Current Projects chat and miscellany

is the washer between the lock nut and upper race on a headset essential? theres plenty of answers to this question on the internet but id like someone to say YES/NO from experience

Depends on the style of nut you have. Some nuts aren't open on both sides to will stop at the end of the steerer. You might need the spacer there to stop the nut from bottoming out. Otherwise, no.