>>1147522>I think the main reason why some new non-walmart tier vintage-look steel commuter bikes have quill stems is aesthetics. In order to have an ahead stem, a bike would need a 1 1/8 steerer tube, and that would result in a thick head tube which wouldn't look cute with all those other thinner frame tubes.Yeah, it is mostly that. Quill stems themselves are quite sexy as well.
Also easier for people who want a really upright position, just put a technomic on it. A technomic looks a lot better than a huge steerer tube, although i think these bikes should have positive rise stems. It's way easier to move a quill up and down too.
But it's still silly to spec a quill on a serious bike imo. The performance difference from stiffening up the front end with threadless is just too great. Bigger than anything else on a modern bike. Threadless makes climbing out of the saddle so much better. The headsets are a lot more durable.
If you really dig the retro aesthetics and want to sacrifice performance, get a retro bike. Modern faux-retro is never going to be as cool.
>>1147522>What's wrong with a long wheelbase for a loaded touring bike?Long, longer than a road bike, but not that long. If you had to go a week between water supply, ok, it would be nice to be extremely long. Carrying enough weight to warrant a stretch limo bike is p shit though, and you're way more likely to break things like your wheels. That riv is longer than a LHT. A really long wheelbase just makes a bike dull & boring to ride. I want (have) a touring bike that is fun to ride and light enough loaded to lift over a gate. Pic related has a nice wheelbase for touring.
I don't see at all why some fuck around on stepthrough should be long at all, that makes no sense.
