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Whether or not you’ve got a smoothly-integrated carbon body or a extra classically-built metal or titanium bike, you possible will now be capable of disguise all of the cable in your subsequent customized construct inside a Chris King headset…
Chris King AeroSet 3 totally inner routing headset
We first noticed AeroSet model #2 (hmm…) a yr and a half in the past built-in into the US-made ENVE Customized Street carbon street bike. After which AeroSet 3 discovered its method into the latest Moots Vamoots CRD ti street bike.
The unifying theme after all, is the oft-desired Chris King headset dropped right into a premium American-made customized bicycle AND no cables in sight. We will debate the need of fully internally routed cables – no actually, we did debate that with a few of our favourite bike mechanics world wide – however there’s no arguing that it leads to a slick setup.
In fact, lots of the downsides of routing your cables by your headset into the body come again to the truth that needing to exchange a headset bearing turns into a really costly and complex undertaking. Now, I’m going to exit on a limb and guess that anybody shopping for a customized ENVE or Moots street bike can afford to pay a professional mechanic. However in any case, why not begin with the trusted sturdiness of some US-made, premium metal Chris King sealed bearings and stave off the inevitable for a bit longer.
Full disclosure: I’ve multiple Chris King headset that’s nonetheless spinning greater than 20 years later with little or no servicing, having outlived their authentic bikes.
So what’s actually new right here?
Admittedly, the Chris King AeroSet 3 headset isn’t some new innovation. We’ve seen tons of different built-in routing headsets from the likes of Acros, Deda, FSA, Token, and lots of extra part makers over the previous few years. Even in comparison with the extra basic headset lineup, the one factor actually new within the AeroSet is a brand new machined prime cap to direct your cables in between a 1.5″ bearing they already had (similar because the InSet 7) and your 1.125″ steerer tube.
The large information right here is that it’s {that a} conventional press-in model is out there for individuals who need and want it!
Tech particulars
Chris King created the AeroSet 3 as a result of “Aero is the whole lot“…. properly, and extra cyclists had been begging their customized body builders for the mix of inner routing and the status of a King headset.
Developed along with Enve – first within the extra built-in AeroSet 2 setup for the Customized Street bike – the brand new AeroSet 3 options prime & backside 1.5″ bearings and a keyed bearing prime cap with two cable routing ports that line up with the Enve “In-Route System” stem or one-piece cockpit setup and cut up spacers. Formally, the AeroSet is simply appropriate with an ENVE In-Route cockpit, as that’s to align routing with the stem & spacers (solely out there from Enve), appropriate with digital and mechanical 1x & 2x drivetrains.
All you really want to suit it’s the straight 44mm headtube that many fashionable metal, titanium & customized carbon frames use, then you may press within the largely classic-looking set of outsized 1.5″ cups. In fact, if you wish to route your entrance brake internally as properly, you will want a fork with an inner routing channel into the steerer tube and down the fork leg.
The brand new Chris King AeroSet 3 headset is meant for brand new customized bikes. Assuming your new (and even current) bike meets all these compatibility factors, a certified mechanic ought to be capable of drop an AeroSet 3 into your bike and improve you to completely inner cabling. Notice: A drop-in inner headset model will possible even be coming sooner or later too, for carbon builders that use inner headsets.
The AeroSet 3 consists of the entire trusted Chris King headset tech – light-weight machined aluminum cups, long-lasting & serviceable premium heat-treated metal sealed bearings made in-house, GripLock higher bearing cap, all designed, engineered & manufactured in Portland, OR within the USA.
Chris King AeroSet 3 – Pricing, choices & availability
The Chris King AeroSet 3 headset sells for $375 making it the most costly headset of their lineup. (Does anybody bear in mind their titanium NoThreadSet?) However a minimum of you will get it in a bunch of shiny anodized colours to match your Chris King hubs & backside bracket. In spite of everything, it was developed particularly for customized body builders trying so as to add totally inner cable routing. The AeroSet 3 is out there in matte black, shiny black, two-tone black with gold logos, silver, purple, gold, darkish midnight grey & matte turquoise – by all common Chris King vendor retailers & bike builders, and consists of King’s lifetime guarantee. Extra colours will come be added as Chris King construct up extra inventory over time.
Up to now, we’ve seen bikes from Enve, Moots, Mosaic, Speedvagen, and extra fitted with Chris King AeroSet headsets. We think about there might be much more in 2023.
