Hi there. I registered on here a while back, fresh with enthusiasm after purchasing a lovely '84 raleigh record ace, and have since spent just about zero time on here. Sorry about that. It's because I've not really done much cycling, I bought a bit of a project house and have spent much of my time wondering exactly how plaster dust gets that deep into your ears. Anyway, house is sorted, I've spent the last 6 months or so riding it about and frankly, it's a joy. In comparison to my aluminium hybrid I was riding, this feels alive, it has soul, the hybrid was an appliance with as much character as a fridge. Now it's time to give it some love back.
In general, 28 year old bearings are not healthy bearings, I've removed the bottom bracket (which in all truth feels OK, a surprise considering I'm just over 14 stone) and the headset has also come out too. This hasn't fared well at all and is one of the reasons I'm doing all of this. There's a succession of indentations all around the bottom race and it's going to need replacing. The BB is 68x118, and I've ascertained that there's plenty of manufacturers who'll sort me out there, but I simply don't have a clue as to how to measure the headset? So, firstly, how would I make sure I'm getting the right size, and secondly does anybody have any recommendations of what to put in there. Longevity is probably more crucial than sheer lightness etc, and I'd also like to keep them silver, wether alloy or chrome, just in keeping with the style of the bike.
Final question, while it's all apart I'd like to get it powdercoated, anybody with any tips on who to use in the northwest; I'm in Stockport but I can travel a bit.
In general, 28 year old bearings are not healthy bearings, I've removed the bottom bracket (which in all truth feels OK, a surprise considering I'm just over 14 stone) and the headset has also come out too. This hasn't fared well at all and is one of the reasons I'm doing all of this. There's a succession of indentations all around the bottom race and it's going to need replacing. The BB is 68x118, and I've ascertained that there's plenty of manufacturers who'll sort me out there, but I simply don't have a clue as to how to measure the headset? So, firstly, how would I make sure I'm getting the right size, and secondly does anybody have any recommendations of what to put in there. Longevity is probably more crucial than sheer lightness etc, and I'd also like to keep them silver, wether alloy or chrome, just in keeping with the style of the bike.
Final question, while it's all apart I'd like to get it powdercoated, anybody with any tips on who to use in the northwest; I'm in Stockport but I can travel a bit.
