the bars will wind up any lower than what you have at present.

There are other tall quill stems available, like the Nitto technomic



but these are speciality items with a speciality price to match.

Just make sure you are sitting down when you read the price.

(edit and you will need a 0.3mm shim as well; they are usually 26.0mm clamp)

cheers

[tatanab]

Technomics are available from SPA http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 86s88p2208 - long upright - 25.4 clamp - just specify the forward extension length you want.

[meic]

These are quite versatile.

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/zoom-adj ... 11507.html

If you find the looks unbearable it will at least help you find the correct position and dimensions for a "normal" stem if available.

[bikepacker]

Last week I purchased a Nitto Technomic Deluxe from Hubjub at £35. http://www.hubjub.co.uk/store/index.php ... tem-detail