Any question answered...

I'm just going to leave that there

(Just seen the ad on itv), seriously doe.... Three black girls with London accents, "be a better me"...."join the army"... What? Have they hired the McDonald's campaign manager?

My new headset cups fitted into my new frame without need for a headset press. Installation and tightening seemed fine, until a test ride. The cups are clearly too loose, as there's audible play under the 'front brake rock' test, and the same is felt when out on the road under reasonable braking also.

What are my options? Different headset? Shim? Loctite? Fubared?

Frame is a 2001 Look KG386, Carbon moulded with what I presume is an alloy headtube.

Headset is an M Part Elite Inch Threaded.

Thanks. Al.

It may not be the root cause of your problem, but my experience of M:Part is that the quality matches the price...

I'd start with a Cane Creek 40 and if you still have problems, at least you know it isn't the headset.

Yeah, that was my assumption too, which is why I went for the top of their range - the Elite was 40 quid, which I thought would prevent any machining discrepancies that might exist in the cheaper models.

Cane Creek don't do a mid price threaded headset, afaik? There's the 110, but that's Chris King money...

What are my options? Different headset?

Chris King do oversize cups, so if your head tube bore is over spec (30.0 is the normal spec, CK actually suggest 30.1 for their headsets) they can supply bigger ones, presumably in 0.2mm increments.

FWIW, I've had an M-Part headset which was a drop-in fit too, so it's worth taking a proper measurement. @Scilly.Suffolk could well be right, but there's no point paying for another headset until you know where the problem is. You'll need a suitable size telescopic gauge and a 25-50 micrometer. Obviously you're unlikely to have these about your person, but your local machinist should have them and will probably take measurements in exchange for a drink*

*see https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/226366/?offset=175#comment9384332 for exchange rate

Cane Creek don't do a mid price threaded headset, afaik?

40 is the mid range model, between the basic 10 and the bling 110

Ah brilliant, thanks for the tip. Mike Burrows isn't too far away - he may be getting old and a bit mad, but he should hopefully have the necessary tools for the job! If not, there are plenty of other places to ask around in. Ta.

And I can only find the CC 40 series in threadless?

there's no point paying for another headset until you know where the problem is

But at the very least, he'd have a decent HS in his parts bin...

Mike Burrows isn't too far away...

You can drop my cranks off for me?

he may be getting old and a bit mad

Hmmm...

At this rate, the new build will become the parts bin. Getting a bit exasperated with it, for various other reasons too!

And if you're serious about the cranks, and can get them to me, then yes, gladly :)

I can only find the CC 40 series in threadless?

Where are you looking? Wiggle have the Forty in an EC30 fitment
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cane-creek-40-series-traditional-1-inch-headset/

I must add, he drilled the fork on my track bike for me a couple of years ago, and ended up getting the hole skewed ever so slightly which caused a whole extra world of problems. So your caution may be wise!

Thanks for the offer but I'll either post them or ride up, so they might as well go direct.

I'm quite keen on the pot luck element: "If it hadn't been for that Mike Burrows, I'd have been on for a short..."

Well bugger me. I just looked at the thumbnail and assumed it was threadless. In that case, tangential question, how does the EC30 system work? I can't get my head around having what looks like a preload bolt and also allowing a quill to fit within?

Ok, no worries! Ha, yeah, the potential jeopardy does exude a certain charm! Even though it went wrong, it's still nice to be able to say that Mike's worked on my bike.

and assumed it was threadless

Er.. yes it is.

Apologies, but I'm responsible for the tangent: not reading you original post properly and missing "threaded".

EC30 refers to an "external cup" and a head tube ID of "30.1mm".

That alright, tester fell for it too, and quoted for posterity!

You had me questioning my entire knowledge of headsets for a good half an hour though :)

Oh I see. Yes, that makes much more sense thanks. I was envisaging it was the technical name for some sort of wizardry that Cane Creek had developed which had totally passed me by. Although I should have put two and two together really, considering BB30 and PF30 must be named in a similar convention?

tester fell for it too

Yeah, obviously we're all asleep at the wheel today. I suppose I just couldn't believe that in 2016 somebody was still thinking of installing a threaded headset.

1x10 without a wide narrow chainring - does it work?

I've got a clutched rear mech and this bike is ridden on road, albeit through potholes and hopping off kerbs.

That's what I've always used - single speed ring and a type two clutched doohickey

That's what I've always used - single speed ring and a type two clutched doohickey

1x10 without a wide narrow chainring - does it work?

Always.

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