[CR]Stem Options for '60's English Tourer (longish)

(Example: Framebuilders)

Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 11:40:48 -0500
From: "Steve Freides" <steve@fridayscomputer.com>
Organization: Friday's Computer, Inc.
To: Classic Lightweights <Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR]Stem Options for '60's English Tourer (longish)

My newly-acquired, to-be-ridden-for-the-first-time-tomorrow, Meteor came with a Milremo stem in a very short size, not surprising given the bike's relatively long top tube, but not what I need. The bar is probably not the original as its a Sakae randoneur style, and it has a 25.4 diameter, so I assume the Milremo stem is made for that size.

I will need a 12 or 13cm stem to make the bike fit me correctly; a 13 if I get to use the short-reach bars of my choice, a 12 for a normal reach bar. Given that frames were sized larger then, I suspect a 12 or 13cm stem might be hard to find, but I'd really like to keep everything about the bike as period correct as I can, with the possible exception of the bar itself (more below).

Friend and fellow list member Chris Beyer has suggested a GB stem as a period-correct alternative and, since he might have one in a size that's at least closer to what I need, that may be what goes on there for tomorrow.

Your thoughts on both stem and bars are welcomed. My two bar options, the selection of which will partly decide the stem options, are: 1, something period correct and to my liking - was the Cinelli 64/40 made in 1960? - or; 2, a Rivendell Dream bar, which has a 26.0 clamp, and which I have here (I've got 5, but that's another story) and happen to *love* riding on. My general preference is short reach and short drop bars, the Dream bar and the 64-40 both fall into that category. The Dream bar is shaped much more to my liking but I could live with either. (I have a 64/40 on my 1981 Raleigh.)

Many thanks in advance for everyone's opinions and advice.

Steve "still pretty new to all this" Freides