Threadless headsets dominate modern bicycle design, but plenty of bikes still run quill stems with threaded steerers—and those forks need headsets designed specifically for their dimensions. The Ritchey Fit Headset Ext Cup EC30|25.4 serves this exact application, providing a complete external cup headset sized for 1-inch threaded steerers with 30mm head tube bore dimensions. This is the headset you need when maintaining or building up a classic road frame, vintage touring bike, or any frame designed around the traditional threaded standard that predates the threadless takeover.

External cup construction means the bearing races sit outside the head tube in pressed cups, which is the original headset architecture that threaded systems were built around. The EC30 designation indicates a 30mm bore diameter for the head tube, while the 25.4 refers to the crown race seat diameter that matches 1-inch steerer tubes. Ritchey machines these cups from aluminum with a black anodized finish that resists corrosion and matches most frame aesthetics without drawing attention to the headset.

Sealed cartridge bearings handle the rotation duties, which is an upgrade over the loose ball bearings found in many vintage headsets. Cartridge bearings keep contamination out more effectively and can be replaced as a unit rather than requiring individual ball replacement and race inspection. The sealed design makes particular sense for bikes that see wet weather or winter riding where water and road grit would otherwise work into traditional cup-and-cone assemblies.... Read More