Alright, I am going to try and explain this the best that I can. I was just out riding and while going down a small hill I squeezed the brake and my fork felt like it shifted forward, and when I let go of the brake, the fork shifted back into the position it was initially in.

I then got home and picked up the front of my bike and I could shift my fork forward and backward. The fork does not feel like it is secure in the headtube, but the fork and frame are both a stock Dawes SST. The headset is a Cane Creek headset, but it is installed correctly, so I don't see how this could cause a problem.

Does anyone else have this problem? How can it be fixed?

Here is a link to a video where you can kind of see it shifting (sorry, it is hard to film, pick up the bike, and shift the fork all at the same time):

https://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...SEATTLE612.flv

You probably installed your headset wrong. once you get the headset in put in your spacers/stem then tighten the top bolt until the headset operates correctly then tighten your stem bolts down. It's just an order of operations thing it's a common mistake.

Your headset seems to be very loose. If riding on it like that didn't damage anything, it's a simple fix.

Live2Die is exactly right; I did this when I installed my new stem and didn't tighten things in the correct order.

https://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=65

Make sure you follow the directions for adjustment in regards to tightening stem, cap, and stem again.

Thanks for the response guys. I think I may have found my problem..

"Check for adequate clearance from top of column to top of stem." - The fork column actually sticks out about 1/8" inch from the top of the stem. Could this be causing the problem?

that is the problem. the stem cap keeps the stem and headset pressed together properly. but for this to work the steerer tube needs to be shorter then the combined height of the stem and spacers. you need to add a short spacer, or cut the steerer down about 1/4"

Thanks for the response. This all makes sense now, and I feel like a moron for not realizing this.

I have an extra spacer, so I will put that on for the time being. In the future, I think I will cut down the steerer tube so the bike can have a more aggressive stance.

No need to cut the steerer, just movea spacer to the top of the stem to lower the bars. That way you can still change things around in the future.

Read a book.

lolz

hahah, so mean.

I had the same problem on my moto fantom cross uno. Maybe a BD bike problem?

Someone should sticky the park tool repair how to.

It's not a BD problem if you have a steerer tube cut too long for your stem & spacers to hold together. That's strictly user error.

it was a case of imporperly tourqued star-nut/stem bolt(s).
And if it was really a case of the steerer being too long, that would be a BD problem. They should'nt be shipping bikes with such steer tubes.

God forbid people want to adjust their handlebar height once they receive the bike they ordered sight unseen off the internet... It says like a thousand places on BD that you will have to assemble your bike yourself, they obviously don't have the time or inclination to go around chopping steerer tubes to fit buyers hundreds of miles away.

OP, check to make sure your head tube hasn't been ovaled at all before you keep riding it. Look for any spaces or gaps between the headtube and the headset bearing races- if you see any, report to the LBS and don't ride the thing.

I didn't remove any spacers on the steerer of my Uno. When I took my Uno to the LBS, they fixed the problem by ADDING another spacer. So I think I was shipped a bike with one too few spacers.

Wow that park tool site goes way deep into instrutions. I just changed the stem on my bike and it seem much simpler than the park tool instructions. When I untighten the original stem the fork just dropped out, I put it back and tightened the new stem. I didn't really see any ballbearings or stuff like that.

You probably have a sealed bearing headset. The one they show on Park's site isn't.

That's it. It kept me wondering if something was missing.

Really? Since when have you ordered a frameset with the fork already cut to your specification? Custom frame builders might do this, but if you really expect Bikes Direct or Bike Island to cut your fork for you before shipping it, you're expecting way too much. The problem is still yours for expecting BD to act like your lbs.