Cane Creek’s New Simple Tapered Headset Solution

Tapered steerer tube forks are all the rage, and there are definitely some benefits inherent in their design.  However, mating them to a frame that was not specifically designed to accept them was next to impossible.  For smaller frame builders this meant either using a 1.5 headtube frame and getting a mixed headset or finding a frame specifically designed using the expensive and labor-intensive tapered headtube.

Well that was then and this is now.  Based on the ideas of a Portland Oregon frame builder (Sean Chaney of Vertigo Cycles), Cane Creek is set to produce a viable and downright elegant solution for smaller builders wanting to use tapered steerer tube forks.  Their new headset (tentatively dubbed the “XX-44mm Traditional”) allows builders to use a standard 1 1/8″ ZeroStack style headtube with a tapered fork.

While the new headset is aimed at the smaller frame builder, it has the added advantage of letting anyone with a 1 1/8″ ZeroStack headtube frame retrofit their bike with a tapered steerer tube fork and benefit from its advantages.

Flexibility and choice are always good things in cycling, and when they can be had by combining existing standards rather than creating new ones, everyone benefits.  Our hats are off to Sean and Cane Creek for this timely innovation.

Read to the full press release from Cane Creek right here.