vomatic
new member
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 10
Loc: Des Moines, IA
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I just ordered a new Dragonfly. Stock 58cm, nude. I ordered 1-1/8" headtube with AlphaQ fork. I am 190 lbs. Can you give me your input on the headtube size? I've seen a lot of discussion on this topic from bigger riders who opt for the 1" steerer. Craig wasn't enthusiastic about 1". He did say I could put a sleeve in the 1-1/8" tube if I want and then I could go w/ either the 1" or 1-1/8". Thoughts?
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Suds
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 22
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Go for the 1&1/8in headtube. At your frame size and weight a little extra stiffness in the control area is a good thing in my opinion. Also, it seams as though 1.125 is fast becoming the standard for steerer size.
Also on your order, be certain that the head tube lenght is tall enough for you, because, as I'm sure you are aware, the recommended max stack height for most carbon steerers is 30mm - if not get the headtube extension from Calfee while the frame is constucted.
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vomatic
new member
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 10
Loc: Des Moines, IA
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Thanks for the input. Head tube extension was recommended and ordered.
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bfd
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 77
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Sorry, but I disagree, I would have gotten the 1" headtube. Why? The guy bought a D'fly and Alpha Q fork, arguably one of the lightest combo available. Why add more weight with the heavier headtube/stem/fork combo?
Note, I'm in the 190lb + catagory and ride a 1" fork. I'm heavy and very hard on my bike (I've crashed several times on my Calfee - including a couple that caused personal injury to me - but the bike survived with no problems - go Calfee!) I never have any flex with my 1" fork.
Further, Craig doesn't believe a 1 and 1/8" fork is necessary, except for maybe on tandems or you're extremely big, and 190lb is not extreme. So, if you haven't already done so, get the 1" headtube.
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vomatic
new member
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 10
Loc: Des Moines, IA
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Do you have any spacers in your fork extension? Does that matter? I've seen info that suggests 3 or more spacers needs a 1-1/8" fork.
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bfd
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 77
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Apparently the OP is getting the headtube extension, so he may not need alot of spacers. However, the "general rule" is if you have a carbon steerer tube fork, you should only use 1 cm of head tube spacers for a 1" headtube. If you use 1 and 1/8" headtube, you can use a bit more like 1.25 cm.
For another "view" on why you should use 1" headtube, read here:
http://www.habcycles.com/techstuf.html#oneinch
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Suds
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 22
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bfd - I can appreciate your point of view. True Temper lists the weight diff as 15g and on a King HS the diff is 18g for a total of 33g weight savings for the 1" steerer. I also recall reading some prior discussions where Craig Calfee had recommended the 1", however, according to the original post, his opinion may be changing. Either way this lucky guy is going to end up with a superb ride. Glad to see discussions on this forum get up and running.
Cheers,
Suds
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dfcas
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 143
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Will offset the weight difference if you buy a new stem.Most are 1 1/8 and use a shim to reduce down to 1 inch,negating much of the difference.If resale is considered,I would rather be trying to sell a 1 1/8 headtube bike since that is the emerging standard.I don't think it matters,but it's hard to buck the trend.
Also,The last time I talked to Calfee they said that the bikes with 1 1/8 headtubes get an aluminum insert,saving weight over the Ti inserts,so the package may weugh the same.All in all,I don't think it matters...
Dan
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no signature
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Max
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 69
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I test rode the Tetra with both 1 and 1.125 head tubes for a week each. Both ride differently, the 1 inch head tubeI rides smoothest of the two (less viration from the front), and 1.125 head tube tracks the best of the two on steep down hill corners (it has an extra degree of control in a down hill environment) . I am a 190-195 lb rider. I just order a Tetra Pro with 1.125 head tube.
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MAX
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CalfeeJames
new member
Reged: 11/12/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Santa Cruz, CA
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If you have the HT extension, and fewer spacers, then it may not in fact be necessary to have the fatter steerer. We also say that a 1" steerer provides a slightly more comfortable ride, given the very slight amount of flex in a 1".
But bear in mind that these are recommendations- some riders are not as sensitive to these minor changes as other riders... Still, if you jump from 1" to 1.125", you'll probably be able to feel at least some difference in torsional stiffness, provided the top tubes of the two bikes are of the same stiffness rating and diameter, which impacts that feeling as well.
CalfeeJames
CalfeeDesign Repairs Guru
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CalfeeJames
new member
Reged: 11/12/07
Posts: 15
Loc: Santa Cruz, CA
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P.S. Given what I said above, I would personally go with a 1.125" steerer, simply because of the relative ease of replacement. The term "emerging standard" has been used rightly. On a 58cm or larger frame, or if you have a tall spacer stack, then getting a fork like the Alpha QZ Pro might be desirable, as there is no stack limit, due to the much thicker-walled, 450mm steerer. This fork comes in 1.125" steerer diameter ONLY.
Reducing:
If you do have the larger head tube, Chris King makes a headset called the "Devolution" which will resolve the difference by reducing the diameter to 1" on the inside. Craig has said that this works for reduction but a shim would not. The crown race has to sit somewhere, right?
Expanding:
Keep in mind if you are building a 54cm or smaller, Calfee head lug molds are only suited to a 1" tube. You can pay $175 extra for a hand-wrapped head tube if you want a 1.125", but you'll lose the sexy sculpted lug work of the Dragonfly. If you own a Calfee with a 1", and want to upsize, then it would require a full head tube re-mold, which costs $450 plus paint and shipping.
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