Which headset?

[delthebike]

Soon I'll have to replace the headset on my '93 Galaxy. The LBS has said to look for one that has a 29mm stack height or less. The trouble is that lots of headsets advertised, CTC shop for example, don't give stack height. How do I know that if I buy this headset
http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=10330
or this one
http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=10329
that it fits?

TIA,
delthebike

[tom_u]

don't know if this is any help but the lowest stack height I've been able to find (i'm presuming this is for a 1" threaded) is the tange one sold by SJS cycles which has a stack height of 32mm and a fork seat of 26.4mm.

edit: my bike requires a 29mm stack height - the 32mm one works if you leave out the keyed washer.

[CJ]

Soon I'll have to replace the headset on my '93 Galaxy. The LBS has said to look for one that has a 29mm stack height or less. The trouble is that lots of headsets advertised, CTC shop for example, don't give stack height. How do I know that if I buy this headset
http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=10330
or this one
http://www.ctcshop.com/product.jsp?style=10329
that it fits?

You don't, but the answer is "neither of the above". Both those have a stack height in excess of 36mm, as do most threaded headsets.

Snag is that Shimano made some remarkably short stack headsets in the 1980s/90s, which were a popular fitting on Dawes and Raleigh touring bikes of that era. But these headsets are now wearing out and threaded headsets are now a "distress purchase" in which there is little choice.

The one modern headset most likely to solve your problem is the Rudelli Misura. Only trouble is I don't think anyone imports it to UK. But Rudelli will deal direct.

[Mick F]

Stack Height is very important. My Mercian Vinitore has had 3 new headsets since new. The replacements, both Campag, were shorter than the previous, so I had to file off a bit of the steering tube each time!

Campag threaded headsets are discontinued now, so what I may do, is buy a new one soon, and that way I'll be ok for the future! Other than that, it'll be a Stronglight.

I agree that the stack height isn't usually advertised, but you should be able to find out the specs from the manufacturer's websites. So long as the stack height isn't less than the steering tube requires, there'll be quite a tolerance.

Mick F. Cornwall

[delthebike]

Snag is that Shimano made some remarkably short stack headsets in the 1980s/90s, which were a popular fitting on Dawes and Raleigh touring bikes of that era. But these headsets are now wearing out and threaded headsets are now a "distress purchase" in which there is little choice.

What about a threadless conversion headset?
A new threadless fork, and all it entails, would be a last option.

[delthebike]

edit: my bike requires a 29mm stack height - the 32mm one works if you leave out the keyed washer.

If I leave out the keyed washer I won't have a f/brake cable hanger.

[thirdcrank]

The LBS has said to look for one that has a 29mm stack height or less.

That might be a clue. They would not send you off on a treasure hunt if they were readily available. The trouble is that the arrival of some obsolesence is predictable - when 25 speed rear cassettes have been in use for a few months, cyclists of the future would be best stocking up in anticipation of the switch to 26 speed - but some, like changes in headset stack height are a bit more subtle.

[delthebike]

Soon I'll have to replace the headset on my '93 Galaxy. The LBS has said to look for one that has a 29mm stack height or less. The trouble is that lots of headsets advertised, CTC shop for example, don't give stack height.

Update: headset replaced with a Tange Seiko 30.2mm stack height. The plan at the LBS was to remove the OE cable hanger and replace it with a stem clamp hanger. The original "look for a 29mm stack" was a bit misleading as the new one has kept the OE hanger and the mechanic has added 2x2mm spacers. I guess then that the actual stack height is ~34 - 36mm.

Anyway all done and nice and smooth it is too. Also had new free hub body done and will be having the rear rim, which has concave brake surfaces, replaced with one DRC ST19 rim.

[reohn2]

Delthebike wrote:-

having the rear rim, which has concave brake surfaces, replaced with one DRC ST19 rim

.

If you are running 28mm tyres or bigger then I'd go for the DRC STtouring rim,its a bit wider and not much heavier.

[delthebike]

Delthebike wrote:-

having the rear rim, which has concave brake surfaces, replaced with one DRC ST19 rim

.

If you are running 28mm tyres or bigger then I'd go for the DRC STtouring rim,its a bit wider and not much heavier.

The order says it is touring/hybrid use and this is the link used.

[reohn2]

delthebike
I'm sorry I've got my DRC's mixed up the ST19 is wider and more suited to touring than the STtouring

I'll get me coat .

[delthebike]

delthebike
I'm sorry I've got my DRC's mixed up the ST19 is wider and more suited to touring than the STtouring

I'll get me coat .

I'll tie a knot in the left sleeve.

It got me going and I had to check that I did actually get the one I wanted and not some lesser rim.

[PW]

We have both. ST19 & ST Touring are near as dammit the same from a tyre width point of view, the ST19 being a deeper, more "aero" type section. They'll both happily take 28C tyres no bother. The narrow one is the ST17 which is close to a Mavic Open Pro in section- 25C is about right for that one.