Bicycle Mechanics - Weird headset size

Hi all, long time lurker here, I'm looking to buy a replacement threaded headset for my (2005) raleigh firefly. It has a 1 inch steerer, but the frame cups seem to have an outside diameter of 34mm, same as a 1 1/8th headset. I can find no mention of this type of headset anywhere, and it's got me beat. Any ideas?

I wonder if it's a "reducer" headset intended to allow a 1" steerer fork to be installed in a 1-1/8" headtube frame.

Didn't know they existed, sounds plausible though. I know I could buy some shims and then use a standard 1 inch headset, but I just wondered if there was a simpler solution.

Didn't know they existed, sounds plausible though. I know I could buy some shims and then use a standard 1 inch headset, but I just wondered if there was a simpler solution.

What's simpler than shims?
http://problemsolversbike.com/products/headtube_reducers

my money is on the shims

What's simpler than shims?
http://problemsolversbike.com/products/headtube_reducers

upgrading to a 1 1/8 threadless fork and headset?

upgrading to a 1 1/8 threadless fork and headset?

Possibly, but this is just my beater bike so I kind of want to minimise what I spend on it. Looks like the shims are going to be the way forward - thanks for the help guys! :)

This is a British market bike? I don't know what year this one but it says it has a 1" semi cartridge HS

http://www.malleys.co.uk/bike/thebikes/bikes2001/firefly.htm

Check with your local Raleigh dealer. Do you have any pics?

This is a British market bike?
That brings up a request. I wish posters would indicate at least their country location in their Forum name block. We often give equipment or service advice based on assuming the poster is in the US and that may be useless to someone in Europe or Asia or OZ/NZ, etc.

That brings up a request. I wish posters would indicate at least their country location in their Forum name block. We often give equipment or service advice based on assuming the poster is in the US and that may be useless to someone in Europe or Asia or OZ/NZ, etc.

Fixed, fair point made.


This is a British market bike? I don't know what year this one but it says it has a 1" semi cartridge HS

http://www.malleys.co.uk/bike/thebikes/bikes2001/firefly.htm

Check with your local Raleigh dealer. Do you have any pics?

In the end I just bought some shims on ebay from the US, but thanks anyway!

My first thought was that the OP thinks that because the stem quill is 1" (25.4mm) in diameter, it is a 1" fork, but in reality, a 25.4mm quill goes into a 1-1/8" fork. The malleys page does not say it is a 1" stem, just that it is a quill stem.

There is a shimano 1 inch headset that use sealed bearings cartridges that are 34 mm ish (1 1/8)... the angles of the bearings are 35 degrees inside and outside.

If your bike uses a 1 inch headset (front tube), you have to locate one of those shimano threaded headsets. Ultegra.

The other option if you need a new headset just buy a new one, done.

My first thought was that the OP thinks that because the stem quill is 1" (25.4mm) in diameter, it is a 1" fork, but in reality, a 25.4mm quill goes into a 1-1/8" fork. The malleys page does not say it is a 1" stem, just that it is a quill stem.

The bike on the malleys page is in fact a different model, although mine does still have a quill stem that I've swapped out before. The steerer is definitely 1 inch - I have been wrenching on my bikes for a while, so I'm sure of this :) I already have a 1 inch headset I can use that I bought before realising it didn't fit, so once the shims turn up I should be back in business.