Aesthetics Issue

[Jim S.]

I know fit is paramount, but let's assume fit is not an issue.

I just replaced a technomic stem with a dirt drop stem. My first reaction is that the dirt drop stem is kind of gangly looking. I want to like it. But the technomic is more elegant. Do others agree? (Yes I admit this is a first-world problem)

[Christopher Cote]

I prefer a dirt drop style stem to a Technomic with more than 3 or 4 inches of exposed quill. Seeing a Technomic maxed out looks all wrong to me. Just my 2 cents.

Chris

[Dave Small]

Yes, Jim, I agree.  I'd never use a Dirt Drop on one of my bikes, for that reason.  .  

Dave

[Kainalu V. -Brooklyn NY]

Yup, dirt drop has that nice straight line economy. Gets the bar up while sinking plenty of quill. Who said "Just because you can drive 80 mph and some governing body says it's safe, doesn't mean you should"?
Regardless of who said it, the same is true for quill extension.
-Kai

[Joe Bernard]

I'm in the DirtDrop camp. I've ridden lots of maxed out Technomics/Tallux and they do the deed, but that big L flying above the saddle never looks right to me.

[Patrick Moore]

I prefer an upjutter stem to a stem with road angle but with more than say 8 or 9 cm of quill showing. OTOH, on a nice road bike, I'd prefer a nice road stem to the rather beefy and more industrial looking Dirt Drop.

Me, if the bike were very important to me -- say, a Rivendell -- I'd consider having nice road-style upjutter made. Salsa used to make them to custom order, but those were black; I'd want mine chromed or, more likely, powdercoated in the right color.

On Thu, May 16, 2019 at 7:46 PM Jim S. <ja...@simeri.me> wrote:

I know fit is paramount, but let's assume fit is not an issue.

I just replaced a technomic stem with a dirt drop stem. My first reaction is that the dirt drop stem is kind of gangly looking. I want to like it. But the technomic is more elegant. Do others agree? (Yes I admit this is a first-world problem)

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique

[sameness]

so much depends
upon

a dirt drop
stem

...with Moustache bars or flared drops? In every case.

...with cruiser or North Road bars? Make your case.

...with porteur or Jitensha bars? Edge case.

...with regular ol' drops? Head case.

Technomicon: The ratio of exposed quill shall not exceed that of the horizontal extension by > 5/4.

Jeff Hagedorn
Los Angeles, CA USA

[Jim S.]

Jeff, how about dirt drop stem and crust towel rack on a Joe Appaloosa? That's what I'm playing around with.

[sameness]

Controversial. The classic randonneur upsweep gets a No from me. The flare gets a Yes from me. The width confounds me.

I say Do It. Bonus points if your stem is black.

(You sure you don't need one of those zero extension stems? Those bars are about four feet wide.)

Jeff Hagedorn
Los Angeles, CA USA

[Justin Schoop]

Technomic all the way.

[Joe Bernard]

Crust Towel Rack throws the whole thing into the realm of madness. DirtDrop, 0°, whatever you want, it's madness!

[Garth]

It really doesn't matter in that seeing "the whole picture/story" every stem/part/bike/thing makes sense for the given moment.  A stem w/o a bar, a bar w/o a bike, a bike w/o a rider, a rider w/o a ride and a ride and everything included in that ride w/o Life Itself is unimaginable.  Life is Good , The Best .... and there is none else ! 

[Mark in Beacon]

That reminds me of the old joke, starts out, IIRC, This stem walks into a bar and says, Hey, give me a wrap...

[Mark in Beacon]

But seriously, for the Crust Towel Rack I would use some good 1/4" anchors. Either that or make sure to hit a beam.

[Ash]

I like the looks of Technomic/Tallux stems, but never understood the point of a tall stem with downward angle.  If it had a 90 deg or slight upward angle I wouldn't have to raise it so high.  So, while the stem itself is pretty, overall cockpit setup does not look all that great.

If there was a dirt drop (and in black) with 120mm reach I would  gone with that instead of Tallux.

[jandrews]

Jim S, 

have you set this combo up on your Appaloosa?

Care to share thoughts/pics?

[phil k]

I like both! 

[Deacon Patrick]

Given how aesthetically challenged I am it hardly seems right to make a doomed attempt to compensate through the aesthetics of me bike. Sardonic grin.

With abandon,
Patrick

[Arthur Mayfield]

I have a Dirt Drop on my Sam, and a Technomic on my Frank Jones Sr, and both were chosen for aesthetics, since either would have put my bars in the right position for me. I like the Dirt Drop on bikes with sloping top tubes, and Technomics on bikes with level or nearly level top tubes. When you look at them from the side (regardless of handlebars), the bikes look better to me if the stems follow or approximate the line of the top tube.

[Carl]

Isn't the Nitto riser stem in cro mo the best looking one?

On Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 9:46:40 PM UTC-4, Jim S. wrote:

[Evan E.]

