I am in the process of replacing the headset on my road bike and I've come across some discrepancy in crown race inner diameter sizings. According to the man, two sizes are used most abundantly: 27.0 mm and 26.4 mm. This would also make sense since Tange Levin (the model I'm looking at buying) headsets come in 27.0 mm and 26.4 mm. I was in an unnamed bike shop today where they were going to order both sizes of Tange for me, measure my fork, and sell me the one I needed. However, when the mechanic measured my race, he determined that my inner diameter was 26.8 mm.
I came home (without a new headset or any direction on where to buy a 26.8 mm I.D. headset) and did some research. I can't find a single instance of a threaded headset with a crown race diameter of 26.8 mm. So, what is the probability that this mechanic measured my shit wrong? Measuring 0.2 mm incorrectly seems like an understandable error for anyone with analog calipers but any mechanic worth anything should have done a double-take on the odd size.
Bike stuff can be all
Bike stuff can be all jacked. My newest frame had a weird seat tube diameter that no seat post would fit in. one wouldn't fit past the weld, the other slid around.
The solution: red bull.
Cut up the can and get it in there between the headset and the frame, all will be well.
I'm sorry to break your
I'm sorry to break your heart Jason... but your headset is ISO (aka 26.4). There is no way that Nishiki frame is JIS (Japanese sounding name != Japanese bike).
That and the steerer is going to be slightly bigger than the inner diameter of the lower race... because it's a press fit.
Thats kind of what I
Thats kind of what I suspected. The first mechanic I talked to (who was doing the ordering) explained it rather well. He said that most bikes were ISO and mine probably was. He said that the 27.0 was created for Keirin racers who were hard on their bikes and he really didn't think that my bike was a 27.0 mm. He did say that the shop needed to order both for their inventory so they'd have both in stock.
I feel a bit let down by this particular LBS so I need to decide if i'm going to visit another shop or order online. Man, I should have know better than to visit a shop other than SE.
Skate Escape is where it's
Skate Escape is where it's at. I can't bear to go to any other bike shop now.
On a side note, my old Univega frame had a BMX headset and was spaced 130mm in the rear. It was one really really old MTB. Finding 21.1mm stems is damned near impossible.
yeah but now? Its not that I
yeah but now?
Its not that I don't trust Keshief or Gregg, but the panda was the least intimidating, most knowledgeable mechanic in the city.
but the panda was the least
but the panda was the least intimidating
What? Have you ever met the Panda?
Kasheif and Gregg know the score... it's still the best shop IMO.
nothing about the other SE
Nothing about the other SE mechanics, but most other shops always make me feel stupid. Panda was never that way.
Josh up at Peachtree Bikes
Josh up at Peachtree Bikes is incredibly knowledgeable too... but Peachtree Bikes is up on the 2800 block of P-Tree, so it's a bit of a haul if you're on a bike.
.
I'm not in the loop. Did the Panda leave town?
no, just SE. everything was
no, just SE. everything was kosher.
Shut up Jason.*
*See above.
WHAT!!
Dude do you even know what the hell your thinking cause i don't think you do.
"Kasheif and Gregg know the score..."
Kasheif yes.
Greggory HELL FREAKIN NO. He doesn't know anything at all. I took my bike in there once and told gregg to take the bottom bracket out and i get the bike back and the frame had been cut open and pried apart so he could get the bottom bracket out. Now if YOU consider that "knowing the score" than sure dude, but to me that just shows that gregg is not capable of anything past flipping burgers at Mickey D's. Bob should fire his ass like right away and hire someone who could at least handle flipping burgers at Chicken & Waffles on a Sunday brunch.
*edit: I'm not entirely sure that Chicken & Waffles serves burgers on a Sunday Brunch or for that matter ever. It's just a metaphor get over it.
Flippin' Burgers
Are you sure you didn't go to SE and ask Dandylion to cut your bottom bracket out, and then he pried you apart?
I really hope you are being
I really hope you are being baggy pantsed.
circles aren't perfect
you really need to take more than one measurement, at a few different angles.