FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
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Answer (See below for more questions.)
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Paints and Finish
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Choosing a Finish
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For many riders, color decisions seem more
daunting than frame selection. Except for issues of durability
(Press here to learn about durability issues),
colors and styling is all about opinion, so here are ours:
- Unless you have a clear vision of a set
of special effects for your bike, I suggest keeping it simple.
If it's a choice between spending money on good fit or a fancier
finish - go for the better fit.
- The same principle applies to choosing
a color. Unless you have a particular color in mind, use our color
pallette. If you do have a special color which is not on our list,
we recommend the PPG paint guide available from Ford dealers and
better auto paint stores.
- The typical Waterford owner will keep their
bike for twenty years. How dated do you want your Waterford to
look? We favor simple classic looks which will fit in as well
two decades from now as they do today.
- Don't apply too many special effects at
once. For example, if you really want a two color fade then avoid
pinstriping.
- When selecting fades, fade opaques (like
Intense Red or Hyper-Canary Yellow) to opaques and metallics (such
as Candy Red or Sherwood Forest) to metallics.
- Avoid Red and Green combinations. Christmas
and bicycles don't seem to match.
- To make your finish stand out, choose decals
which contrast heavily with the base color (such as black on white
or white on Intense Red. To achieve a subtler look then use colors
with less contrast (such as silver decals on red).
Downtube decals are optional but other decals
are not since they identify the bike. We can, at your request,
put the model identifier on the front of the seatmast instead
of on the top tube.
We like to think that you want your Waterford
for The Ride. The Look is just icing on the cake.
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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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