http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: New bike paranoia... en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:16:44 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140893 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 10:51:39 +0000 kaputnik 140893@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Interestingly, the FSA chainset looks like it has an endcap missing too, but seems to be sold that way</em></p> <p>The hollow-axle cranks that go with external cup bottom brackers are exactly that - hollow. I've never seen one that has an end cap, although that's not to say such a thing doesn't exist. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140875 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 17:16:09 +0000 crowriver 140875@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The hex bolt you can see recessed expands the compression plug to grip the inside of your steerer tube</em></p> <p>So, a bit like an old style quill stem, then. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140874 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:41:10 +0000 Kenny 140874@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Search for 'rubber bung' for more options and colours</em></p> <p>I wouldn't do that search while at work, mind you ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140869 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:20:42 +0000 allebong 140869@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Insulating tape is a practical but admittedly not boutique option. You can get rubber plugs <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/SHOOTING-STICK-HIKING-Rubber-Ferrule/dp/B007BN5QTE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_2">like this</a> that should press in if the size is right. Search for 'rubber bung' for more options and colours. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140861 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:52:15 +0000 wingpig 140861@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote><em>"Can't help but feel there should be something a bit more bespoke than insulating tape covering that recess though..."</em></blockquote><br /> I can't remember the name but Wilmington's Cow bought a wee clock from a place which make functional adornments for stem caps like thermometers, compasses and clocks, though their accuracy/durability was questioned and I don't know if they did compression-plug-cap versions as well as standard star-nuts. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140860 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 10:10:57 +0000 Its_Me_Knees 140860@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Cyclops: Thanks for that...all makes sense. Its a full carbon bike (Moda Echo, £200 off from EBC....I am soooo in the dog house with Her Indoors.....) so I guess the compression plug is a given from what you say. You're spot on about the slightly larger hex key fitting the top cap hole too. Can't help but feel there should be something a bit more bespoke than insulating tape covering that recess though...</p> <p>@Cyclingmollie: New Bike Paranoia drives one to these lengths! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140858 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 01:02:15 +0000 Cyclingmollie 140858@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Top marks for question presentation Its_Me_Knees. Even I could follow what was being discussed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140857 Sun, 26 Jan 2014 00:49:40 +0000 Smudge 140857@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cheers Cyclops, every day is a schoolday! :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140856 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 23:51:19 +0000 Cyclops 140856@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Unless I'm misunderstanding it seems to serve a different purpose..."</em></p> <p>No, they both do the same thing - allowing you to tighten the top cap to compress the headset bearings and adjust headset play. Compression plugs were developed initially for use in carbon steerers, where using a star fangled nut is a very bad idea, but are now sometimes used in bikes with metal steerers as they're a lot easier to fit and remove.</p> <p>If you want completely different try something like a USE Ring-go-star, which I've got on one of my bikes, where the sole purpose of the top cap is to prevent stuff falling down your steerer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140855 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 23:22:35 +0000 Kenny 140855@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oooh - didn't know of such a thing! Unless I'm misunderstanding, it seems to serve a different purpose to the ones I'm used to? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140854 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 22:58:58 +0000 Cyclops 140854@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Your new bike uses a compression plug rather than a star fangled nut you've got on your old bikes so it's meant to be like that. The hex bolt you can see recessed expands the compression plug to grip the inside of your steerer tube - you shouldn't need to adjust this. You should find a slightly larger hex key will fit the hole in the top cap - this is how you adjust any play in your headset bearings. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140853 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 21:59:51 +0000 Kenny 140853@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The assembly will feel tight due to the bolts which are holding the stem on to the front fork steer tube. However, the top cap should still be screwed on tightly so that it compresses the stem down just that little bit more. If the top cap is not screwed in, I'd be going back to the shop to ask questions. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140852 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 21:47:53 +0000 Its_Me_Knees 140852@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks all.</p> <p>@Smudge: I don't think the allen bolt IS holding the top cap on; it is well recessed, not flush with the big top cap, which I why I thought there 'could' be something more fundamental missing. Also seems a bit naff to leave something which, as Allebong says, is going to accumulate rainwater. However, the whole assembly seems tight enough, so I'll dig out the insulating tape... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140851 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 20:47:26 +0000 dg145 140851@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They're both the same on my Cannondale cross bike - which also has FSA cranks.</p> <p>The exposed headset bolt is looking a bit weather beaten I have to say, though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140850 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 20:39:03 +0000 allebong 140850@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't think I've ever seen a covered hollow axle - but then how would you know?</p> <p>The grommet on the headset bolt is for neatness/appearance and also to stop rainwater from pooling in the bolt head and recess. Might be worth covering up with electrical tape if the bike will be seeing bad weather, otherwise it's of no importance. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140849 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 20:33:27 +0000 Smudge 140849@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If you can see the head of the allen bolt holding the top cap on, and there is no play in the headset, I wouldn't worry :-) tbh I haven't seen one with a cover on the allen bolt before, I must pay more attention!<br /> Hollow axles are often left open imho to show off that they are hollow ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12106#post-140847 Sat, 25 Jan 2014 20:18:04 +0000 Its_Me_Knees 140847@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My B'twin and my MTB both have ahead sets with wee black grommets(?) on top. Much like this one:</p> <p><img src="http://www.decathlon.co.uk/media/541/5412836/zoom_400PX_asset_7470730.jpg"></p> <p>My new steed looks like it has the grommet missing on the headset, and a recess is thus exposed with a hex bolt at the bottom of it. The hole in the (big) top cap from where I think the grommet is missing also seems to be hexagonal. It's an FSA headset and the top cap looks very much like this:</p> <p><img src="http://www.wigglestatic.com/images/fsa-160-3010-med.jpg?w=430&amp;h=430&amp;a=7"></p> <p>ie. the hex bolt isn't remotely flush with the top of the (big) cap.</p> <p>Interestingly, the FSA chainset looks like it has an endcap missing too, but seems to be sold that way:</p> <p><img src="http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l145/DJEGIANT/P1000806.jpg"> </p> <p>So.... am I being daft/paranoid, or is anything functional missing from either the headset or the chainset? (and if it is, where do I get a replacement?).</p> <p>Many thanks, as ever, in advance, to the CCE community for any insight/advice. </p>