Star Fangled Nuts & More Aheadset Doings

I decided it was time to inspect the Holdsworth’s Saturn Aheadset, apply some fresh grease to the lower race, and tackle the compression wedge. I reckoned this wasn’t doing its job, permitting slow but steady play in the bearings.  Ultimately, switching to a Star Fangled Nut proved the way forward, since I had a 1inch in stock and the press tool.  

Time to review the stack of spacers too.  

Again, I had just the right number of silver 1mm, 1-inch units, bought when I was experimenting with the Shimano Zee crankset. Having instated the Star Fangled Nut, everything came together beautifully.  

Lashings of Park PPL-1 Grease TESTED: PARK TOOL POLYLUBE 1000 LUBRICANT FOR BICYCLES (sevendaycyclist.com) were applied to the Woodman Saturn Aheadset’s needle roller bearings, I slid the fork back into the Holdsworth’s headtube, added the spacers, the shim and torus titanium stem. One final black spacer, then popped the stem cap in situ.  

During this phase, I noticed the Jagwire Pro Road Cable TEST: JAGWIRE PRO ROAD BRAKE KIT (sevendaycyclist.com) outer had seen better days, so I switched that for a TRP outer, taking that opportunity to move the Tektro lever a few milimtres. Preload set, I reintroduced the front wheel, turned the bars and, brake engaged, tested for play...A fraction too snug, easily fixed by slackening the preload 1/8th of a turn. 

Bars aligned, I torqued the stem bolts to 6nms, pumped the brake lever a few times to check the Miche dual pivot calipers were engaging, and resetting-job done. Tyres inflated, fresh chain lube (Momum MIC Dry Lube, in case you were curious), a light waxing and fully prepped for a Sunday morning blast. Earlier in the week, it had been torrentially wet, so given the favourable forecast, I had been gagging to get out on my pared-to-the-essentials' sunny days’ plaything.  

Having let rip for 90 minutes, or so, immersed in the machine’s responsive, playful and yet dependable handling, I returned and decided it was time for another game of musical pedals. I switched the Shimano XT from fixed gear winter trainer, to Ursula, ED500 to fixed gear winter/trainer.   

It also coincided with an uncharacteristic and decidedly unsettling inability to disengage from the right-hand XT at the close of our last ride. The source of this potential embarrassment, a (very) loose cleat. Easily sorted, but I digress... 

Nothing to do with me being contrary, rather I needed to see how well the ED500 would fare in terms of ground clearance, on the fixed. 

Essentially a cyclocross bike with track ends and spacing, the bottom bracket is relatively tall, and I’ve had no grounding issues with 175mm cranks, in the past. The Genetic Tibia GENETIC TIBIA TRACK CRANKS & RING | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are 172mm long, so wasn’t expecting any issues when it comes to more aggressive cornering. Appearances can be deceptive since the overall width isn’t radically different.  

However, I suspected there may be greater potential for clipping the ED500 on a particular tight corner-roundabouts being cases in point. In the real world and the last 100 miles or so, pairing the ED500 and fixed has been remarkably harmonious, dare I say inspired and not what I was expecting. Hmm, think they’ll stay.   

I’m also warming to these 360 Merino High Calf Socks. These, as their name implies, are a long waterproof breathable sock comprising of a merino outer a waterproof mid layer and a terry layer next to the skin.  

These aren’t cycling-specific and a little thicker than some but seem a great pairing with wider, mtb/gravel shoes, including these Shimano MT701 or the FLR Rexton Touring/Trail Shoe FLR REXSTON ACTIVE TOURING/TRAIL SHOE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) I’d witched to these following rains of biblical proportions, which was great for the garden, but meant very wet feet, wearing more traditional cycling socks-even with the Shimano MT701.

  

The 360 are proving incredibly comfortable, even in warmer conditions. They’re only intended to be washed by hand, which may be a deal-breaker for some. Mine accidentally found themselves doing a Tour De Samsung but thankfully have emerged unscathed-definitely luck, not judgement. Steve was also very taken with their blue ankle socks 360DRY BLUE ANKLE SOCKS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) I’ve been quite taken with this Funkier Mirano Pro Short Sleeve Jersey Funkier Mirano Gents Short Sleeve Jersey | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Bum Steer AKA Its Too Tight, Or Its Too Slack..

