whitemax
03-01-04, 08:24 PM
I am confused about the length of headset. Can anybody tell me what the difference is between a longer one like on a C'dale versus a very short one like some of the Giants? Thanks!
Road Cycling - Headset
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OneTinSloth
03-01-04, 10:34 PM
are you talking about headset stack height or stem length?
the headset is what is pressed into the frame and has bearings to make the turning smoother. the stem is attached to the fork and holds the handlebars.
higher headset will raise the handlebars and give you a more upright riding position. a longer stem will move the handlebars farther away from the seat and will give you a more forward leaning, stretched out position, and will make the bike seem to handle slower. a shorter stem will have the opposite effect. stem length and height are pretty important parts of fine-tuning the fit of your bike. the better a bike fits you, the better you'll feel while riding it.
the headset is what is pressed into the frame and has bearings to make the turning smoother. the stem is attached to the fork and holds the handlebars.
higher headset will raise the handlebars and give you a more upright riding position. a longer stem will move the handlebars farther away from the seat and will give you a more forward leaning, stretched out position, and will make the bike seem to handle slower. a shorter stem will have the opposite effect. stem length and height are pretty important parts of fine-tuning the fit of your bike. the better a bike fits you, the better you'll feel while riding it.
whitemax
03-02-04, 07:13 PM
I was talking about the stack height. Some have a very tall one while others have a very short one. What is the difference?
Rev.Chuck
03-02-04, 07:19 PM
It is just how the manufacturer decided to design it. A shimano will usually have a low stack and a Stronglight will have a tall stack height. It is usually not a problem unless you had a Shimano and decided you wanted a Stronglight. You would have to buy another fork. This is a much bigger deal with threaded forks than threadless. The big problem I have had with threadless is the varrying stem height. There is more than 10mm difference between some brands and it does not allow a proper full clamp.