Actually, the old wive's tale is that the shorter frames were rougher on headsets, due to the reduced bracing angle/distance between the cups on the small frames: 52cm and smaller frames were supposed to need the roller bearing headsets because the impact from potholes was sharper on the lower cups of the small frames as the fork had greater twist and velocity: the close proximity of the bearings couldn't hold the fork as steady as on a big bike. True? Don't really know. I do know John Slawta advised an extended head tube on Beloved Spouse's 52 cm Landshark to get more separation between the bearings, among other reasons.
If rider weight made a difference then I should have ruined several headsets, but mine seem to hold up (although I don't put big miles on any one particular bike these days).
Tom Adams 240 lbs and riding 63 cm frames in Manhattan, KS USA
From: Tom Sanders <tom@orderandchaos.com> Subject: [CR] Length of head tube and brinelling To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Date: Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 5:16 AM
I think Don Gillies may be onto something relating brinelling to head tube length. I sat here during this thread wondering why have I never had a headset problem? I've adjusted many, and never once had any problems with them. Lord knows it is not because of any special mechanical ability on my part. I am the most mechanically inept person around. I just tighten them until they feel a bit tight and then back them off until they feel good and there is no rattle up there. I was thinking it was sheer luck on my part. Now I am thinking it is because perhaps I ride smaller bikes? Is this just coincidence or does this brinelling occur mostly on larger bikes?
Tom Sanders
Lansing, MI USA