Numpty fork questions
Discussion
OK, I'm still getting up to speed on this bike I'm building.
I've fitted plenty of headsets in the past, but....
'the past' was 30 years ago! wtf are these threadless jobbies?
I've got a frame. I'm told it's a 1 1/8 headset, although the frame size is waaay more than that. Is there a std size for the frame head tube, that goes with 1 1/8 fork steerer tube? if so what is it, or is that what all those adapter rings I see are for?
Are all h/bar stems now clamped to the fork steerer? I'm used to the stem fitting inside the steerer tube and being grabbed by an expanding bolt.
How does a threadless headset fit to the steerer? What's an ahead fitting?
Why is everything soooo much less at chainreaction than at my LBS?
I've fitted plenty of headsets in the past, but....
'the past' was 30 years ago! wtf are these threadless jobbies?
I've got a frame. I'm told it's a 1 1/8 headset, although the frame size is waaay more than that. Is there a std size for the frame head tube, that goes with 1 1/8 fork steerer tube? if so what is it, or is that what all those adapter rings I see are for?
Are all h/bar stems now clamped to the fork steerer? I'm used to the stem fitting inside the steerer tube and being grabbed by an expanding bolt.
How does a threadless headset fit to the steerer? What's an ahead fitting?
Why is everything soooo much less at chainreaction than at my LBS?
Chainreaction - sheer bulk buying/import power - few helpful chats
This is probably easier to understand than me explaining it:
www.whatmtb.com/workshopdetails.asp?id=28
Most headsets are 1 1/8, headtubes are standard dia (for the sake of this) - there are other size steerers but if you've been told its 1 1/8s, it is designed to take a 1 1/8 fork and therefore is designed to take a 1 1/8 headset - wouldn't worry too much about that, it'll fit . Whether you worry about varying stack heights caused by different headsets is another matter - a LBS is really the place to go for this, they can fit the headset properly and advise you based on frame,fork,stem combo, riding type, your height etc.
There is a star nut in the steerer that attaches to a bolt on top of the stem (the stem does clamp). Adaptors are to raise the height of the stem on the steerer to achieve desired handlebar height - but check you have steerer length to do this (LBS!!!)
It may sound complex, but as soon as you've done it one time, you'll realise how simple it is.
This is probably easier to understand than me explaining it:
www.whatmtb.com/workshopdetails.asp?id=28
Most headsets are 1 1/8, headtubes are standard dia (for the sake of this) - there are other size steerers but if you've been told its 1 1/8s, it is designed to take a 1 1/8 fork and therefore is designed to take a 1 1/8 headset - wouldn't worry too much about that, it'll fit . Whether you worry about varying stack heights caused by different headsets is another matter - a LBS is really the place to go for this, they can fit the headset properly and advise you based on frame,fork,stem combo, riding type, your height etc.
There is a star nut in the steerer that attaches to a bolt on top of the stem (the stem does clamp). Adaptors are to raise the height of the stem on the steerer to achieve desired handlebar height - but check you have steerer length to do this (LBS!!!)
It may sound complex, but as soon as you've done it one time, you'll realise how simple it is.
beyond rational said:
Chainreaction - sheer bulk buying/import power - few helpful chats
This is probably easier to understand than me explaining it:
www.whatmtb.com/workshopdetails.asp?id=28
Most headsets are 1 1/8, headtubes are standard dia (for the sake of this) - there are other size steerers but if you've been told its 1 1/8s, it is designed to take a 1 1/8 fork and therefore is designed to take a 1 1/8 headset - wouldn't worry too much about that, it'll fit . Whether you worry about varying stack heights caused by different headsets is another matter - a LBS is really the place to go for this, they can fit the headset properly and advise you based on frame,fork,stem combo, riding type, your height etc.
There is a star nut in the steerer that attaches to a bolt on top of the stem (the stem does clamp). Adaptors are to raise the height of the stem on the steerer to achieve desired handlebar height - but check you have steerer length to do this (LBS!!!)
It may sound complex, but as soon as you've done it one time, you'll realise how simple it is.
This is probably easier to understand than me explaining it:
www.whatmtb.com/workshopdetails.asp?id=28
Most headsets are 1 1/8, headtubes are standard dia (for the sake of this) - there are other size steerers but if you've been told its 1 1/8s, it is designed to take a 1 1/8 fork and therefore is designed to take a 1 1/8 headset - wouldn't worry too much about that, it'll fit . Whether you worry about varying stack heights caused by different headsets is another matter - a LBS is really the place to go for this, they can fit the headset properly and advise you based on frame,fork,stem combo, riding type, your height etc.
There is a star nut in the steerer that attaches to a bolt on top of the stem (the stem does clamp). Adaptors are to raise the height of the stem on the steerer to achieve desired handlebar height - but check you have steerer length to do this (LBS!!!)
It may sound complex, but as soon as you've done it one time, you'll realise how simple it is.
Great link - just for reference the newer unthreaded system is called "Aheadset" after Dia-Compe released it under trademark in about '94 and the name has just stuck ever since.
Great system, and allows quite a bit of weight saving if done right (hmm carbon steerers
)Great answers, thanks very much. I am loath to use my LBS only because I feel as a spanner man I'm pretty competent. Mind you, I have just got my LBS to fit a bottom bracket, only because the cost to fit was less than buying the wierd Shimano spanner!
Thanks for the tips.
Doesn't anybody use the expanding stems any more, or is a road bike/mountain bike difference thing?
Thanks for the tips.
Doesn't anybody use the expanding stems any more, or is a road bike/mountain bike difference thing?
Bought a FSA headset - nice engineering. Wound the cups into the frame with a long length of threaded stock, suitable spreaders and a pair of nuts. Very easy and controlled, no effort.
See other post for crankset fitting disaster.
The bike will look good though - deep orange with most bits black.
See other post for crankset fitting disaster.
The bike will look good though - deep orange with most bits black.
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