Integrated headset and forks

Right. Well, I guess I'll return that headset when it comes. I get that the many different types aren't interchangable, I struggled to find the relevant information the other day, but all San Remo frames are semi integrated so a google fail on my part. And I've heard people slate my bike and the claud butler brand new bikes, so I jumped to the conclusion it was the worst of the headsets (based on the document you linked to).

I tried with a screw driver and mallet, to no avail but I would say I was mainly avoiding hitting my hand or doing it too hard, part of my rush to buy a new one was that in my fiddling the other day I managed to tear a piece of plastic which was above the bearings, and not entirely sure of its importance and at a tenner its not prohibitively expensive to replace it.

Thanks for the advice though.

semi integrated headsets are fine - they are basically normal headsets but inside the frame. chris king's gripe with integrated headsets is that they wear the frame, and obviously the frame is not replaceable.

the bit of plastic was probably a seal of some kind, was it a round ring? in which case, you can do without it, but will need to take more care of your headset.

After a few months break from tinkering due to school, and my original forks getting more damaged I finally took a mallet and screw driver to the race and with much effort have now got new forks which bearings and everything.

Thanks again for the help.

Glad you sorted it, I'm in the same boat trying to replace a semi-internal headset... Why don't they just make a one-size-fits-all internal headset like they do for 1'' and 1+1/8'' headsets?