Wanted: french thread bottom bracket and headset

Anyone have these lying around? Thanks!

French threaded: I have a used Stronglight A9 complete headset with all the internal parts (Lock nut; top adjustable cup; steel bearing race; roller bearings/retainer; steel bearing race; upper pressed in race; lower pressed in cup; steel bearing race; roller bearings; steel bearing race; fork crown race).

I am after £15 - but at that rate, you might be better off getting a Velo Orange one...

For the bottom bracket, a cost effective alternative would be to use a threadless bottom bracket.

Alternative options include getting both threaded retapped in BSA, an independent shop with the right tools should charge around £20 each.

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Thanks for the tips! I'm into reusing stuff, would happily buy the headset off you. Will pm you.

re: bottom bracket - what would i have to do to fit a threadless bottom bracket? just buy the right part (this, for example)?

Once you know your spindle size (which depends on the chainset you will use but also frame clearance), you can get them cheap on eBay - I would say go for a YST, I had them before and they are good value.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Acor-Threadless-Bottom-Bracket-Sealed-Cartridge-Shell-68mm-in-Various-Sizes/140715041782

You will then need 2x bottom bracket tools, one for each side.

Frankenbike in Hackney Wick is open and might tap the BB thread to British for you. Give them a ring. Otherwise they have a box of BB spares and there might be some French cups in there. I would be able to help but all my parts are in storage. As a side note I wouldn't recommend using a threadless BB unless it's the last option, but some people think they're okay.

Regarding the threadless BB - it is like everything really.

If you are going to push 1,200W while riding your Cat B crit on Zwift then sure, that's not the right part for you. That french frameset probably isn't for you either.

If you are going to get a vintage french bike back on the road, fit the bottom bracket properly and keep an eye on it to make sure there's no play, then no issues whatsoever. Modern problems require modern solutions

And they're only £20.

Agreed. The other side of the coin would be that I've never tapped a French BB thread to British and had it go wrong (I've probably done 30 or so). So why not spend a small amount more now and be able to use a higher quality BB, which is threaded in to the shell. And have the ability to replace it with ease in the future.

Thanks for the help all! I ordered a bb online, so will keep it french threaded for now.

As for the headset @Vince, the frame came with most of a headset, I put in a bearing cage I had already and it seems good to go.

Glad to hear the headset was complete! Get a thread started in "Current Projects" so we can see the bike!