LarryBSky

I need to replace the stem that came on this DeRosa. I was looking at a black Cinelli or should I go with silver? Should the stem and seatpost match?

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sced

Black is dull, silver glistens

Caliwild

I personally prefer the stem and seatpost to match. Here is my De Rosa... I originally had the black stem with a silver seatpost but it just looked off to me. With your bike colors, I would go with all silver... YMMV

RiddleOfSteel

I also like to match stem and seat post. An anodized black Cinelli stem would look nice with a matching seat post (especially against the white bar tape--super sharp), but you have a lovely silver seat post already, so a silver stem would do just fine.

Garthr

A match looks better. If you want to keep the stem, you can remove the black with a chemical like oven cleaner or aluminum safe media blaster, then polish it by hand, and it become all sparkly ! Nothing glistens like polished raw aluminum. I think I use Blue Magic polish. Stinks of ammonia but works very efficiently.

thinktubes 

Black is “Delgado”

P!N20

You can only use a black stem if you are capable of crushing all other competitors.

Wildwood 

Mix & match or all silver Doesn't matter. Just ride it. It only matters which color you prefer to look at, during the most meaningful hours!

Robvolz 

My stem…..
i took it to the local anodizer and had it dipped

weirdly, the paint remained but the black disappeared.

now it’s silver and i love it


For me, better

Robvolz 

My stem…..
i took it to the local anodizer and had it dipped

weirdly, the paint remained but the black disappeared.

now it’s silver and i love it


For me, better

thinktubes 

Noop.

rando_couche

I'd do silver, since everything else on the bike is silver. And lose that dumb "anatomic" handlebar. Even a modern "compact" bar would look better than that!

Kabuki12

Pedal really fast and no one will notice either way! Seriously , I think it will look great whichever you choose. I had my Medici set up with black handlebar and black panto stem , the seat post was polished silver. To me , the bike looked great.

easyupbug 

At the risk of being pedantic I am in the silver camp as you have what looks to me to be a lovely Shimano group aero seat post to go with the groupset, something like a nicely polished 600 ax stem.

shoota 

Anything will be better than that H2O stem, oof.

malcala622

Silver

Wildwood 

Have you considered RED?

Kinda stumpy, but....
Red Alloy FIXIE Bicycle Quill Stem 22.2mm Vintage Fixed Gear Track Road Bike | eBay

romperrr 

I'm of the camp that the stem and post don't need to match. Sometimes the contrast can provide some visual intrigue like SurferRosa 's example above, especially with those white brake hoods.

bikingshearer 

Black sometimes looks good.

Silver always looks good.

Wildwood 

For an Italian race-y bike, there HAS to be a Rule!

Il' cognoscenti would have it no other way.

......probably not red.

I vote silver for Campa components, black for Japanese, mixed for other.
(except for mine, of course. )

Wildwood 

Unless it is 'the Other De Rosa", then all options are open.


needs green bottle cage, at least in Nov/Dec

Instead of the other DeRosa, one comment = the original De Rosa. Both fine with me.
ITALIAN CYCLING JOURNAL: The "Other" De Rosa
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LarryBSky

Thanks for the advice. Im going with the black pantograph.

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Robvolz 

when did the black stem become the fad on Italian bikes? My DeRosa is from the early 70s, and silver was the look back then.

P!N20

Wasn't just Italian bikes, but I believe it was the late 80's. Here's Pedro Delgado and Stephen Roche at the 1987 Touring of the France both with black stems:

chain_whipped

Purchased new in '83 a black 3ttt stem with pantographed E Colnago on the side, and clover with painted coloring in the front. Other trend was color anodized Modolo brakes.