FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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Answer (See below for more questions.)
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Assembly & Care
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What kind of care do I have to give my Waterford to prevent rust from forming?
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| It depends on you, your rding habits and your riding conditions.
We recommend an annual cleaning and waxing. Clean your frame with a light detergent solution (like dish soap or Simple Green). Dry the frame well before applying a good carnauba wax like Mequaire's Tech Wax or Johnson's Turtle Wax. Look for waxes that also provide UV protection for the paint (to slow fading). This treatment keeps the paint supple, maintains the color and reduces damage from abrasion.
If you sweat a lot, if you live near salt air and if your sweat is corrosive (ph for sweat can vary from a mild 6.5 to a damaging 4, you'll want to rinse your bike off regularly with fresh water to keep salt of the frame and components. Also, be sure to keep your components properly lubicated and maintained.
You'll want to wax more often if you live/ride in corrosive environments - salt air by the ocean, salty winter roads in the north or in continuously humid and rainy environments. Two, possibly three times a year should do the trick. Rule of thumb: when water stops beading up on your finish, it's time to re-wax.
After a washing, drain the bike by lifting the front wheel off the ground and holding it over the rear wheel until any water drains out the drain holes. The remaining internal moisture will evaporate.
Applying JP Weigle's Framesaver or similar product (like Spray-on LU-710 waxy protectant) protects the inside surfaces of the frame. Though not critical for most fair weather riders, it's critical for commuters and riders in corrosive areas and times of the year. The treatment lasts for a couple of years. Be sure to wipe off the Framesaver after application to avoid possible damage to the paint.
Stainless steel and rust: The stainless steel Waterford offers is highly corrosion resistant but not corrosion proof. The difference between corrosion resistance and corrosion proof is the trade-off for getting the high-structural performance needed for a great ride. So, even if it's stainless, a wax job every so often makes your frame look better (and makes fingerprints less visible). Also, frames with a combination of stainless steel and painted surfaces also needs paint. Moisture can get under the paint at the borders and cause the paint to bubble. When it doubt, wax it!
For more information, check out our bike care guide: http://waterfordbikes.com/w/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/WaterfordBikeCareGuide2010.pdf .
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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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