Carbon vs. Aluminum Headset spacers ...
02-22-08, 10:27 AM
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Carbon vs. Aluminum Headset spacers ...
OK, I know that nylon spacers are crap. But I have heard rumblings that Carbon headset spacers might equally be of suspect value for this particular application. I've read that carbon has poor compressive strength and they could also allow progressively loosen.
I am buying the argument about compressive strength. At the same time, I know that in order to compress, they also must bulge and carbon fiber has excellent tensile strength.
So how about it. Should I just be using aluminum generic aluminum spacers. Or perhaps should I be using Chris King spacers that are milled from a single block of aluminum?
I am buying the argument about compressive strength. At the same time, I know that in order to compress, they also must bulge and carbon fiber has excellent tensile strength.
So how about it. Should I just be using aluminum generic aluminum spacers. Or perhaps should I be using Chris King spacers that are milled from a single block of aluminum?
02-22-08, 10:40 AM
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You're over thinking this. Either works fine. Pick the one you think looks best. There are a gazillion bikes out there with carbon fiber headset spacers. They're not crumbling apart.
02-22-08, 12:08 PM
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Got 13 bikes; some with carbon spacers, some with aluminum. CF is plenty strong, I hear they even make bikes out of that material these days. Worry about other things.
02-22-08, 01:36 PM
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Not a problem. The spacers only need to take the compressive stress of the bearing preload, which is not very much. The weight of the bike/rider is supported by the fork crown, which also takes the shock from road bumps, landings, etc.
02-22-08, 02:04 PM
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The only problem with carbon spacers is that they cost more. They work fine.
BTW, who sells nylon spacers? I've never seen them.
BTW, who sells nylon spacers? I've never seen them.
02-22-08, 03:18 PM
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Many Cane Creek headsets come stock with nylon spacers that snap together.
Considering how many headsets they produce (they own the Aheadset brand), I'd say they know what they're doing.
Considering how many headsets they produce (they own the Aheadset brand), I'd say they know what they're doing.
02-22-08, 03:55 PM
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02-22-08, 04:26 PM
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
