Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More - View Single Post

08-20-2003, 03:33 PM

jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org writes:

> "Threadless headset" is a lame name for an improvement that had such a
> long time to market. The quill stem, aka, the creaking, wobbling,
> permanently stuck stem, was always a weak part on the bicycle that has
> been relieved of duty by this innovation. The main feature is not the
> headset with its lack of threads, but the stem and its solid reliable
> and removable attachment to the steer tube. However, the head bearing
> can be adjusted in a trifle, without two ungainly 8-point end
> wrenches. The whole job can be done with an Allen wrench. Besides
> that, for the weight weenies, it's lighter.
>
> For safety and reliability, get a stem that has two screws on the
> steer tube end and four on the front plate so that a one screw failure
> will not let the handlebar go free.

I recently put a Ritchey WCS stem on my bike.
That stem is only one I know of with the 4-bolt/2-bolt design you
describe.

08-20-2003, 03:33 PM	#22 (permalink)
Richard Ney Posts: n/a	Re: Threaded versus threadless headset jobst.brandt@stanfordalumni.org writes: > "Threadless headset" is a lame name for an improvement that had such a > long time to market. The quill stem, aka, the creaking, wobbling, > permanently stuck stem, was always a weak part on the bicycle that has > been relieved of duty by this innovation. The main feature is not the > headset with its lack of threads, but the stem and its solid reliable > and removable attachment to the steer tube. However, the head bearing > can be adjusted in a trifle, without two ungainly 8-point end > wrenches. The whole job can be done with an Allen wrench. Besides > that, for the weight weenies, it's lighter. > > For safety and reliability, get a stem that has two screws on the > steer tube end and four on the front plate so that a one screw failure > will not let the handlebar go free. I recently put a Ritchey WCS stem on my bike. That stem is only one I know of with the 4-bolt/2-bolt design you describe.