custom, novel headset designs

[LoHiFab]

I'm interested in custom headset/steerer tube designs and concepts. I'm aware of what English Cycles has done where their stem acts as the threadless steerer tube in an upside-down configuration. That's along the lines of what I'm thinking but I don't like the bolts on the fork used to clamp the steerer.

I have a few ideas but was wondering if anything else has been done or attempted.

Thanks in Advance.

[bencooper]

Birdy folding bikes do it that way too. I've sketched out a way of doing it with an internal clamp - there's a way of doing an internal split clamp I spotted on a '90s MTB stem that I've always wanted to build.

But as usual paying work gets in the way of experimental stuff.

[LoHiFab]

I've sketched out a way of doing it with an internal clamp - there's a way of doing an internal split clamp I spotted on a '90s MTB stem that I've always wanted to build.

Thanks. One of my ideas was to use a wedge nut (to lock the steerer and fork tubes together) in series with a star nut (to set the compression of the bearings). That way you have only one bolt to fasten everything that can be located under the fork crown. I admit it may be a little tricky getting the compression set in concert with securing the wedge but I think it's doable.

[Mike Mcdermid]

Is it an act of genius to place threads interfaces and bits that need to dissasemble in the path of flying winter shit, just playing devils here, and yes I'm aware its been done in the past

[bencooper]

Hence the hidden internal clamp ;-)

[LoHiFab]

Is it an act of genius to place threads interfaces and bits that need to disassemble in the path of flying winter shit, just playing devils here, and yes I'm aware its been done in the past

My motivation is a super clean look on a custom low-performance bike. My one-bolt idea only exposes a hex head underneath the fork crown, real similar to where all front brake bolts live. I understand why bikes and their components have evolved to be 100% modular, but modularity doesn't need to be a goal on a custom ride.

I'm also fishing for new concepts, hence this thread.

[Mike Mcdermid]

Hence the hidden internal clamp ;-)

I'm sure pace did this and Duncan borrowed that from someone else of ye old legend

We once did a tt bike concept for a TW co,not one I have the permissions to show but there was no steerer or bearings in the frame doesn't get any cleaner than that and just a bit thicker than an iphone

[bencooper]

Some suspension designs use a flexible bit of carbon fibre or titanium - I wonder if something like that would solve the whole problem...

[shirk]

See Sam's 2011 Nahbs bike.

[Lyle Vallie]

I always did like the GT double quill Flip Flop Stem:
stem.jpg

But as far as new innovations, I was blown away when I learned of the KHE Affix rotor system:
1004be49fe142bb3298a913b96ae80f4.jpg

I have also seen a few TT and show bikes forgo a top bearing and just have a bushing either to save space or weight.

Lyle Vallie

[LoHiFab]

See Sam's 2011 Nahbs bike.

Perfect, this is almost my vision. 10 seconds after I saw this image it came to me. I'll just use a tapered cut of the steerer tube with an internal sleeve to clock and secure the fork to the stem and a little precision machining will set the compression of the bearings. All set from a bolt under the fork crown.