Flexy stem

UdTFS and found nowt so here goes-changed 3ttt Record stem for old heavy solid SR stem 'cause former flexes like hell, to find SR also flexes like hell.Does spending nearly 40 quid on a Nitto or similar give much reduced flex or do I have to live with it?

The Nitto Pearl is a pretty stiff stem, the Technomic is a bit flexy, but it's depend on the length of the stem and how high you set it to.

Quill stems flex.

Some of the flex will also be your bars.

Viagra

I never used to be aware of the flex in quill stems until I used aheads and then going back to quills they seem scarily flexible. The chater lea headset which grips at the insertion point as well as the quill locking at the bung is a solution for flex and the reason they were so well regarded for so long.
I found the Nitto Jaguar to be reasonably stiff, but very low, their road stem is not so vertiginous.

At the end of the day, Hubner and his ilk used to tear the boards up using quills, JKA riders still do and none of them lack power or upper body strength, yes you can feel it, but if you're not racing how much does it matter?

I'd use a crow bar for tearing up th boards personally. Tool for the job like.

That guy looks pathetic I rip it far harder with my aerospoke and risers aight!

I think you're using one of those flacid stems. Hippy provided the correct answer.

http://www.theracingbicycle.com/images/Hetchins_stem.JPG

hahah^^^

I never used to be aware of the flex in quill stems until I used aheads

26mm bars seemed OK until I felt how much stiffer 31.8s are.

I didn't think square taper BB spindles were flexy until I switched to UltraTorque.

Single pivot brakes seemed to stop me just fine until I got dual pivots

Everything which was absolutely brilliant 10 years ago is now rubbish

I thought the high ordinary was great until I tried a Rover safety bicycle

Vaguely related:

I noticed a creaking coming from my bars/stem on the ride home so when I got back I had a little look and my stem is very flexy - no biggie though as I only use the bike to commute. But when I was flexing I noticed that the stem actually moved in the forks if I pull really hard - is this normal? I guess not but I've tightened the allen key thing in the top as tight as it'll go & it still moves - any suggestions?

Thanks

loose headset possibly

Thanks for the reply - So how do I tighten it? I tried using a wrench but when I got it tight it made the steering stop working!

Creaking is often grit trapped between bars+stem or stem+steerer. Pull down, clean, reassemble.

Pull down, clean, reassemble.

Like you do with your pants, annually?

Sheldon knows

tighten down the threaded top race to the point where there is no play but the forks still turn/steer. then keep that in place while you tighten down the lock nut.

Thanks everyone

My quill stem/headset area was creaking the other day. I simply took out the stem and discovered there was water in there, gave it a little wipe and put the stem back. Problem solved.

Stem is still flexy as shit though! Ahead FTW...

could it be a french quill??
is so it might a smaller diameter than a normal one.

Like you do with your pants, annually?

At least I wear pants.

Erm, the answer, obviously, is steel.....

Steel or steal pants? Both have possibilities.