Road Path to Enlightenment

Christmas Closure

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:09:00 +0000

Nothing's ever simple, began my rant in a fashion mirroring that of my six year old as I tackled the Univega's makeover. Having performed the rush around and cut the cables routine before stripping cantilevers and cockpit, other gremlins presented themselves. It was one of those jobs for Boxing Day when respectable folk were leaping in their cars and heading for the holy grails of DIY and superstore but oh no, I had to plough headlong into this having returned from the temp job and twenty minutes before dinner... Having transplanted bar, stem and controls, it became immediately obvious that the curious, yet extremely effective star fangled nut substitute wasn't re-useable.

After some uncharacteristic sulking, my focus shifted to the twenty three year old CK toolbox containing all manner of ill sorted spares. A quick sift reveled a Gusset SFN replacement of exacting dimensions. However, while the black bung does a superb job of retaining precise bearing adjustment it obscures the fork crown fender mount. Some lateral thought resulted in judicious bending and filing of the stainless steel hardware, allowing the black bung to pass through while securing the fender securely inside the steerer tube.

Convoluted perhaps but it solved the problem and meant I could progress to the Dia Compe V brakes. These are surprisingly proficient stoppers combining great power with none of the mushiness associated with lower-middle range brakes-especially with Tektro's RL520 linear pull specific levers.

Continuing the best laid plans theme, the STX pods proved impractical thanks to torturous cable run and delayed shifts so it's back to the faithful Ultegra bar cons. I've always had something of a soft spot for STX components primarily because they offer a lot of bang for very modest buck. However, the marginally "Superior" STXRC front mech has proven one of the most temperamental I've known-fine on a day to day basis but the proverbial pig to set up.

Earlier in the day I'd driven cautiously through the icy lanes to the temp job via the bank and a bike shop that caught my attention. Paying cheques into the bank meant I'd financially survive the festive season and the bike shop provided some good, benchmark cables. Some gentle enquiry revealed he'd be happy to install the Teenage Dream's front end for a very reasonable sum. Frankly, these are very frustrating jobs-annoying because I can undertake them myself but available time and a missing tool eludes me. Therefore, the sensible solution is to outsource this while I attend to more pressing matters. As my late father often remarked, just because you can, doesn't mean to say doing so is the best use of time/resources. Needless to say, the Univega's upgrades have transformed the handling- not that the Nitto bars were remotely floppy but the WTB and Salsa stem make for a phenomenally rigid, yet comfortable cockpit.
Further success has been achieved on the wheels front. While drafting some copy for another publication, I had cause to contact Greyville enterprises. Serendipity lead Steve to suggest these 700x23 tubes with 60mm long Presta valves- just the ticket for the Halo Aerorage wheelset, meaning the original hoops can be returned to the Ilpompino complete with 38mm snow tyres. The ITM fork while undeniably gorgeous can wait for now- a fully operational and finely fettled fleet is what's called for in the depths of winter. Sure, I wouldn't dream of subjecting the Holdsworth or Teenage Dream to the horrors of salt and slush but I like the idea of machines being ready for action.

Contagious Carbon & Conspiracy Theories

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:51:00 +0000

Forget the swine flu pandemics, I appear to be gripped by a frenzy of carbon conversion. This time it’s the turn of Izzie, my beloved Ilpompino. Having seen the new Genesis Day-One- basically a Reynolds 520 framed cyclo crosser with track ends, carrier, fender mounts and flip/flop hub I am thinking very, very seriously about a revamping the Ilmpompino too thanks to an ITM carbon cross fork and a simple conversion to cross rubber. Afterall, with some obvious nods in the direction of the road path genre, the Ilpompino is in effect a crosser with track ends so it makes sense to exploit these characteristics to their full potential. Gearing of around sixty to sixty-three inches is practical sans asphalt with something in the seventies for grinding away on metalled road. A very refined Ritchey post provides some additional luxury and will compliment the ITM fork superbly.

The sturdy Surly rack is staying put as while I don’t rush to fit racks per se, it means a pannier or two can be towed should fancy take me. One of the main advantages over the venerable Genesis in my eyes are wide armed cantilevers giving better modulation, feel and mud clearance. Mini Vs seem to crop in and out of vogue but my main (relatively mild) aversion to them stems from their need to run so close to the rim, clogging at the first hint of mud and grit.

