converting a quill to ahead

le_boss
le_boss Posts: 183
edited August 2010 in Road beginners
after reading all the responses to my previous thread about funding biking, and seeing as people are all ready talking about winter riding, i going to start to get my winter bike ready for action whilst lots of winter stuff is on sale.

my winter bike isnt pretty but does the job, but it has a quill instead of a ahead.
i am going to try and change this first of all because it will be more comfy, but will also look better.

what will i need to do this? is it just a case of a quill ahead converter, then adding a stem??

any advice muchly appreciated

Comments

  • Bunneh
    Bunneh Posts: 1,329
    I had a quill on my ancient GT MTB back in the 90s and because I wanted a flashier stem I got a converter and it did the job perfectly. Perfectly viable and very easy to sort!
  • le_boss
    le_boss Posts: 183
    do you need a headset or anything? or will a quill converter and stem do the trick??

    sorry to sound thick...i just am! :lol:
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    A quill adapter (effectively just the stump of a quill stem) and a standard threadless stem will work fine. I don't see how you expect it to be more comfy though – unless it's the only way to achieve another position you prefer? Remember that quill stems come in different rises and extensions too, if you'd prefer to keep it simple.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    As above - why would an ahead be more comfy? Besides, quills look vastly better than the clumsy looking ahead stems.

    As it happens, why did the quill die a death? I'd guess that alloy and carbon steerer tubes don't like them but surely the design could be altered. The only disadvantage I can see is you are stuck with the stem length of the the whole stem and need to faff around more to change it - but still easier and far neater to change bar height with a quill. Turn your bike from racer to sportive at the roadside!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • le_boss
    le_boss Posts: 183
    personally i think the ahead plus stem look much nicer than the quill.
    i find that the quill gives the bike an old outdated look. thats just my opinion though.
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    le_boss wrote:
    personally i think the ahead plus stem look much nicer than the quill.
    i find that the quill gives the bike an old outdated look. thats just my opinion though.

    Got to go with whatever you prefer! But, ultimately, if it does the job it isn't worth changing. If you are going to spend money, I bet there is something else you can spend it on that will make a more meaningful improvement.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,900
    le_boss wrote:
    personally i think the ahead plus stem look much nicer than the quill.
    i find that the quill gives the bike an old outdated look. thats just my opinion though.

    But if you are complaing that the sport costs too much as you were on your other thread surely it's pointless changing it? I'd disagree on the looks too but that's just a personal preference!
  • daviesee
    daviesee Posts: 6,386
    Fuuny,

    I have an ahead stem while I would much prefer to be able to use a Cinelli 1A.

    Each to their own...............
    None of the above should be taken seriously, and certainly not personally.
  • le_boss
    le_boss Posts: 183
    tbh i wouldnt be looking to change it (even though i dont think it looks as good as ahead) but its too long and im too stretched on the bike. need something around 10cm or 11cm.
    so figure as im going to need to replace it with a shorter one, i may as well take the opportunity to convert to ahead.
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    I'd just fit a shorter quill. The Deda ones are lovely.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • Bunneh
    Bunneh Posts: 1,329
    le_boss wrote:
    do you need a headset or anything? or will a quill converter and stem do the trick??

    sorry to sound thick...i just am! :lol:

    The old headset you have will do fine. All the 'adaptor' does is give you a quill to slip in and a bit of stem to stick on your 'aheadset' stem.

    stemadapt.gif
    aheadstem.gif

    That goes into your frame like the normal one does, then you just get the ahead stem you like and plonk it on that. The last image is off a standard ahead stem bar, that will slip on the one above.
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    Rolf F wrote:

    As it happens, why did the quill die a death? I'd guess that alloy and carbon steerer tubes don't like them but surely the design could be altered.
    The system was always flawed. Back-and-forth motion of the stem in the steerer (a loose fit, by necessity) draws water into the interface, where it corrodes the stem wedge and binds it in place. Most bike shops have encountered stem bolts that wouldn't shift even when assaulted with ugly hammers... At its worst, this aluminium corrosion would expand so much that it deforms steel steerers, requiring destruction of the steerer to extricate the stem.

    I say good riddance and welcome the more elegant threadless interface. I wouldn't bother changing everything unless necessary, though.
  • Being nice and old fashioned I think the Aheadset design is an abomination. When I got my new bike I faffed around trying to get the 'bars the correct height (despite being measured up in the shop) and eventualy ended up fitting a new stem. With my old bike I'd have had the 'bars at exactly the height I wanted them in a minute!
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    balthazar wrote:
    Rolf F wrote:

    As it happens, why did the quill die a death? I'd guess that alloy and carbon steerer tubes don't like them but surely the design could be altered.
    The system was always flawed. Back-and-forth motion of the stem in the steerer (a loose fit, by necessity) draws water into the interface, where it corrodes the stem wedge and binds it in place. Most bike shops have encountered stem bolts that wouldn't shift even when assaulted with ugly hammers... At its worst, this aluminium corrosion would expand so much that it deforms steel steerers, requiring destruction of the steerer to extricate the stem.

    I say good riddance and welcome the more elegant threadless interface. I wouldn't bother changing everything unless necessary, though.

    Thanks for an informative reply!

    All makes sense though mild maintenance solves those problems. And, whilst in engineering terms, the threadless may be more elegant, aesthetically it is as elegant as flared trousers :lol: Sorry, awkward looking junction between steerer and headset tube and random ugly bolts everywhere just looks at best ugly to me!
    Faster than a tent.......
  • jimwin
    jimwin Posts: 208
    The system was always flawed. Back-and-forth motion of the stem in the steerer (a loose fit, by necessity) draws water into the interface, where it corrodes the stem wedge and binds it in place. Most bike shops have encountered stem bolts that wouldn't shift even when assaulted with ugly hammers... At its worst, this aluminium corrosion would expand so much that it deforms steel steerers, requiring destruction of the steerer to extricate the stem.

    I say good riddance and welcome the more elegant threadless interface. I wouldn't bother changing everything unless necessary, though.

    Agreed - as one who lost a steerer trying to bash out a stuck-stem. Plus the aheadset allows a finer degree of control on the steering setup. Some so-called cycle "improvements" are mere gloss. The threadless interface was a genuine and welcome improvement.

    My 2c worth

    - JimW
  • lae
    lae Posts: 555
    Also long quill stems are much more flexible than a-head, which can be quite unnerving when climbing hard!

    Plus an a-head allows you to use modern oversize/ergo bars which are stiffer/more comfortable (unless there are quill stems which can take modern bars... I can't think of any though)

    I generally prefer the look of quills though.