If you've got a restoration project on the go, you can pay plenty of money for an original quill stem. That's fine if you're after something special, but even very ordinary ones can set you back a fair wedge. You can still buy a new one though, like this Genetic Hyoid, which is a perfectly serviceable, classically proportioned quill stem. It's not cheap at nearly thirty quid though, and there are other, bigger names still in the market.

The Hyoid comes in a 15 drop (why would you want anything else?) and two lengths, 80mm and 100mm. It's polished aluminium with a single-bolt clamp, and enough length in the insert to allow a bit of up and down adjustment. It takes a standard 26.0mm bar (of course), and once everything's tightened up it discharges its duties admirably, with a bit of style. It's not as stiff as an oversized Ahead stem but that's really not the point. It's stiff enough: I've been riding fixed and hauling myself up the hills around Bath and the stem has performed just fine.

The only sticking point is the price, really. At £29.99 it's no cheaper than a basic, new quill stem from Cinelli or 3T, both of which are still readily available. If you're in the market for a replacement or something that looks right for your retro build then you'll probably gravitate towards those names.

Verdict

Good quality quill stem for a restoration or retro replacement, but no cheaper than an equivalent from a better known name