Re: Ticking headset '02 vortex: Bikefanclub.com

You are wise.

I've experienced much of your story with my mountain bikes, which, up until the last month, I've only ridden once -- due to rain (muddy trails) and my new Vortex.

The more I've ridden through the years the "closer" I came to my bikes. Little noises of any type a) became more noticeable and annoying (Nev to wife: "Hear that?" Nev's wife: "No.") and b) in some ways became easier to diagnose. Gradually I learned to pull the cranks/bottom bracket, rear cassette/hub, brakes and whatnot, to clean and take them apart to pack for traveling. The combo of many miles and knowing how to assemble/disassemble has brought me to quieter rides, and made me a better detective. Also, importantly, learning what needs to be tightened/checked after a while. Simple things "seem" big when you don't know much about what's between your legs and can be more quickly fixed when you do. (Coincidentally, The more time you spend with anything that might be between your legs the better you know it and the better it works, eh everybody?

)

In any case, the vortex is new, and I'm not that "close" to it yet. I'm looking forward to becoming the detective you are with yours, and I am with my other bikes. I've never installed a headset beyond the caps or whatever when removing forks. But I do hear ya. Ain't this fun stuff? I only wish these bicycle aggravations were exclusively the only ones I had in life. I would never complain again.

I picked up the bike today with the new cups and bearings from Litespeed. It was raining, as usual, so couldn't ride it out back. But, without a doubt, it feels different/better, less resistance, in fact zero, in the headset area. Bars go all the way left and right smoothly. If the sun out now holds the streets will be dry when I get home from work and will check it out. I'll give an update.

I do freaking like this bike. It's a GD blast to ride.

Thanks,
Nev

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