Specialised Aleez 2008 sport Headset Bearing

Hi can anyone tell me where to get and what type of Headset bearing fits a specialised Allez sport 2008 model, lots of confusion on line, its fitted with an intergrated headset but the bearing sits below head tube, will get some pic's later, thanks

Cane Creek with a spacer on top once you can get all the Mindset gubblins out. Luckily my frame broke just as I was investigating this 'mare.

I'm after just the bearings but as a plan B do you know which Cran creek cheers

These I believe

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/cane-creek-cartridge-bearings-s2-s3-zs2-is2/rp-prod11266

This.

The Mindset is a bizarre cost saving way of having a cup and cone headset in an integrated headtube.

Was replacing the headset on my brothers Allez, after seeing what a minefield it was ended up just taking it to Brixton Cycles (specialized dealer?) who just sold us a complete headset that fits for about £30 I think.

He'd previously been to PS cycles who sold him a set of Cartridge bearings for £20 (that didn't fit), for the extra tenner think it's worth just replacing the whole thing!

Guys thanks for the info, didn't know Brixton Cycles was a Specilaised dealer so may need to visit them but firstly I want to see if I can get the bearings, the ones suggested on CRAction I've heard mixed reviews correct/not correct great/Rubbish, the bearing sits on a angled shelf inside the headtube which was a first for me, so far I've tried cage bearings which fit the headtube but not the crown race/fork and prevent the headset fitting correctly, Is this standard on all allez or just a couple of models....

He'd previously been to PS cycles who sold him a set of Cartridge bearings for £20 (that didn't fit)

It did fit, you just need to removed the old headset shell from the frame in order to fit a modern cartridge bearing in.

Is this standard on all allez or just a couple of models....

Mindset headset were standard on entry level Specialized, whether the higher end one simply got cartridge bearing fitted.

Ah ok, we should of tried harder to fit it then..

Was put off by other owners experience saying specialized headsets were a minefield, and the best thing to do was get a specialized dealer to tell you which one would fit.

I'll have to take a second look but this headset doesn't have cups but more like a ridge built into the headtube and fairly certain its not removable, I did see a bearing on evans website similar to the C Creek one on CRA and I posted the Question if this fitted the Allez sport 2008 their answer was take the bike into store which I want to avoid if possible..

It wasn't even complicated, I plum forget what headset I have order for a customer's Specialized who have similar headset, but needless to said it was a fairly common one (either FSA or Cane Creek).

If it look like this, then that can be easily removed and replaced with a cartridge;

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This is what the black cup look like when you removed it, the shape look exactly like the cartridge bearing headset on the lower part;

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I posted the Question if this fitted the Allez sport 2008 their answer was take the bike into store which I want to avoid if possible..

You do know you can get a quote done, then decline and do it yourself?

Cheers for that I had a better look at it tonight and yes exactly like the one in yr pic's and everything makes more sense now, these forums never let you down...many thanks

Perfect, in that case, you'll need one of those to smash out the old cup;

Once it's removed, then you can most defintely see the ridge for the cartridge bearing to sit inside, keep the original headset part as you may need to reused the headset conical spacers and the like.

Perfect so once the old cups are removed they're not needed for fitting with the new cartridge bearings, are the new bearings pressed in?, I take it that with the new cartridge bearings fitted I can use the rest of old headset and I may need some extra spaces?..thanks

they're not needed for fitting with the new cartridge bearings, are the new bearings pressed in?

Precisely, once the old black cup have been removed, it will look like this;

I take it that with the new cartridge bearings fitted I can use the rest of old headset and I may need some extra spaces?

Kinda, the crown race will need to be change for the new bearing, but the upper part may need some part of the old headset, like the conical spacers and additional spacer between that and the bearing.

I think the crown race is part of the carbon fork so don't think it can be changed but will have a second look

Hey guys info/help very much appreciated and edscoble, your the man......everything sorted

For anyone facing this problem in the future, as edscoble explained you need to knock out the old cups which are inside the headtube and replace with a cartridge bearing, my replacement bearings were crane creek 41/6.5mm/36degree/45degree, so didn't need to replace the whole headset...cheers

Dreeeedge.

I’m facing this right now, however my issue is now sourcing the crown race as I want to switch forks. How do I know what to use? Do I have to consider stack height for the crown race? Can I use spacers?

A bit baffled by this.

My crown race got changed in the end some headsets include the crown race so if you are buying a new headset check if it’s included

Thanks for the quick reply. I have the bearings, just not a crown race for the forks. I’m baffled as how to choose one. How will I know the stack height is good enough to clear the top of the fork?

The crown race normally fits flush with the bottom cup so shouldn’t really affect the stack height