Help with South Easat Headset removal Thursday p.m?

Hello all,

I need to remove the headsets from my bikes on Thursday evening as I am taking the frames and forks up to Newcastle for a lovely new powder coat. I don't finish work until 17:00 (at the earliest) and so will miss all possible bike shops. I live in South London and I'm catching a train from Kings X at 22:00.

I can't hit up a bike shop any sooner as I do need to cycle to/ from work.

I know this is a bit of a cheeky one, and quite possibly not doable, but can anybody help me? I will happily buy beers for/ cover costs of anyone who can help me take apart my two lovely steeds in the Brixton/ Camberwell area on Thursday evening.

Any hands raised to offer help or fingers pointed to sources of possible help are massively appreciated.

Unless these are really nice frames you can just use a hammer and screwdriver to knock out both ends of the headset. Stick the screwdriver into the headtube, line up with the inner lip of the headset and give it a firm hit. Take your time and hit on one side then the other so it comes out straight and doesn't bend the head tube. An old pipe or fork steerer works even better if you have one.

If your frames aren't steel or if you're precious about them then using this technique is a bad idea. My suggestion would be that you postpone the powdercoat until you can get someone with the right tools to do the job for you. Brixton Cycles will do it for you.

Hope this is helpful.

Make sure you don't use a screwdriver on the fork though, block of wood means you wont scratch or chip anything.

if Greenwich is within range then I may be able to help....let me know!

Hello all, thanks for the replies - and thanks for the offer Saxby's - but I've managed to (prospectively) secure an early finish on Thurs so should have enough time to run my bikes down to Brixton Cycles.

Thanks again though.

Pz