 I had a model cancel a shoot, which is annoying but comes with the territory. This presented an ideal opportunity to investigate some issues with my fixed gear winter/trainer’s recently replaced Aheadset.  

I’d pensioned off the long serving FSA, which had served faithfully for five fairly hard years. The lower race employed a cartridge bearing, the upper traditional balls, which keeps costs down, but I fancied something a little more refined, hence the Stronglight.  

However, despite having everything correctly aligned, it wouldn’t adjust properly. Removing slop meant tightening bearings to the point the bars would barely turn. Something was clearly very wrong, and I wondered if this was indicative of a more serious fork steerer issue.   

A full strip and diagnostic session followed. I dismissed the Gusset Uni-Lock Headlock, inspected the fork steerer, paying particular attention to the crown area and went the SFN (Star Fangled Nut) route.  

I then dismantled the headset and found while new, it was a “Franksenset”. One cobbled together from two superficially identical but ultimately, incompatible models (which in retrospect, explains the issues and why it was so cheap). The compression ring being a case in point. Given it was boxed and sealed, I had no reason to think anything was "off".  

Decision made. No sense attempting silk purse from sow’s ear. Might as well start again...The cartridge bearings would be useful but otherwise, I put it down to experience. Thankfully, I found a complete, sealed Olite I’d bought a while back. This also proved an ideal opportunity to use a tube of Park PPL grease that was splitting along the seams.  

Lashings of the tenacious green goo delivered to the cups and races-buttery smooth. New stem bolts, (since the Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Stem TEST & REVIEW REDSHIFT SPORTS SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION STEM (sevendaycyclist.com)’s  were getting a little chewed) some fresh thread lock on the disc caliper mount hardware, some spacer-switching... 

Time consuming but formative checks confirmed things were broadly right, so I fine-tuned the preload and snugged the stem bolts to 5nms. Cane Creek SC5 CANE CREEK V BRAKE DROP BAR LEVERS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)lever engaged and several, neurotic rockings later, I couldn’t trace any slop, so tethered the K-Lite dynamo K LITE BIKEPACKER ULTRA DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) cable to the Kinesis fork leg.  

Of course, I wasn't done there!  

Tyres inflated; pedals switched in favour of the Shimano XT, chain tension tweaked and finally, Motoverde PTFE Chain LubeMotoverde PTFE Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) stripped in favour of this Momum Mic Dry Lube. I finished by giving the frameset a light waxing, buffing with a micro fibre cloth, then popped it away.  

There’s a fine line between staying with something until you’ve got it sussed (and sorted) and quitting while ahead.  Sure enough, the following morning’s shakedown ride confirmed the bearings were a little too snug.  

 

Slackening the stem bolts, I loosened the pre-load by 16th turn, did the rocking back and forth test, then tightened the stem bolts to 5nms.  Cue loud (internal) cheer-it was 5.50am and I didn’t think my neighbours would be so appreciative, dare I say empathetic.  When it comes to bearings, headset and bottom brackets, I preside durability and weather sealing above weight and indeed price. Needle bearing models that displace loads were particular favourites.  

The Teenage Dream was originally built, (back in ‘91) with a Primax unit featuring these, which might seem strange given needle roller bearing models were a tourists’ choice and said machine was a sunny days, pared to the essential's plaything...I’ve run them up to very high mileages on traditional touring lorries but they’re also a good bet for bikes that regularly lug trailers and indeed, tag-alongs.  

Decent waterproof greases, including the Park, or White Lightning Crystal TESTED : WHITE LIGHTNING CRYSTAL GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com) certainly help extend service intervals, without shortening component life. Mudguards (Fenders) also make a big difference but if this isn’t an option for you, make a boot from old inner tube to protect the lower race.  

Obviously, being butyl go for a synthetic grease, rather than the old school lithium, or PTFE infused blends, since these will rot rubber-another consideration if headsets employ rubber seals.  Green Oil Eco Grease TWELVE MONTH TEST: GREEN OIL ECO GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com) is a surprisingly stoical alternative, albeit not rivalling the Park, or White Lightning blends discussed.