War of the st...andards: Is the end of tax rate confusion near?

While the next episode of Star Wars will soon be showing in movie theaters, the war of standards rages on in mountain biking. However, component specialist FSA is striving to ensure peace and order, at least on the headset.

It's complicated...

If the headset is defective - or if it announces its imminent end with crunching and cracking - then a new one is needed. What sounds like a simple replacement, like fitting new pedals, can actually make even experienced mechanics break out in a cold sweat.

Countless standards

Because a headset is by no means just a headset, numerous diameters and installation dimensions, which often only apply to individual manufacturers, have created a veritable jungle of products. The salesperson in the store even looks like a fool if he doesn't simply pull out the right headset from the drawer, but has to explain in detail that the search for a replacement can be extremely extensive.

Is improvement in sight?

Now the Italian-Taiwanese component specialist FSA is promising improvement: an online tool is set to make the search for the right headset much easier. Using the application on the easyheadset.com website, you can find the right headset within minutes. The only requirement is a caliper, which is used to determine the correct and exact inner and outer diameters on the head tube and enter them in the fields of the easyheadset.com app.

Measure correctly!
An initial test has shown that precise data is a prerequisite for flawless function. This can generally be achieved with an analog caliper, but a digital caliper is very helpful for uncomplicated and quick work. Once the four dimensions have been determined, the FSA page will (usually) provide useful results. The search for suitable headsets is definitely a lot easier - even if the manufacturers would do well to curb the proliferation of headsets in future.

...and it remains complicated

However, the app is not entirely accurate. This is because it only refers to the tax rates that FSA has on offer and this portfolio does not cover all the tax rate models available. And in terms of simplicity: The FSA investigator can only work once the fork and the headset have been removed. So for the time being, a lot of work is needed to start the investigation at all. A system in which the headset could be determined without having to do any dismantling work first would probably be smarter.