2manyoranges
Old School Grand Master
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All the insightful discussion of Klein got me thinking...I know who invented the Aheadset (and the story is interesting see..
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/08/origins-how-the-aheadset-threadless-headset-changed-bikes-forever/
...but I have no idea who really invented the oversize headset. I remember Gary Fisher’s 1 1/2 inch steel and alloy frames but was it Gary Klein who first pressed in oversize? I certainly DO remember that headsets were a major headache in the late 80s. Every ride seemed to induce headset anxiety...and the fact that we were running completely rigid bikes and weeny tyres meant that the headsets took a pounding. The South Downs may be in the South but they are concrete in the summer, and strewn with rubble. Hard on equipment. The answer for me were the Grey or Gorilla headlocks, which at least meant you could do them up in the field. Remember that some multitools began to include a headset spanner...grief...and you needed two people on a ride so you had two. What nonsense. On my blue Marin Palisades I installed a Mavic Dakar headset - which because of its high stack height meant a complete rebuild of the the front end and much expense. And still came loose.
Well done John Rader for the Aheadset. But who do we thank for oversize?
The late great Sheldon would have known...MOMBAT and Sheldon were SO helpful for folklore....
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/08/origins-how-the-aheadset-threadless-headset-changed-bikes-forever/
...but I have no idea who really invented the oversize headset. I remember Gary Fisher’s 1 1/2 inch steel and alloy frames but was it Gary Klein who first pressed in oversize? I certainly DO remember that headsets were a major headache in the late 80s. Every ride seemed to induce headset anxiety...and the fact that we were running completely rigid bikes and weeny tyres meant that the headsets took a pounding. The South Downs may be in the South but they are concrete in the summer, and strewn with rubble. Hard on equipment. The answer for me were the Grey or Gorilla headlocks, which at least meant you could do them up in the field. Remember that some multitools began to include a headset spanner...grief...and you needed two people on a ride so you had two. What nonsense. On my blue Marin Palisades I installed a Mavic Dakar headset - which because of its high stack height meant a complete rebuild of the the front end and much expense. And still came loose.
Well done John Rader for the Aheadset. But who do we thank for oversize?
The late great Sheldon would have known...MOMBAT and Sheldon were SO helpful for folklore....
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