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0scar
Joined: 17 May 2009
Posts: 55
Location: London Town
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 Posted Tue Nov 3, 2009 9:03 pm |
I have just got my first dropped barred racer, having made the move from hybrids. It's a second hand Trek, judging from the groupset it's from around 2004. It's all aluminium except the fork, which is carbon. The fork seems way more jittery than the aluminium I'm used to and the vibration is shocking. Is this just what carbon was like in 2004? The headset has taken a bit of a battering and I thought that might the issue. What do you guys think?
Chain Reaction have an FSA headset for £12, down from £25. Assuming it is the headset that's the issue, would a replacement for this sort of money be worth it or should I take the plunge and pay more?
Thanks!
No Logo racer. FCN 7 |
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hodsgod
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 205
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Posted Tue Nov 3, 2009 11:12 pm |
I know it's obvious but you didn't mention if th eheadset was adjusted up properly, did you try it?
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amaferanga
Joined: 18 Apr 2004
Posts: 1346
Location: Sheffield
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:22 am |
If you pull the front brake and rock the bike back and forward on the front wheel it should be obvious if the headset is loose.
The vibration may be due to different tyres or pressures, particularly if you're used to much wider tyres at lower pressures. What pressure is your front tyre at?
More problems but still living.... |
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Pross
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 669
Location: South Wales
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:33 pm |
As the main reason for carbon forks on an otherwise aluminium bike is to try to dampen out vibration then it suggests that something is wrong if it is worse than what you are used to although the whole bike setup is obviously different too.
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rake
Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 195
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Posted Wed Nov 4, 2009 2:11 pm |
my full carbon bike is far less vibration than my spare all aluminium.it surprised my when i got it. something wrong buddy. dont forget are the tyres a lot harder than a hydrid bike.
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0scar
Joined: 17 May 2009
Posts: 55
Location: London Town
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:07 pm |
Thanks for the replies,
The tires are actually a bit squishier than I'm used to. The headset is tight - no wobble there. The new exciting feature is a cracking sound when I turn it sharp to the right - I've had it apart and greased it all up but the sound is still there. I couldn't see any bearing when I opened it up, just a series of rubber and metal rings. Think it must be time for an upgrade..
Now, just in case you were wondering exactly why this is the n00b forum.. All the headsets I've seen online look like a stack of rings. I assume this is just the way they photograph them, but do the two come apart at the grey ring in the middle? On my bike I have a ring at the top of (the tube at the front of the frame that the fork steerer goes through) and another one at the bottom (which in the photo says Intellaset). Is the bit between the frame and the fork part of the headset or would I need to buy it separately?
Thanks!
No Logo racer. FCN 7 |
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DesWeller
Joined: 05 May 2008
Posts: 279
Location: Frocester Hill
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Posted Thu Nov 5, 2009 7:20 pm |
Wiki is your friend!
There certainly shouldn't be any cracking noises as you turn the bars. Does the steerer turn smoothly or does it feel rumbly or lumpy? You will be able to feel any damage in the bearing by placing one hand on the stem or top cap as you turn the bars.
EDIT: Headsets are very strong and not really a performance upgrade or a wearing component on a road bike. As they are difficult to fit - usually a LBS job to press the cups into the frame - be sure that yours has failed before you decide to swap it.
- - -
FCN 4 - BeOne Storm 1.0 (hairy legged roadie)
FCN 8 - The Winter Beast (panniered hybrid)
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