Wheels are less of a concern but tyres are a little tricky. There’s some loose talk of snow in the weeks following Christmas but this to me is little more than bored weather forecasters wanting to capture the public’s imagination and evoke a more magical aura to the festive season.

Therefore, the Schwalbe studded snow tyres are overkill and will remain firmly tucked away in their corner of the workshop for now. However, these Panasonic Mach semi slicks in 35mm form should be fine for firmer trail and mixed work- they’re not the best in wet, muddy conditions though so we’ll have to see what the weather front brings. On the subject of weather, Justin (Burls) has made the brave step to recovery and cleaned his winter bike- he’s even supplied proof and can faithfully say there’s been no foul play, no photo-shopping here! This loyal, high mileage (and some might say, mistreated) racy winter companion extrudes a really authentic lived-in beauty that makes it all the more desirable. True, the salt monster has left his calling card on the crank arms but despite countless miles in all weathers, it looks remarkably well preserved and certainly owes him nothing. Old faithful is fairly unique being one of Justin’s earlier frames painstakingly finished in automotive two-pac rather than stoved enamel. Those in search of glamour will undoubtedly left mesmerized by his latest sub 15lb Ti road build but I must confess irrational, nay guilty attraction to his Rosso red workhorse. Yes, deep down I acknowledge this is wrong, on a par with fancying your best mate’s wife/husband and such public declaration is likely to find me prohibited from passing within four hundred metres of his workshop. However, assuming Justin and I remain on speaking terms following these revelations, I hope to be back in the New Year with polishing cloth, Waxoyl and MR Sheen-er, I mean a full report on his latest featherweight Ti missile.
Maybe a consequence of my vocation but I’ve become slightly jaded by professional cycling’s fall from grace- that is to say, I expect and am almost nonplussed by scandal and revelation. Sometimes, usually as the elderly Ka and I are meandering along another stretch of motorway at steady speeds, these things resonate within me. Is there something inherent to competitive cycling which predisposes it to doping and similar cheating or is it the consequence of enormous commercial interest that applies to many others? I have arrived at the conclusion the media spotlight concentrates on cycling as a soft option, wanting to pretend dark undercurrents don’t flow through soccer, athletics, show jumping and of course, golf!

A very prudent observation is that cycling, though specifically cycle racing needs to focus on getting it’s own house sorted rather than pointing to other sports and disciplines as a convenient distraction. Otherwise it is behaving in the way of a defensive child retorting they’ve done better than little Johnny or Joanna… I must confess to being fond of historical scandals- Coppi and the White Lady, Anquetil and his interesting solutions to his wives' infertility being two of particular note. However, the dirtier side of corruption, sleaze and quasi ritualised drug taking in some teams disappoints yet doesn’t surprise me. I hate to say it but cheating in competitive sport is here to stay, detection just becomes increasingly difficult.

Researching the death of Johnny Thunders, former New York Dolls guitarist and Heartbreakers' front man in a seedy New Orleans motel some twenty years back draws interesting parallels with Marco Pantani's mysterious demise. Both share the open and shut junkie overdose/suicide label but they smack of botched investigation/laziness on part of the authorities. Thunders had been openly critical of the music industry for some time and was battling heroin addiction with large quantities of methadone acquired in London.

Contrary to the rock and roll cliche' he wasn't found dead on the toilet, guitar around his neck but very badly beaten. Pantani's career had been overshadowed by depression and rumor of cocaine addiction on an industrial scale. Allegedly, he died in his hotel room on February 15th 2004 having "trashed it" beforehand yet his body was found with perfectly manicured fingernails...

Snow drives back the foot that's slow, the dogs of doom are howling low. Despite my cynicism, we've had eight inches of snowfall overnight and six hours without power and I'm annoyed at not seizing the moment and getting the Ilpompino ready, or at least shodding the Univega with snow tyres...

Snap, Crackle and Things Kept Going Pop

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:40:00 +0000

There’s certainly some truth in the old adage of things coming in multiples, good and bad in my experience. Bustling along the back roads late last Wednesday night, aboard the Univega and looking forward to watching Channel 4’s “ The family” (a weekly fly-on the wall docu-soap); things were looking good, fifteen minutes clear- I’d be home in eight. Turning a cadence of around 95rpm, there was a sudden snap, followed by a feeling of disconnection as my mind worked furiously trying to comprehend the severed chain and locked transmission, man and machine hurtling towards Terra firma.

