Bicycle Mechanics - <b>Switching to Threadless </b>

I bent my fork last week and I'll take this opportunity to switch to threadless.

Fact is, I don't have anything yet, no fork, no headset and no stem.

I wonder what to buy first. I know that there are two size of steerer tube 1'' and 1 1/8''

The frame I have is an old steel frame that probably as a weird head tube size.

Is it better to find a headset that fits my frame and then, a fork and then a stem that will fit the fork.

Because I don't want to buy a fork and then get stuck with it because I can't find a headset that will fit my fork AND my frame.

Where should I start?

measure the inside of your headtube. 30.2mm will be a standard 1". If it's 34.0mm that's a standard 1 1/8". If you have something else get back to us before proceeding.

If your headtube is a standard 1 or 1 1/8: You buy both a threadless fork and a standard threadless headset (not an integrated, internal, or zero-stack - they won't fit your old frame) in the same size, and matching the size of your headtube. Do not mix and match. If your going with a new fork you're OK. If you want to go used you'll need to measure a few things first.

Ok thanks, I'll measure that. If my frame isn't 1" or 1 1/8'' I guess it will be harder to find a headset that will fit?

Let's say it's a 1" headtube, All i need to do is to find a 1" headset but is it standart, I mean a 1" headset goes with a 1" fork steerer?

Yes, any standard (aheadset style) 1" threadless headset goes with a modern standard 1" threadless fork, and you would use stems made for use with 1" steerers.

By standard I mean non-integrated, non-internal, etc.

You can get shims to reduce 1 1/8" stems to 1".

Ok perfect, so It much easier than i tought it would be. I ran into so much problems with headsets when i use to build old vintage bikes that everytime i'm facing a headset problem I want to be sure before doing any changes. Thanks a lot for your help.

If my frame isn't 1" or 1 1/8" is it possible to find an aheadset that will fit?

Ok perfect, so It much easier than i tought it would be. I ran into so much problems with headsets when i use to build old vintage bikes that everytime i'm facing a headset problem I want to be sure before doing any changes. Thanks a lot for your help.

If my frame isn't 1" or 1 1/8" is it possible to find an aheadset that will fit?

There are some "other" threadless sizes, oddballs such as the one Giant used for a time, the odd Klein frame, and I'm sure there are a few more out there, but your choices are much more limited if that's the case.

Before doing anything else, how bad was the accident that bent the original fork? If it was serious enough to damage the fork, I'd carefully examine the frame for bent and mis-aligned tubes before proceeding any further.