I'm looking for a 1" headset for a couple of builds that I'm doing - one is a decidedly non-WW Colombus Max frame that will probably get a King to go with the King BB. The other I'm up in the air about, it's going on a tri training bike (ie. something with better geometry for Colorado Mountains than a typical tri bike). I'm looking for something that is a 'set it, and forget it" kind of headset, but preferably one with a more squared/modern profile. Is there such a headset? The Cane Creek "40" looks the part, but is there someone who makes a headset that is better/more durable/maintenance-free?

Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.

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"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens

A friend of mine just picked up a Cane Creek 110 headset in silver and it was beautiful! It went in easily, the bearings feel good, and the lockring with the screw seems to work well. While the price might be a bit steep it is equal in quality to a King headset any day. My two cents!

Acros AH-30

Campag! Record or chorus both came in 1". Beautiful headsets, not nearly as common as King, work just as well if not better. Serviceable loose ball bearings.

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The Chronic

I'd go Chris King, I've got a few bikes with Campagnolo head seats and have noticed the bearings have gone dry while sitting in the garage unused...

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Hi Lance, Long time no chat.

This sounds like a custom build, what was the spec on the lower headset stack height? The difference between brands and models can be several mm's. You will get a wide variety of opinions that will say 3mm difference will effect the handling to those that that you can't tell the difference. I have a Cane Creek 110 on my mtb and it seems very durable and does have a much lower stack height over the Chris King on my Lynskey. The Lynskey, at the time it was designed, set the bike geometry to work with a 371mm fork and the King headset so that is what I run. I could make choices in forks and headsets that could be almost 10mm difference so I stick with what the frame was originally designed to work with.

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Record

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Hi Juan - yes it is a custom build. I'm working on sorting out the fork and geometry at the moment. I'll adjust the spec of the frame to what I get for a fork and headset. It will be a nice steel bike to train on as I work on getting my triathlete mojo workin' again (it's been a while).

Campag, while very nice, isn't an option. I'll be building this with Dura Ace and won't put on a Record headset.

The CC 110 is very nice and high-quality I've heard, but I was looking for more of a squared profile to the headset rather than the rounded style like King. The Acros looks the part, but I don't know where to get Acros parts in the US - any suggestions?

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"Organization is for the simple-minded, the Genius controls the chaos." - Jens

They're imported by BTI, so most LBS should be able to order one unless I'm missing something

The best 1" threadless headset I have come across is the I use. Miche. Weighs 90g so is WW and uses needle rollar bearings only. I have had it my all whether bike for a year and it so far has been faultless. Lighter, cheaper and better sealed than anything else out there. The only other 1" headsets that are an option are the FSA orbit 1", camapg record and crancreeks offering but all these are more expensive. Chris King also make one but given the price they charge and how good the Miche one is I cannot see why you want a CK 1" headset.

The only downside is that the Miche headset is silver only.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

Campagnolo Record 1" just goes on and on and on and......

They do but they cost twice as much. So if the Miche lasts half as long then it will be just as good. But I suspect it will last as long as a record headset.

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www.thecycleclinic.co.uk

If you grease it on regular intervals any headset would last a long time.

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I never had any issues with King or Record, but I suppose Campy wins on both cost and stack height.

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Don't bother with loose balls (Record, Dura Ace) if you ride in the wet. It will ride nicely, then you will open it up at some point and find the bearings are a mess of rust, likely with damaged races, making the whole headset a write off. Whereas with a sealed bearing headset you can just drop in new races for a few $.

I'd go with a mid range Cane Creek if budget is a concern, otherwise King.