Mercifully, the universe was feeling relatively charitable; presenting a well-padded ditch that cushioned both collarbone and beloved machine from harm. Clear skies saw the temperature plummet and with a severed chain beyond repair, I ran the remaining five miles leading the beefy tourer by its stem. Light bruising-mainly to my ego and a fresh chain later the world was indeed round and true once more but it could’ve been so different.

Further fun and games were presented courtesy of the Ka. 120 miles from home and a sensation suggesting a faulty alternator demanded concentration, steady revs and will power complete the circular journey. A final mile from my home, I slid the stricken beast into the yard of a friendly local garage, leaving a note and keys through their office door. Walking the last leg through quiet, deserted streets was blessed relief after 87 miles of being shaken like a Mcflurry. Despite abandoning the Ka without prior appointment, the garage took the time to diagnose and moreover, rectify the problem by 8.40 the next morning. The culprit is this little fella known as the ISCV (Idle speed control valve). I’ve cleaned him quite regularly and I know when he’s feeling mischievous, stalling at junctions, refusing to idle properly etc but I’ve never had him mimic a faulty alternator before. A big Thank you to John and everyone at Palmer’s for keeping me and the little beast on the road.

As a child I was mesmerised by the graveyard of scrap cars and in the still, night air Palmer's yard retains a curious, inviting magic but these days serves only to remind of the little Ford’s mortality. Well, after much muted debate, the slumbering phase one nuclear reactor dominating our coastal landscape for miles around has ignited further controversy. Not only were the owners prosecuted for allowing nuclear waste to seep into the surrounding residential areas but plans have been announced to build a new generation of reactor there. Naturally, this has been played down as a consultative exercise but since the existing Magnox unit has been dormant, fishermen report the return of oyster beds and other marine life. Most of us will acknowledge the need for alternatives to fossil fuels but the consequences of corporate interest over public safety doesn’t bear thinking about.
Back to bikes and the Holdsworth’s new carbon Tifosi has been nothing short of a delight, providing some additional comfort and shaving a few grams into the bargain while the 15-tooth Halo sprocket seems a surprisingly good choice for general riding, albeit lacking the outright refinement of the hand polished EAI. Having now clocked up 265 miles aboard the Dia Tech Gran Compe leather saddle, I’m pleased to report it has largely moulded to my shape, discomfort a distant memory-although liberal applications of Nikwax continue so as to encourage this process and keep the elements firmly at bay.
Ison distribution, the UK importer for all things Salsa have once again come to my rescue with this here twenty-five degree oversized stem, raising the Univega’s bar height without giving it the aerodynamics of a Dutch Grandmother gracefully clattering across the cobblestones aboard her 40lb Gazelle. This will see the WTB fall neatly to hand for trail taming, yet just low enough to shelter from a headwind and 200g is reassuringly svelte…For all this, I can’t quite bring myself to complete the metamorphosis thanks to these very nice, old school Tektro cross cantilevers that stop the beast (complete with laden trailer) on the proverbial sixpence, with a gentle, yet definite caress of the lever. Another gizmo sure to capture the imagination of those seeking seductive stocking fillers is this nifty Surly stainless steel cable hanger. Designed to replace the old chrome types typically found adorning cross and touring on bikes, it slots between the seat collar/binder bolt for a really smooth cable run and is ideal for using cantilevers on frames built for Vs. Basically a paper clip on steroids, the mechanically minded could fashion one in a matter of minutes using scraps from the spares bin but it’s nice to see these products readily available. On the subject of fabrication, when Justin (Burls) isn’t tempting me with thoughts of fillet brazed drop bar specific off-roaders, he’s flaunting more titanium including a sub 15lb (geared) road bike and another road/track fixer…Just look at the sculpted beauty of those wishbone stays… Smiten? Then have a chat with Justin (email:Justin@burls.co.uk or www.burls.co.uk).

Substitute!

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:30:00 +0000

The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways. Sunday saw me pop out for a quick twenty mile blast aboard the Holdsworth before the weather had chance to turn bandit with wind and rain of biblical proportions. Everything was right with the world, riders waved cheerfully as we passed in opposite directions and I was mentally in the zone for typing some extensive copy upon my return. This was shattered suddenly by a very literal sinking feeling. The inexpensive but otherwise very cheerful Outland was creeping into the seat tube. Stopping and tightening the binder bolt made no impression. Arriving home, I reasoned the post diameter might be incorrect. Removal and closer inspection of the seat-tube confirmed these suspicions. The ten year lay-up sans post and subsequent traces of powder coat had seen it compress, explaining why it has entertained a 26.8 for so long.

