OK, well, thats the carrera subway 8 out the window :-(

Donegal Paul

OK, seeing as the car now needs about half a grands worth of work on it,
there's not a chance in hell Im going to have the money to buy the carerra.

So, I think Im going to take a step back and buy a hardtail at the local
auctions. Unfortunately I know for a fact this means picking up something
like an apollo or something which is not great quality but will do on my
budget. I guess its more important for me to get back onto a bike for now
than to get my "ideal" bike.

However, whatever i get i realise i will have to spend a few quid on and one
of the first things will be the handlebar stem. Im looking at something like
this
http://www.parker-international.co....productid/3079/ so
that i can get into a slightly more upright riding position, however, and i
am a numpty at this, im confused as to how to fit this.

What i mean is that many cheap bikes dont have this sort of head stem, they
are all in one and go down into the fork stem too, so, if i was to change
over to this, i assume that i'll have to buy a seperate stem to go down into
the fork too?

My only other buy would also be a suspension seatpost for a little bum
comfort :-)
--
Donegal Paul - On the mend
Maico Letta 247cc - We have the technology.
Zundapp Bella r203 - Watch out for ze Germans!
Bajaj Chetak 125 - Wannabe Vespa
Lambretta Li186 - stripped.
Vespa T5 Millenium - intact
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk

Zog The Undeniable

Donegal Paul wrote:

> OK, seeing as the car now needs about half a grands worth of work on it,
> there's not a chance in hell Im going to have the money to buy the carerra.
>
> So, I think Im going to take a step back and buy a hardtail at the local
> auctions. Unfortunately I know for a fact this means picking up something
> like an apollo or something which is not great quality but will do on my
> budget. I guess its more important for me to get back onto a bike for now
> than to get my "ideal" bike.
>
> However, whatever i get i realise i will have to spend a few quid on and one
> of the first things will be the handlebar stem. Im looking at something like
> this
> http://www.parker-international.co....productid/3079/ so
> that i can get into a slightly more upright riding position, however, and i
> am a numpty at this, im confused as to how to fit this.
>
> What i mean is that many cheap bikes dont have this sort of head stem, they
> are all in one and go down into the fork stem too, so, if i was to change
> over to this, i assume that i'll have to buy a seperate stem to go down into
> the fork too?
>
> My only other buy would also be a suspension seatpost for a little bum
> comfort :-)

If you had the old-style quill stem things would be easier - just loosen
the bolt in the top half a turn, whack it with a mallet, pull the stem
up to the required height and tighten the bolt again. With the new
"A-head" or "threadless" type - which does have some technical
advantages - adjustment is impossible unless the manufacturer has fitted
a stack of spacers above the stem which can be swapped so they are below
the stem. Otherwise, as you say, you'll need a different stem.

Fitting a new stem of this type is a little tricky for a novice bike
mechanic. You have to remove the top cap, loosen the stem bolt(s) which
hold it to the steering column and lift the old stem out. Unfortunately
with the A-head stems, you lose the headset bearing adjustment when you
do this. Refit the new stem but don't tighten its steering column
bolts. Now fit the top cap and tighten it until any headset play is
just removed. Now fully tighten the stem bolts - the top cap does
nothing after this, apart from keep water out of the steerer tube and
stop you gouging yourself. The top cap is never tightened particularly
hard, and will usually break if you give it serious welly.

When you buy a new stem ensure you know the diameter you need.
Excluding weird Cannondale and "freeride" bikes (well out of your price
range), A-head steerer tubes are 1" or 1 1/8". Many manufacturers just
make the 1 1/8" size and provide a shim in case your steerer tube is
only 1".

Donegal Paul

"Zog The Undeniable" said to Donegal Paul wrote:

SNIP
>> However, whatever i get i realise i will have to spend a few quid on and
>> one of the first things will be the handlebar stem. Im looking at
>> something like this
>> http://www.parker-international.co....productid/3079/
>> so that i can get into a slightly more upright riding position, however,
>> and i am a numpty at this, im confused as to how to fit this.
>>
>> What i mean is that many cheap bikes dont have this sort of head stem,
>> they are all in one and go down into the fork stem too, so, if i was to
>> change over to this, i assume that i'll have to buy a seperate stem to go
>> down into the fork too?

SNIP
>
> When you buy a new stem ensure you know the diameter you need. Excluding
> weird Cannondale and "freeride" bikes (well out of your price range),
> A-head steerer tubes are 1" or 1 1/8". Many manufacturers just make the 1
> 1/8" size and provide a shim in case your steerer tube is only 1".

Cheers mate, hadnt realised that. It's going to be at least next saturday
now before i get a chance to get an actual bike so plenty of time to do some
more research, well, when Im not fixing the car anyway!
--
Donegal Paul - On the mend
Maico Letta 247cc - We have the technology.
Zundapp Bella r203 - Watch out for ze Germans!
Bajaj Chetak 125 - Wannabe Vespa
Lambretta Li186 - stripped.
Vespa T5 Millenium - intact
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk

mt99999@hotmail.com

Donegal Paul wrote:
> ...Im looking at something like
> this
>
http://www.parker-international.co....productid/3079/
so
> that i can get into a slightly more upright riding position, however,
and i
> am a numpty at this, im confused as to how to fit this.

I think Zog The Undeniable has adequately explained the difference
between quill stem and a-head/threadless fork stems. Threadless forsk
are slowlt working their way down the price bands. You can get quill
stems that adjust like that as well. my DW's ridgeback java has one
which you would be bale to fit straight on to a threaded fork headset
which is more likely to be present on the sorts of bike you are talking
about.

hth
james

Richard Bates

On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 18:28:44 -0000, "Donegal Paul"
<donegalpaulREMOVE@thepilgrimssc.co.uk> wrote:

>OK, seeing as the car now needs about half a grands worth of work on it,
>there's not a chance in hell Im going to have the money to buy the carerra.

Sell the car!

Donegal Paul

"Richard Bates" replied to "Donegal Paul"

>>OK, seeing as the car now needs about half a grands worth of work on it,
>>there's not a chance in hell Im going to have the money to buy the
>>carerra.
>
> Sell the car!

*heh* I wondered who would say that :-)
I can't, and not 'cos of the other half or the kids etc, but I like it too
much :-)
Just being honest :-)
--
Donegal Paul - On the mend
Maico Letta 247cc - We have the technology.
Zundapp Bella r203 - Watch out for ze Germans!
Bajaj Chetak 125 - Wannabe Vespa
Lambretta Li186 - stripped.
Vespa T5 Millenium - intact
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk