In a message dated 3/27/07 8:41:49 AM, gillies@cs.ubc.ca writes:
>- make sure you adjust the preload using the locknut of the headset
> so that the top cup/cone is taking some of the weight. Part of the
> reason why the bottom wears out soonest is that a loose top puts
> the entire weight of the bicycle on the lower cup and cone, and
> what's worse, looseness allows flexion in the head tube. (in a
> nonscientific survey of 20 bikes, the indexed bikes tended to have
> longer reynolds 531 head tubes than the non-indexed bikes ...)
It's not the head tube that flexes it's-wait for it-the steerer. Ths is the source of "fork blade flex." It's actually the steerer/crown that's flexing a miniscule amount magnified by the length of the blades. Phil Brown Putting on the flame proof suit in San Rafael, Calif.
**************************************
AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about
what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.