Ok figured out my creaking noise when climbing out of the saddle. LBS says it is the headset. What would make the headset go bad? The bike has about 10,000 miles on it and has only been ridden in the rain about 4 or 5 times. Also anybody have a brand recommendation for a new one? I don’t want anything super cheap, just one that basically does the job. Thanks!
Crazy, I am picking up my bike today from bikesport for the exact same thing. I noticed that my bike made a lot of noise coming from the front end going over bumps, which concerned me, but everything seemed tight. The thing that got me was the brown residue that I started to find all over the front of the frame seeping out of the headset - so I took it in.
Anyways, I didn’t research it much before I purchased, I basically went on their recommendations. There was a cheaper one at around $30 that was comparable to the stock one, basically exposed bearings and such. And then the one I went with is a Ritchey WCS which is sealed for $90. I know that you can get more expensive ones as well. I should have gone with the cheaper one, but I have been riding more and more lately, and getting caught in the rain, I figured I would just go with the worry free one. I did a little (emphasize the word little) research afterwards, and it seems the Ritchey is a good value.
FWIW, I’m at about the same point as you at ~10,000 miles and probably less than 10 times in the rain. Remember that the headset is right beneath where water drips down from your mouth as well as sweat, especially on the trainer. I always make sure I cover it while on the trainer.
Are you installing it yourself, or having the bikeshop do it? I initially took it in hoping that it could be rebuilt, and I don’t have an area at home to really do this. I left it, even after I decided just to replace the existing one, since I am racing on Sunday and didn’t want to try something new since I tend to make a lot of mistakes the first time I do something, and wanted it to work right. I’m curious as to how hard of a job it is to install.
It gets more crazier, I just dropped my bike (2000 Cannondale MS800) off at Bikesport. They are going to see if it can be rebuilt, I am just trying to get some prepared for the cost.
Thanks Jackattack
see you at the races…
CHRIS KING - Install it and forget it…
Long live the King! I just replaced the Dura-Ace bottom bracket on my bike, but the CK headset is still perfect.
Get a Chris King and forget about it.
Ann Arbor Jeff,
Glad to learn that you found the source of your clicking noise. Sorry to hear your headset is shot.
What makes a headset go bad? How about it being one of the most stressed components on a bike! If you put your bike on a trainer in the winter, add to the normal wear and tear all the forces of riding on the trainer with the front end and headset basically frozen in one position. All the wear in limited to an extremely small area. Unless your bike was built up from scratch, most production bike use economy headsets. It helps the manufacturer hold the cost down. Only high end bikes will have the best headsets, unless they have been replaced because of failure.
Who makes the best headset? I don’t know for a fact. There are many good headsets out there. Generally, the more they cost, the better they are.
My personal favorite, Chris King. Warranted for ten years. Like others have said, have it installed and then forget about it. Frankly, I don’t think you will find anyone who says their headset is better than a Chris King. They certainly won’t back it up with a ten year warranty.
Good luck.
Agree, Chris King will be the last headset you buy.
I have transferred my King from a few frames. I would bet it’s the ONLY headset you could do that with.
Spend the coin and get a King. Don’t cheap out on this component.
Ann Arbor Jeff,
Just a thought. Look at it another way. Buy a cheaper headset and have it installed and save some money. Wear it out in a couple of years and then buy another headset and have it installed. Keep repeating every few years. Viola, after two replacements/installations you have purchased a Chris King headset and install, you just don’t have one.
I will be bowing to the king. Thanks for all the input. Time to shell out some more mula…
Ahhh. Peer pressure at its best. 
Damnit…I wanted to be the one to tell her to get a King…kinda pathetic, I have my old (3 bikes old) King headset on my new bike…the yellow HS just does not match the blue frame…oh well.