Whoa. I think this poem from Jeff H. should be taped to shop walls and work benches nationwide:

* * * 

Jeff Hagedorn
Los Angeles, CA USA

* * * 

[Philip Williamson]

For my bikes and my riding, I prefer a steel stem, painted to match the frame. Aesthetics. 

If you need to get the bars up high, a Salsa or Nitto riser is nice. If the frame has plenty of stack, a 90* or -17* stem works for me. 

Nitto riser: https://www.instagram.com/p/BvAwqExATif/ 

Salsa riser: https://www.instagram.com/p/BwFav2_l1tt/ 

-17* Frances stem: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bxcp5iJBnFl/

90* Nitto stem: https://www.instagram.com/p/BxBflM7l4u9/ 

Philip 

Santa Rosa, Ca 

[Jim S.]

jandrews, thanks for asking. here's a pic. 

I'm neither an effective mechanic nor a quick one, so I'm still fiddling around trying to make sure the brake hoods are symmetrical. 

I haven't ridden it yet. I think I might lower the bars once I've actually ridden it. This is max height.

[lconley]

Once the handlebars are two inches above the seat, esthetics have kind of gone out the window anyway.

I use Dirt Drop (10 cm - the 8 looks too funny with the different diameters) and Lugged stems on most of my Rivendells. The Dirt Drop is preferred on the commuters and off-roadish bikes because I am fat and it gives me more clearance when I am straddling the top tube. All of my threadless bikes use LD stems for the belly clearance also (except Hubbuhubbuh). But the Guv'nor needs a traditional Technomic or lugged style stem. Bottom line is the practical bikes get the Dirt Drop, the stylish bikes get the traditional stem. If I only had one bike - it would probably have a Dirt Drop. My custom will likely have a lugged, but the long top tube will give me the belly clearance.

Laing

Cocoa FL

[sameness]

Just so I'm understanding you: Technomic, right?

Jeff Hagedorn

Los Angeles, CA USA

[Patrick Moore]

Those are some nice stems. I have to say that I prefer a lot of rise in the extension to 7" of quill showing above the headset.

I suppose it's the light, but that orange bar tape on the bike with the nice blue stem looks as if it is eerily glowing from within.

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[Joe Bernard]

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[Eric Daume]

I'm going to vote for the Dirtdrop for really high bars. A Technomic with hugely exposed stem looks pretty odd. Or just buy a bigger frame.

Eric

On Fri, May 17, 2019 at 7:22 PM Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:

"Just so I'm understanding you: Technomic, right?"

😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣

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[Mark in Beacon]

Well, no worries about the handlebars dinging your top tube(s). Jim, what's the story with the shifters perched way on up top of the brake hoods? Have you set up other bikes like this? Are they modified Kelly Take-offs? Is this a thing that passed by my notice and I'm the only one in the dark here? I don't think I would worry so much about the aesthetics of the stem, since those thumbies tend to draw the eye. I'm trying to imagine how I would shift, for instance, the left one in the position it's in now. I gather the idea is to not move off the hoods, similar to Ergo/STI? I like the purple accents.

[sameness]

Not Jim, but them there look like Gevenalles.

Jeff Hagedorn

Los Angeles, CA USA

[jandrews]

Thanks Jim S

That is looking very tall and very wide!

I bet you'll end up lowering it and being quite comfortable in the drops.

Also curious to try those brake lever mounted shifters at some point.

Are you running G-One Allrounds 29x2.25 under those B65? fenders?

[Mark in Beacon]

Ah. I have seen the name, I guess I got it confused with the Kellys.

[Benz, Sunnyvale, CA]

On Friday, May 17, 2019 at 1:36:57 PM UTC-7, Jim S. wrote:

jandrews, thanks for asking. here's a pic. 

Good God Jim! I think you hit every branch of the ugly-but-useful tree with that dirt drop stem holding an upturned drop bar with Gevenalle brifters. And with purple-anodized cherries on top no less! :)

[Joe Bernard]

IRD's version with the shifters set up Analog Cycles style. I has some.

[Christopher Murray]

I think a dirt drop stem looks great with moustache handlebars (or similar).

[ctifusion]

From my experience with those bars, a technomic will flex too much and maybe even be dangerous. I'd stick with the dirt drop.

Brynnar
Indy

[Philip Williamson]

For bars that high, I’d go with the riser for sure.

Here’s another Appaloosa built up with drops: https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/for-sale-rivendell-joe-appaloosa-30823
It looks good with the dirt drop stem, I think.

Do you have a purple Onyx hub on the rear, too? If so, is it 135mm without a disc mount?

Philip
Santa Rosa, CA

[masmojo]

To me it depends on the bike &/or the handlebars being used; for drop bars I prefer the Technomic; for my Clementine, either is fine. Moustache bars? I've used both, but swerve towards Technomic. Albatross bars? It's a toss up.
In cases where either works, generally rise and reach will dictate which I use.