I can only answer regarding the recent past, but I have found the Look Ergostem, an adjustable stem that's been around for, I'm guessing, at least a decade, an invaluable item for finding what one likes best in bike fit.
I used to take the requisite 6mm allen key with me and ride, periodically making small adjustments. Over the course of many months I changed my position over and over until I finally found what worked best for me. It was a huge boon when I went to order a custom frame to know what I liked, having tried a wide variety of other positions.
Anyone know when the Look Ergostem first came out? You can now get them for threadless as well as threaded headsets. I've still got one for 1" threaded and I absolutely refuse to part with it. At one time we had three of them here.
Steve Freides Ridgewood, NJ, Third Rock
-S-
Eric Elman wrote:
>
> New thread:
>
> What purpose and use were adjustable stems for? I see track and road
> angles, I see them on ebay, I see them listed for sale on our CR list once
> in a while, I even own one sitting in my project bin. I've never seen a
> bike brochure listing one as a standard component or even an option. Nor on
> a bike on a shop floor that came standard with one. I've never seen one in
> actual use - really! When did they become available, why were they made,
> when were they used and why are they no longer available?
>
> Eric "does anyone actually use them?" Elman
> Somers, CT