If anyone knows of a Cervelo dealer near Whistler or who may be at expo, let me know. I know dumb mistake tightening without everything well seated...

cervelo dealer will be speed theory in vancouver. contact them, many of the staff will be at the race. I m coming on friday morning and if you are still in trouble, i do have a New p3 and we could take the bearing from it and fix you for the race. Just contact me tomorrow night if you arent sort out.

but call speed theory...they might be able to work something out tomorrow for you

---

Jonathan Caron / Professional Coach / ironman champions / age group world champions
Jonnyo Coaching
Instargram

Jonnyo, thanks. I took it for a spin around the block and everything is secure. In theory there is some redundancy with the number of ball bearings, but still don't want the headset freezing up on me when I have to turn at 70 kph. Do you know the steerer tube diameter (I think they are 1 1/4 inch)? Worst case maybe one of the loocal mountain bike stores can give me a race that mates into the Cervelo set up?

Saw this on Facebook:

Sean Harwin‎Ironman Canada
30 mins · Issaquah, WA ·
FREE Bike Services!!! Hey everyone, Just like I did last year I will be offering free mechanical services to anyone that needs it. This is a chance to make sure your bike is that last thing you worry about on race day. I hope to be in the same place I was last year between the RBC Royal Bank and Village Gate Blvd, near the big stone guy (Ilanaaq). I will be there on Friday 7ish until I am no longer busy (5 or 6pm) and Saturday from 7ish until everyone has dropped their bikes off.
Last year I helped almost 40 bikes, several of those would not have made it to T2 in the condition they were brought to me in. I specialize in Time Trial and road bikes. I also have worked with many of our sports elite athletes (like Rinny and Tim O) and also love to work with the 16:59:59 age groupers!

Try La Bicicletta (in Vancouver http://labiciclettaproshop.com/) they are also a Cervelo dealer and are listed as an Ironman Canada sponsor. Check in the Ironman Village, they had a large "tent" set up last year.

Hi Dev,

1. Chances are excellent you'll have no problem racing on your damaged bearing.

2. As part of the "Simply" aspect of the P-series "Simply Faster" mantra, your headset's bearings are the most common headset bearing in all of modern cycling, 1 1/8". Available from too many vendors in too many models to list. Cane Creek, FSA, etc. etc.

3. Random photos from the web:



4. Only danger is you *might* find a Campy standard bearing (45 x 45 degrees), but that's not likely; they're not too common.

5. Good luck, relax and "have a great time" in Whistler!

Cheers,

---

Damon Rinard
Engineering Manager,
CSG Road Engineering Department
Cannondale & GT Bicycles
(ex-Cervelo, ex-Trek, ex-Velomax, ex-Kestrel)

Thanks Damon, I will look for some at the expo or at the village in Whistler where there are a zillion Mountain bike stores. Do most mountain bikes use the same, or just road? It's been 20-25 years since I really did any mountain biking right on the transition from Quill stem to Aheadset.

So just to correct my previous statement, the actual bearings are sealed? But what I say was the bearing race and inside prt coming apart while the metal outer part was up inside the frame. Now everything is seated and mated back together with the compression of the middle headset bolt applying the force to pull the entire complex back together. But what I should normally see is the entire sealed bearing complex popping out, not just the race and inside part. Correct? Is there an easy way of popping out the metal part (outer part) if I find a replacement sealed bearing system?

Hi Dev,

Many (not all) MTBs also use this size. Tapered MTB headsets often will use this size for the top bearing, with a bigger bottom bearing (which has no effect on your choice). This upper size fits your P3 top or bottom, they're the same and interchangeable.

Cheers,

---

Damon Rinard
Engineering Manager,
CSG Road Engineering Department
Cannondale & GT Bicycles
(ex-Cervelo, ex-Trek, ex-Velomax, ex-Kestrel)

The bearings are "sealed" in the sense that you're not supposed to take the inner and outer races apart. The mis-aligned fork assembly after travel obviously damaged something, such that the inner race *did* separate from the outer, not as intended of course.

The outer race will slide out of the frame (there's normally about 0.5 mm clearance so it should just fall out). Unless it's jammed or bent badly. Then I'd suggest pulling it out with whatever you can find - small screwdriver? Spoke? needle nose pliers? The outer race isn't that rigid, so one way or another it should come out.

Cheers,

---

Damon Rinard
Engineering Manager,
CSG Road Engineering Department
Cannondale & GT Bicycles
(ex-Cervelo, ex-Trek, ex-Velomax, ex-Kestrel)

Many thanks on all the mechanical inputs. If nothing else not only did you educate me but also have explained the community how easy this should all be. I have a feeling that I can just do this job on my own in my hotel room! I will report back if'/when successful. People can complain all they want about people whining and complaining on slowtwitch, but the community is there to support each other when we need it. Big thanks.

When I pack the bike, I remove the entire stem, and then put the spacers and top cap back on the steerer tube and screw it tight, but obviously the bearings are kind of loose so I have to set them back in place before re assembling and tightenging. First time this has ever happened.

Hi Dev,

Agreed, once you have a new bearing, it should just drop in. Hotel room is a perfectly good theatre for that operation. :-)

You're right that normally, headset bearings find their own position naturally, but once in a great while (as just happened to you!) they get tilted just the wrong way and can get jammed or become bent. Your plan to wiggle them into place before tightening is all it takes to avoid that in the future.

I agree, I really love feeling part of a community as helpful as Slowtwitch. Glad I can contribute a bit now and then. Hope it all works out for your race!

