The stock headset in my Kilo WT sounds like grinding and feels like sand in the bearings no matter how it is adjusted. If you have a really cheap headset, precise adjustment is not possible.

Best adjective ever.

Oooh, I've got a good one. I have seen some bikes with horizontal drop-outs and they have horizontal chain tensioners on there. Why do these bikes have chain tensioners and what are the benefits of having one?

Dear Scrod,

I love that you guys toss in cool freebies with every purchase, but what's the story behind the little red plastic spider in the envelope with my bar tape?

Deer Scrot,

Is it a waste of money to buy upgrades for a Trek Earl?

do whatevs

Would you have preferred a different color?

Ultrsplooge - it's your bike and your money.

Black would have been good so I could have better freaked out my GF :D

:(

.gif fail.

I see it just fine.

weird.

Clear your cache.

Still didn't work.

I'll try Firefox.

...doesn't work on Firefox either. Herp da derp.

gifbin sucks.

srsly.

Looks fine to me

Because I replaced it with a gif hosted on Photobucket.

Scrod,

Have you ever dealt with a seat post that had its paint scrape off it into the seat tube this causing it to slip even when torqued down? This Deda RS01 seatpost is killing me. I think I just have to take it off, sand off the pain that came off (the white lettering) on the inside of the seat tube, and try again. It's slipping enough to be about 1cm a week or so of riding.

scrod I cannot get rid of some play in my headset. it seems to be coming from the top dust cover area. I took off the stem, spacers and cover and then put them all back on and tightened down nice and good and I can still get a little bit of 'lift' when I pull up on my handlebars. any ideas? I have next to no experience installing headsets, it was done by a LBS. it's an FSA threadless headset if that matters

Do you have enough of a gap between the top of your steerer and top cap? It should be a minimum of 3mm.

I've never had that trouble at all. The white lettering coming off shouldn't be enough to make it slip. Even though you're working with steel and aluminum, maybe you should try carbon installation paste (which has a gritty texture) instead of grease.

Scrod,

When did you start working as a bike mechanic, and how? Just curious/bored

I went into a local shop to buy some tubes or something a couple of years ago and the owner said "Hey, do you know how to install a headset? I'm without a good mechanic right now and the board is filling up." I started right then.

The shop ended up being a pretty weird place to work (lots of family drama, Christian overtones, etc) but it was a great learning experience - regarding both what to do and what not to do - when it came time to open my own shop.

derrrp. put a 2.5mm spacer underneath and problem vanished.

Thanks, tried that and we'll see how it goes!