Looking at making my Nomad slacker and I’m considering a Works Components to knock 2 degrees off the head angle. Anyone any experiences? Read a few horror stories (mainly about the cane creek ones). Setting up the Nomad to be more gravity based and love the way the Capra rides with a 65.5 h/a. Are the works ones fit and forget?

I had a works one on my dh bike and it was fit and forget.

Any particular set up issues Dan or just put it in straight?

I’ve got a couple on my bikes and no issues. Completely different design to CC ones (no moving parts where there shouldn’t be). My LBS fitted mine but said it just required a tiny bit more patience than usual.

I’ve got the reach extending type, very good quality no issues so far.

No issues. I installed mine the usual way (wood and hammer) and got it in straight enough by eye.

Got a -2 on my gyro and i love it.

my lbs fitted it and said it was quite a challenge!

Thanks for the replies. I have ordered a – 2. Will let you know how I get on in due course.

I’ve had 3 in assorted frames, the only thing that can make fitting really tricky is that some headset tools will tend to rotate the cups as you fit them. So a hammer worked better, or some un-rotatey tool (big vice, press, etc) would be grand

Yes a press makes the cups rotate, careful hammering with a block of wood is what’s needed.
Although I’ve not tried the vice option, yet…….

I have a 1.5 degree one in my Nicolai to change the head angle from 66.5 to 65 degrees. I got the local bike shop to fit it as it looked really tricky. The mechanic confirmed it was a pain to fit but other than that it has been completely fit and forget. No bearing issues, very well made and looks nice considering it is not a zero stack headset. Best of all is a fraction of the price of the Cane Creek one and never creaks.

Putting two and two together, is this the one I’ve just been asked to fit? 🙂

Slowest reply ever……. Yes it is Peter 🙂

I have the 1.5 deg in my mk2 Nomad C. Absolutely no problems at all, although even at 1.5 deg the steering is a bit floppy so 2.0 deg might be “interesting”

Fitting was easy, all you have to do is put the cups in the freezer for a day or two, then they almost slide in by hand and a few light taps of the mallet, far easier than trying to press them in straight with a headset press.

Quick update. -2° headset fitted perfectly by Peter Poddy. Bike feels great. Took a little getting used to on fast bermed descents but once I changed body position slightly it was ace. Very confidence inspiring on the downs and no perceptible handling issues climbing or on the flat. All in all a decent update for a frame with older geometry.

The first bottom bearing on mine lasted about 1000 km before it died, the second one has done about the same and seems ok, but I don’t think the standard bearings are particularly good quality and would prefer another option than the standard bearings for replacement.

Mine was fitted by a bike shop, I decided I didn’t have the finesse or patience to fit it properly myself.