Re: [CR] My first PX-10, Now Stronglight V-4 Headset

My third 'ten speed', a PX-10 was purchased in 1968, my first 'nice' bike following the Supersport, then a UO-8. Very comfortable, nice handling but for the harmonic wobble in the head tube hammering through the reverse camber, last 'S' bend before Loch Raven Dam, one of my almost daily routes north of Baltimore. ... After the accident ... and with the top and down tubes bent just so, the bike handled even better, losing the harmonic. I may still have that set of Pivo bars with the slightly modified track bend to them. ... I digress.

I still think the Stronglight V-4 as we called it at the bike shop was one of the best old style headsets around. It could be adjusted by hand with the toothed lock ring drawn tight at the finish. Never munched the bearing races, something that was a constant problem w/ Campy headsets. Maybe it was the four contact points per ball. No special tools needed to mount and dismount the headset, Big screwdriver and a hammer to get the races out, two by four and hammer to get 'em back in. Harvey mentioned he couldn't remember it's name. I'm pretty sure it's the 'Competition'. I've been saving a new one in the box for the Taylor, just haven't gotten around to it because the not so period correct A-9 headset works to well to pull out.

Happy trails,

Dan Artley in Parkton, Maryland USA

Archive-URL: http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendezvous.11001.0958.eml Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:13:04 -0600 From: Steve Kurt <kurtsj(AT)mtco.com> Subject: Re: [CR] My first PX-10 ( http://search.bikelist.org/query.asp?SearchString=%22My+first+PX%2D10%22&amp;SearchPrefix=%40msgsubject&amp;SortBy=MsgDate%5Ba%5D )

From: Harvey Sachs <hmsachs(AT)verizon.net>

(in reference to a recently acquired PX-10)

" Remembered again the neat V-groove Stronglight (competition?) headset, and the fixed up came out with out arguing with me. <...snip...>

harvey "funkmeister" sachs mcLean va."

hi Harvey,

Congrats on the new toy! I hope it's a ton of fun.

The mention of the Stronglight V-groove headset prompts me to ask a question that has been unasked for a few decades... how hard was it to adjust one of those??

Were they extremely dependent on a well-faced headtube? Seems like they would be.

I think a Stronglight A-9 would be the perfect replacement. Vintage styling but with robust bearings. Great stuff. :-)

regards,
Steve Kurt
Peoria, IL USA