Headsets

A headset is an important element of the steering/handling of your bike. Fitting a quality headset and regularly maintaining it pays dividends.

Headsets are prone to wear and nothing is more irritating or affects bike control more than a grinding or 'notchy' head set - once your headset feels stiff, rough or pitted its time for a new one or an over-haul. Remember to check what size headset you require before ordering.

Headset Types:

Standard (Threaded):

These headsets have press fitting cups, and a threaded lock nut which screws onto a threaded fork steerer. A quill type stem is used with a standard headset.

These have gradually been superceded by Aheadset systems (See below) and are available in 1", 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" sizes, with 1" being the most common.

Aheadset:

Aheadsets arrived in the mid-90's and have now been accepted on all types of bicycle. The main advantage of an Aheadset system is that less tools are required, and threads are not used offering a potentially more secure fit.

The disadvantage is that you cant slide the stem up and down. However, this is cured by fiting spacers above and below the stem to give a range of adjustment.

They work by having the cups pressed into the frame, and then the upper section slides down the smoooth (non threaded) steerer. Enough steerer is then left to fit the stem which again slides onto the steerer. Finally a top cap is fitted that applies a gentle, even load to the system before it is all tightened up with a standard allen key.

Aheadsets are now on most mountain bikes and many road bikes, and come in 1", 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" sizes, with 1 1/8" being the dominant size.

Integrated:

Zero stack or integrated headsets are a recent addition. These are currently proving most popular on road bikes, as the low overall height of the headset offers a low handlebar position for optimum aerodynamic efficiency.

Integrated headsets have specially made head-tubes so cannot be retro-fitted to older frames. The headset cups sit in this specially adapted head-tube, and then the remaining components fit in the same way as an Aheadset.

If you are changing or upgrading one of these, do make sure that your cycle is compatible before purchasing.