Re: [CR]Damage at Bike Shops

(Example: Racing:Jean Robic)

Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 12:58:26 -0500
Subject: Re: [CR]Damage at Bike Shops
From: "Todd Kuzma" <tullio@TheRamp.net>
To: "richardsachs@juno.com" <richardsachs@juno.com>, <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net>
In-Reply-To: <20040910.085248.10767.598835@webmail04.nyc.untd.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

on 9/10/04 10:52 AM, richardsachs@juno.com at richardsachs@juno.com wrote:
> i have no antidote for that, otoh, i don't
> believe the lack of machining issue is that
> widespread; you simply cannot proceed with
> various framebuilding tasks with do some
> others first. machining the ht and bb fall
> into that category.

It is VERY widespread. I'd say that most "production" frames and many supposed "limited production handcrafted 100% pure malt and hops" frames have head tubes that have never been faced or reamed.

For the several years we handled Bianchi Reparto Corse frames (roughly 1995-2000), nearly every single one had a head tube face that was *rounded* and lumpy. In fact, I tried to figure out how they could make it that uneven *if they tried*. These same frames were often horribly out of alignment, had uneven paint, crummy chrome, etc.

So, we face and ream whenever we install a headset unless it is clear that it had already been performed on that frame.

Todd Kuzma
Heron Bicycles
Tullio's Big Dog Cyclery
LaSalle, IL 815-223-1776
http://www.heronbicycles.com
http://www.tullios.com