Re: All hail King Quill, was TTL: The key measurement in sizing

On Apr 30, 3:26 am, Tom Sherman <sunsetss0...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Andre Jute wrote:
[...]
Nah, stack height is just another parasite foisted on cyclists by the
entire racing-fashion-onesizefitsallmakeitcheaperandchargemore
paradigm and the wretched A-head stems that came with it. A
traditional quill stem can be any height, angle and extension you
require; it solves a lot of problems without even breaking sweat.

I do not always agree with JB, but he is correct here:
<http://sheldonbrown.com/brandt/threadless-headset.html>.

Adam Smith told us in the same year as the American Republic was
founded that "engineers never congregate but to conspire against the
pockets of their fellow cyclists".

BTW, without pretending it is a scientific measurement -- I didn't
even get the scales out --, I did once weigh an 80s Atax (I think, it
was off an early upmarket Peugeot bike) A-head stem in one hand
against the fully toollessly adjustable quill stem of my luxurious
Gazelle Toulouse (whose makers would you sue you for libel if you
called them weight weenies) -- and got a shock. The "sports" stem was
obviously heavier than the entire Gazelle adjustable assembly. It's a
crock that the A-head and its stem saves any significant weight; it's
purpose is to let manufacturers make a onesize bike, to make the
fittings more cheaply, to sell a second unit, the stem, to which a
mystique and therefore a boutique price can be attached, in other
words not for the benefit of the rider but for the glorification of
their bank accounts. I'm surprised that Tom Sherman doesn't ride the
ass of the bike manufacturers, and especially their components and
aftermarket adjuncts, every day for their greed.

Have you read me praising any of the foo foo components?

Exactly. A man is known as much for what he doesn't praise as what he
condemns. I merely expressed surprise that you not react more strongly
than silent disapproval to these wasteful, inefficient and unnecessary
fads.

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/BICYCLE%20HUMOUR.html
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: All hail King Quill, was TTL: The key measurement in sizing
    ... stack height is just another parasite foisted on cyclists by the ... paradigm and the wretched A-head stems that came with it. ... traditional quill stem can be any height, ... purpose is to let manufacturers make a onesize bike, ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: All hail King Quill, was TTL: The key measurement in sizing
    ... paradigm and the wretched A-head stems that came with it. ... traditional quill stem can be any height, ... purpose is to let manufacturers make a onesize bike, ... I'm surprised that Tom Sherman doesn't ride the ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: All hail King Quill, was TTL: The key measurement in sizing
    ... paradigm and the wretched A-head stems that came with it. ... traditional quill stem can be any height, ... purpose is to let manufacturers make a onesize bike, ... Have you read me praising any of the foo foo components? ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: Bike fit for short woman
    ... relative geometries of the WSD and non-WSD bikes. ... There's generally a half-inch difference in top tube length between ... sell the bike, rather than building frames specific to women's needs. ... dealers eat the cost of stem changes etc. ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: All hail King Quill, was TTL: The key measurement in sizing
    ... Every quill stem I've seem has an allen or other ... nut that is loosened to raise bar hight. ... If bike makers left steer tubes uncut I might feel different ... bikes by the seat tube length. ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)