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I’m ordering parts for my new bike, the frame for which is currently being built in the workshop. It has a 1 inch steerer tube, so decent-looking headsets are thin on the ground. It’s a classic steel frame so I want silver components, and I’ve chosen a Campag Record unthreaded headset, mostly because it looks right.

‘Nowt wrong with that, but the bike will have an Ultegra groupset.

Is this against the “law”? Will I break some undefined law of physics by mixing manufacturers in this fashion? Will my older peers be gravely offended and not speak to me?

Topic

[crikey]

Ooooooh, Shimano 600.
That
Ooooooh, Shimano 600.
That takes me back, lovely stuff…
(wanders off in nostalgic haze, looks up Shimano Sante, weeps for lost youth…)

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Shame Shimano no longer do
Shame Shimano no longer do headsets, I have a rather lovely 600 headset on my old bike.

I had to look long and hard because tbh, most headsets these days look bloody awful. I wanted the Velo Orange Grand Cru, but they don’t do it in 1″ 🙁

[crikey]

You can, if you know what
You can, if you know what you’re doing, convert an old style threaded headset into something compatible with a threadless ahead style fork. I did it with a Dura-Ace headset by filing off the threads on both the upper race and the locknut and then used a spacer and stem with a top cap as you would with a normal modern headset.

A lot of faffing about for something that didn’t make the slightest difference in the long run…

Shimano don’t do headsets, so anything will be fine.

[mike the bike]

Let’s be honest, no
Let’s be honest, no manufacturer can lay claim to producing the perfect groupset. If you prefer to mix-and-match, go ahead. My best bike is almost wholly Italian/Campag, but if you look closely you will find my choice of brake blocks, headset and pedals all come from different makers. It’s your bike.

[unclebadger]

“Don’t cross the streams”….
“Don’t cross the streams”….

Campagnolo make superb headsets and have done for donkey’s ages.
I have a Centaur unit from 1991 which is still spot on on one of my bikes. They also look the part if you want the retro look. You would definitely be able to pick up some great vintage kit on ebay, some of it New Old Stock to compliment a retro build.

At the end of the day its down to aesthetics and whatever is best for your own setup and preference. some people might coat you off for mixing it up but who cares, if its your build you can do what you like 🙂

[Anonymous]

I’m sure you know it does not
I’m sure you know it does not really matter. There are some Italophiles who would not care for the aesthetic of your combination, but a headset is such a tiny part of the bike, it’s unlikely to attract notice. Nobody can see your headset if you are disappearing up the road.

Chris King headsets are also available in silver, and will last many times longer than Record.

[Author]

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