FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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Answer (See below for more questions.)
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Choosing Your Waterford
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How versatile do you want your bike?
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| The answer to your question can range from the very specific - to the highly versatile. For example, we've had riders ask us to design a track bike to address a specific event at a specific track. Other riders ask that one bike does everything from racing to loaded touring. Here are a couple of rules of thumb:
- The more specialized the bike, the more the rider must give up non-essentials.
- Designing more versatility into a bike involves making more compromises in areas that might be a key performance indicator. Fast handling makes sense for crit racing but not for randonneuring
- When specifying a versatile bike, it's best to use the "lowest common denominator" rule. For example, let's say you want a touring bike but you also want to participate in triathlons. In this case you should specify a touring bike, because it can at least function in a triathalon. If instead you try to tour on a tri-bike, you won't have the loadbearing capacity you need to get through your trip.
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Question List
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Choosing Your Waterford
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Do you want a racing bike, recreational bike or both?
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What kind of maintenance does my Waterford need?
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How big a tire do you want to fit on your bike?
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How do you go about choosing your Waterford?
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What if my seatpost slips during rides?
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How versatile do you want your bike?
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What kind of handling do you want?
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What do I need to do to prevent rust and corrosion?
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Why do we measure our seat tubes 'center to top'?
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What do you want to carry?
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How big a load do you want to carry?
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If I'm a 180 pound rider, why does it matter whether my load is 15 pounds or 25 pounds?
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Geometry and Fit
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How does Waterford perform factory fittings?
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What is toe-clip overlap and why do we avoid it?
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My Fit Kit recommends a 538mm top tube. Nobody offers stock geometries in these sizes. What's my best fit?
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Can't you just build a bike based on Fit Kit® measurements?
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Why are your seat angles so steep on small frame sizes?
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Why is there toe clip overlap on track geometries?
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Why does Waterford recommend 650C or 26" wheels on selected sizes?
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Why does Waterford sometimes recommend 650C or 26" wheels?
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What if I want to change from a steel fork to a carbon fork or vica versa?
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Materials & Construction
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Retrofitting S&S Couplers?
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What makes Waterford's Tubesets so Special?
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Why Steel?
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How much do color choices affect durability?
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Lugs vs. TIG - Which is best?
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Paints and Finish
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How do I apply touch-up paint?
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Why don't we Chrome Plate all Waterfords?
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How do color choices affect durability?
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Why not internal cable routing?
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Wouldn't clearcoat over bare metal work?
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Why not clearcoat only?
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What's wrong with a matte finish?
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Why can't I just give you a paint code to select custom paint?
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Choosing a Finish
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Upgrading Your Waterford
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What kind of composite fork can I install on my Waterford?
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General Information
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Where do I find my serial number?
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What does my serial number mean?
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What is the difference between Gunnar and Waterford
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What is the difference between 14-, 22- and 33-Series models?
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Assembly & Care
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What common dimensions are there for Waterfords - threading, bolts etc.?
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My head tube is somewhat out of round. What kind of problem is it?
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Which clamp diameter should I use to for my front derailleur
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Clamp-on or braze-on front derailleurs.
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What kind of care do I have to give my Waterford to prevent rust from forming?
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How do I prevent my composite (carbon fiber) seatpost from slipping?
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How long a seatpost do I need?
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How do I get a good fit when installing downtube shift adapters?
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How do I apply touch-up paint?
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How do I apply replacement decals?
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How do I remove my chainstay protector?
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Should I use my Waterford on my Windtrainer?
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Why did we go from 27.4mm to 27.2mm seatposts?
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Why don't we install dropout adjusters on bikes that have adjuster holes?
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I have an older model 1400 or 2400 off-road frame. What kind of front deraileur do I need?
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What if I want to install a 1" for on a 1 1/8" head tube frame?
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Threading: What is it for eyelets, rack mounts and so on?
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Repair & Restoration
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Why can't I just have Waterford touch up my frame instead of completely repainting it?
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Is it worth it to restore my old Paramount, Raleigh or other classic road bike?
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Can Waterford spread my dropouts on my old bike?
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What does it take to retrofit my bike with S&S Couplers?
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Will Waterford put its decals on a Paramount restoration?
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Can I change the geometry on my existing frame?
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I have a dent in my top tube, should I be concerned?
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I have a chrome Paramount with damage to the chrome. Can you re-chrome it for me?
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Buying / Selling a Waterford
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How can I sell my Waterford?
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Forks
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Can I order a 1 inch steerer disc brake fork?
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How can I get a disc brake fork with the ride of my classic steel rim brake fork
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Warranty
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Does Waterford provide Warranty Coverage?
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Troubleshooting
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What do I do for a stuck seatpost or bottom bracket?
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What do I do for a slipping seatpost?
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What should I do to prevent high-speed wobble and shimmy on my bike?
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What do I do about brake chatter or shudder?
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How do I reduce brake squealing?
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How do I prevent my rear wheel from pulling under heavy climbing or sprinting?
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What if I experience chain suck on my Off-Road frame.
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Log in and Using this Web Site
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Does my Waterford Login connect me to the Forum?
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Paramount
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What's the fork threading on the 1960's Paramounts
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What do the markings mean found on the bottom bracket of Paramounts from the 50's to the 70's?
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