Ahead or Quill for new build?

reasons for a quill stem:

1. it looks better,
   
2. it looks better,
   
3. it looks better.
   

Agree with RPMs comments about ahead but...

Reasons for quill

1. Drops (track) I use a 110mm stem, with risers (road) 90mm is more comfortable (can't change stems as easily with ahead)
   
   

Also, front loading vs slot though bar clamp is not strictly an ahead vs quill argument. Think Ahead grammo and Quill frog.

Agree with RPMs comments about ahead but...

Reasons for quill

1. Drops (track) I use a 110mm stem, with risers (road) 90mm is more comfortable (can't change stems as easily with ahead)
   
   

Also, front loading vs slot though bar clamp is not strictly an ahead vs quill argument. Think Ahead grammo and Quill frog.

dont understand what you're saying here, gizmond.

so much easier changing an ahead stem. also, you can flip it up if you want a more comfortable ride.

and if you're changing bars (eg track to mtb risers), with ahead's removeable front mount, you can do that in a minute. would take ages if you're on quill and you have bars with grip/bar tape

I'm not a complete knob... ;D

Joe, that really is a matter of opinion.

;D

dont understand what you're saying here, gizmond.

so much easier changing an ahead stem. also, you can flip it up if you want a more comfortable ride. you'd need a whole new stem if you want a diff angle.

and if you're changing bars (eg track to mtb risers), with ahead's removeable front mount, you can do that in a minute. would take ages if you're on quill and you have bars with grip/bar tape

Dis-agree, it much quicker and easier to change a quill stem than ahead. about 30 second I would say; undo bolt, lift out bar stem combo, drop in new bar stem combo, straighten, tighten bolt. Takes me longer than that to get the 4 bolt on the ahead undone.
I always keep bars and stems combo together, 90mm stem with risers, 110mm stem with drops.

Everytime you do anything with your ahead stem, you have to re adjust your headset bearing load, which is crazy.

That said, after the winter when my bike becomes 'all about the track' it will very probably be rocking ahead.

For those saying the disadvantage of a quill is having to remove tape, etc to change the bars:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NOS-3TTT-Evol-2002-Stem-Track-Fixed-95mm-1-Quill-Grey_W0QQitemZ310092365390
Hinge at the front which flips open (covered by the 3TTT logo cover)

I love that v.cool

They are not very common. Ahead is quicker than quill to do almost anything to - not everyone is gonna have bar and stem combos lying around. Ahead is stiffer, faster, stronger, sexier, better, loves you long time, won't leave you for a younger woman. Ahead.

agreed

Quill is quicker IF you swap bars AND stem. (lets face it quill stems ain't generally breaking the bank so you may as well just get another one for your other bars.)
Ahead is gonna be quicker if you keep same stem and just swap bars.
This is of course presuming you are either brakeless of running a lever with a hinged clamp coz if your using a non hinged lever then bar changes are surely gonna take about the same time.
I would say quill looks better on SOME bikes, sometimes it can look old fashioned, ie if the rest of your bike is really modern.

go quill and fit an ahead adapter... best of both worlds

except they are generally shit

not such a great idea then...

go quill and fit an ahead adapter... worst of both worlds

Fixed.

I've got an adaptor on my track bike.....

it's not great. slightly better than the other one I had, but still not great. seems flexy..but then so do quill stems

it enables me to use stem and bars that I can put on whatever new frameset I get next season..

If I had the money I'd HTFU and try a nitto 123 chromoly and pearl stem...

hmmmmmmmmmm

What setup do you have RPM? What do you need to ditch the adcraptor?

on the new bike i'm going to be using a quill to ahead, and a quill, with different bar choices.
Ahead stems are easier
Quill stems are prettier.
Adapters are the ugliest :)

I have OS bars and stem on adcraptor

could get Mr roberts to make me a threadless fork for about £100 which I may do when I got money.

It's all about integrated :)

I have OS bars and stem on adcraptor

could get Mr roberts to make me a threadless fork for about £100 which I may do when I got money.

Get some cheap 1" carbon forks.. just watch for the splinters :)

Get some cheap 1" carbon forks.. just watch for the splinters :)

I've got ITM ones, but they are road, so the rake is a bit big and they don't go very well on'track. nice on the road though. getting new 1" proper track forks is impossible

"Ahead" sounds like an insult you'd shout at a shit driver, when you can't get your vocab together in the morning rush hour.

"Quill" evokes notions of elegance, precision engineering, class and education. Good sir.

It's all about integrated :)

They look gash! Love bumps in all the wrong places ;)

They look gash! Love bumps in all the wrong places ;)

+1 Like a condom stuffed with walnuts:

+1 Like a condom stuffed with walnuts:

Are those the Chub hubs she's trying to lift?