Cheers,

---

Damon Rinard
Engineering Manager,
CSG Road Engineering Department
Cannondale & GT Bicycles
(ex-Cervelo, ex-Trek, ex-Velomax, ex-Kestrel)

this is when ST needs a "like" button! well done Jonnyo!

---

@rhyspencer

Yes, totally agree. I think pretty well at every IM race there is some thread started by someone in some type of a panic related to equipment, travel, logistics, mess ups. Invariably as a collective we rise to get our athletes to the start line. This time it is my turn to be "that guy in a panic". Last IM I was at, Joel Maley arrived in Texas with no wetsuit. I saw that in a thread, and since I had not left home, I threw in an extra wetsuit that Brandon Marsh had given me (never fit my neck well) the previous year at IM Tremblant for linking him up wtih my buddy who had a massive ski chalet that could hold 20ish people (somewhere on another thread, I had seen Brandon looking for something cheap at Tremblant). Joel ended up with a free wet and a Kona Qual.

Thanks for posting the pictures. I showed the picture at one of the stores at the expo and he saw it was a 36x45. Got the bearing, came back to the hotel and it was a 5 min "surgery" to get the old outer out (used a fork froom the hotel to push it from the top of the frame hole, then place the new one on the steerer tube, PROPERLY SEAT EVERYTHING and tighten. Will post pictures later.

Jonnyo, thanks for the offer. I am set now assuming the test ride goes OK (it should). I may travel with an extra backup bearing in my bike case "just in case".

Agree with your above post, and I was in this situation earlier this year, and put out the call here for help. Everything turned out OK, but i had options as a result. Despite what people say about ST (some... most?.. of it true :)) it can be a really good community

Good luck racing Whistler! I absolutely love that course.

Thanks for the update!

Have fun racing.

---

Damon Rinard
Engineering Manager,
CSG Road Engineering Department
Cannondale & GT Bicycles
(ex-Cervelo, ex-Trek, ex-Velomax, ex-Kestrel)

Dev.... happy you did figure out a solution. I have to lift my hat to cervelo for this...they made the p3 very simple and easy to work on...even in a remote area with non technical bike shop, you can take care of most issue on this bike.


I think the last ''poor'' aspect of the p3 is the BB right/BB30. The p3 is a big improvement on the p5 but i still dont think the complexity of those BB is worth any marginal advantage over the normal shimano cup bb. But i understand they need to push some ''technology'' over this. But as i get holder with family, baby etc...i dont have time to service bike..i want simple, functional, and ease to find part at any bad bike shop. BBright dosnt qualify in this aspect.

Hope to see you this weekend!!! where are you staying??? should be a awesome weekend!!!!

---

Jonathan Caron / Professional Coach / ironman champions / age group world champions
Jonnyo Coaching
Instargram

LIke!

I have always appreciated and enjoyed Damon's advice and comments.

Good luck DP this weekend.

ST is just like any other dysFUNctional family, argue, bicker, fight, call each other names but when someone runs into trouble or needs help there are always a bunch of peeps who step up to the plate. :)

---

************************
#WeAreTheForge #BlackGunsMatter

"Look, will you guys at leats accept that you are a bunch of dumb asses and just trust me on this one? Please?" BarryP 7/30/2012

Damon,

Since we're talking about headset bearings, and dev has his issue resolved, can you tell me the specs on (or direct me to a place to source) the bottom headset bearings for a 2012 Cervelo R3 Team? My local Cervelo dealer had a heck of a time finding one. . . . and I'd like to be able to tell them exactly what to look for next time.

Thanks, as always!

Agreed Jonnyo, it's why I've kept my P3 vs upgrade to any "super bike".

My R5 has the BB30 & for life of me I feel no difference and now have more complex crank and power meter configurations. In turn i stay with Powertap for power. I would like to crank based power for my 303 race wheel configuration but just a pain in ass to change now. And FSA carbon no-no work with Stages. Garmin vector worries me as I change pedals every 3 years or so with wear. So maybe power tap has BB30 to thank!!

Want to Ride Saturday on course?

---

@rhyspencer

Hi kmill23,

The R-series uses a special lower headset bearing.

A significant increase in fork stiffness and strength, and a matching decrease in weight, are the reasons we invented the 1 3/8" lower steerer. Bigger ( like one point five inches) can be too stiff, and adds weight to the fork and frame. As we've engineered better and better forks over the years, the right sized steerer in the right application is the result. We call this Evolved Steerer Design. More info can be found here: http://www.cervelo.com/...-steerer-design.html

As far as I know, no other bike companies have adopted this fork diameter yet (though they could), so I believe this lower bearing is currently a Cervelo-only item.

Edited to add: Good news: A little Googling suggests that Specialized has a similar size bearing. Wheels Manufacturing offers a replacement: http://wheelsmfg.com/...balls-and-races.html

Edited again to answer your question about specs:

• 49mm OD x 37mm ID x 6.5mm
• 36 x 45 degrees

Cheers,

---

Damon Rinard
Engineering Manager,
CSG Road Engineering Department
Cannondale & GT Bicycles
(ex-Cervelo, ex-Trek, ex-Velomax, ex-Kestrel)

Thank you so much!

Thanks for all this info...now that I am sorted away, and since I have curious engineering background (albeit electrical/RF/Comms), I assume the reason you can use symmetrical 1 1/8th on the P3 vs the R series is because we won't be riding our P3's on Paris Roubaix and other assorted GC dream destroying cobbles in France and the Ardennes :-)