i'd like to replace the headset (26tpi) on my GP. What's available, and what are my options here?

- and when and how did I, of all people, become a Senior Member? Did the AARP rat me out?

There's usually a couple on eBay at any given time. Or you can get lucky and find a donor bike.

Alternatively, is the whole headset shot, or just part? I would guess that the thread-on race is in decent shape since the lower ones are usually the first to go, so maybe you can piece together more standard replacement parts for the press-in bits and keep the threaded race that you have to make a repaired headset.

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A few options:

--NOS Raleigh headset off ebay (good luck!).

--Used Raleigh headset off another Raleigh (post your need in the C&V marketplace)

--New 24 TPI fork and new headset to match.

Beyond that, things get more complicated. What's wrong with your existing headset -- specifically, how's the threaded fork race? If you can find a new headset that will work with your existing threaded race, you can keep that and everything above it, just replace everything below that. The new headset can be any threading, including threadless, since you won't be using the threaded bits.

If the threaded fork race is shot, keep your threaded top nut, and replace the four races with a threadless system (Aheadset). But you'll need a second threaded nut to lock against your existing top nut. You won't have room for much, but it doesn't have to be very tall; maybe 1/8" would do it. If it's very thin, you can get by with a 24TPI piece. Possibly you can grind your existing threaded race down to one 1/8" slice with the right threading. This will take a while.

There's one on Ebay right now. The seller wants $50 for it plus $14 for shipping, but it sounds like a good deal - it will fit "Roasters [sic]."