This is JUS.
There is a saying that success is 80% preparation and 20% execution; thorough preparation is truly essential for getting anything done right.
Properly assembling a bicycle also begins with this kind of preparation.
In particular, preparing the frame is an essential process to ensure you can ride your bike comfortably and safely for a long time to come.
It all starts with a process called facing. To install the headset—the part that connects the frame to the fork—we use a specialized reamer to trim the head tube. At Circles, rather than jumping straight into reaming, we first carefully file down the excess paint on the edges of the upper and lower head tube to ensure a clean surface.
Taking this extra step prevents the paint on the head tube from chipping or peeling off when the reamer is applied.
By using the reamer, the headset is pressed into the head tube perfectly parallel.
If a headset isn't installed correctly, it puts unnecessary stress on both the headset and the frame, which can significantly shorten the life of your frame. That is why facing is the most critical part of frame preparation.
Just today, we received a road bike from a customer requesting a headset and fork replacement. Once I removed the old headset…
Oh dear… it looked like the original headset had been pressed in with paint still coating the top and bottom surfaces of the head tube.
Of course, we couldn't just press a new headset in like that.
We performed the proper facing, replaced the headset and fork, and handed the bike back to the customer.
After facing the bottom bracket shell just like the head tube, the next step is "tapping," which cleans and restores the threads.
We tap all the threads on the frame and fork.
This ensures that when parts are assembled, the bolts go in straight and smooth, allowing them to be tightened to the proper torque.
If a bolt is accidentally cross-threaded, it could damage the frame, or even worse, the bolt could snap off inside during tightening…
By doing this kind of thorough preparation and then carefully assembling each part one by one, you end up with the best possible partner for your cycling life—one you can ride with confidence for years to come.
In addition to frames purchased at Circles, we also welcome bringing in your own frame, as well as requests for facing and tapping after a frame has been painted, so please feel free to ask!