Originally Posted by pugswitters
yeah, i think i am going give that a try...
i was thinking of just ordering a stemroller and the vandessel flip-flop wheelset in the am. then i guess i will roll down to the LBS when the frame shows up. i have no parts laying around so i need to figure out the best way to buy the rest of the gear. LBS or online.
I now face the head tube and BB of any new low cost frame. I put together a new steamroller for my girlfriend last year and installed a cheap-o Cane Creek headset. I ordered a Chris King. A few days before it arrived, her headset started making the most awful noise. Upon inspection one side of the bearing cup was badly scored. After removing the cups, the headtube was measurably 'out'. I never had a problem with my steamroller and I certainly would have been more irritated if it had 'eaten' her new Chris King. I had both bikes refaced and that was that.
Maybe her frame had just 'slipped through the cracks' in production, I don't know. I figure chasing and reaming problems usually present themselves during assembly, while uneven headtube or BB faces tend to cause problems at the worse possible time.
It's cheap insurance, especially if you plan to use an expensive headset/BB.
Jim
PS I would defer to anyone who has more experience with the production of low-cost frames ... after all my case is isolated as far as I know.