Purging contaminant presented the ideal opportunity for a light reapplication of Waxoyl. As the sand coloured gloop flooded inside the tubes, a light bulb moment saw me try an old, badly scored 27.2 Kalloy; after all, there was nothing to lose and everything to gain. Cue drum roll, slither of grease around the shaft and in she goes… Admittedly it was tighter than ideal but close enough and besides, cheaper models aren’t machined to the same tolerances as their costlier counterparts. This presented a choice between the beautiful and super svelte Thompson earmarked for the Teenage Dream and an equally tasty budget Carbon Tifosi. Fate decided the latter. Having “skilfully” dropped the Thompson’s cradle bolts, the wind grew with intensity, blowing them into bedding plants and frustratingly out of reach. The carbon Tifosi complete with simple, if slightly agricultural, single bolt cradle was the obvious candidate. Two minutes in the shelter of a warm kitchen saw the Specialized Toupe’ swapped over and the Holdsworth blessed with a beautiful new post. This torrent of Euphoria prompted other changes, most notably this very fetching CNC machined Halo track sprocket and Surly Nick-Less Cage. The Halo replaces the ultra lightweight anodized aluminium model that wasn’t doing a great deal thanks to the unsurpassed refinement of an EAI superstar typically in charge.

It is in fact Cro-moly steel, boding well for longevity and is reasonably priced. The striking blue effect is achieved through a process similar to anodising known as electrophoresis deposition (oft referred to as ED coating) developed and used extensively within the automotive industry. The Surly is a sturdy stainless steel cage, claiming to be a unique design but aside from beefier rod, it mimics the dainty Nitto Continuing a theme of sitting comfortably, the Univega and I have been getting the miles in aboard the classic cutaway Dia Tech. Subjected to Liberal Nikwaxing to protect the hide and promote the breaking-in-process, fifty miles in and we seem to be forming an affectionate bond. However, the base is seven millimetres broader than my regular perches (as determined eighteen months ago in a BG fit consultation) and the initial ten miles had my Ischial Tuberosity screaming for mercy. However, this didn’t demand these buttock abrasion patches but I’ll keep them handy in the rack bag just in case…
The season of tool abductions continue... This week it’s been the turn of my trusty long 5mm Allen wrench needed to tackle the recessed bolts in these Cane Creek V brake specific road levers. These play a central part in the Univega’s reconfiguration but thankfully, this little T-handled beauty came to the rescue, giving change from £3! 8spd bar end levers and 7 speed cassette have been temperamental bed fellows of late so a quick wander around the web unearthed these NOS (New old stock) STX RC pods going for the proverbial song.

These have been mounted inboard of the ends, thus protecting them from thrills, spills and everyday knocks while falling neatly to hand for sweet, swift changes. Having experimented in this direction previously with my mtb based crosser/working bike, mounting the pods low demands some very judicious filing of the internal clamp diameter. Contrary to popular belief, there is no need to splay the clamps, even on very substantial bars as this risks bracket fatigue and/or fractures. However, the makeover cannot be completed without a new stem, one with at least twenty five degree rise. Specialized and Gusset both produce models perfect for these applications-especially riding off road where for effective control, the drops should fall roughly where a flat XC bar would. However, this will have to wait as MOT, servicing and tax were due on my car, leaving me £260 lighter.

Dear Father Christmas…..

Going Steady

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:02:00 +0000

No further progress on the Teenage Dream’s continued reconfiguration save for yet another about-turn that sees my preference for the Salsa drops with more subtle curves. This means a new stem and continuing the Woodman theme is this one inch threadless unit acquired very cheaply from the UK importer. Less refined than some, it enjoys a curious industrial beauty thanks largely to the pronounced TIG welding. So, the shims return to the spares drawer while the shorter 8cm extension equates to an arguably perfect fit given the top-tube length.

Rest assured, the whopping WTB are not going to waste- the Univega’s undergoing another transformation prompted by V brakes Originating from the mid to late 90s the frame was built with linear pulls in mind but my love of a well honed cantilever has made this a very slow transition. However, the late 1980s Campagnolo have poor heel clearance and can also interfere with large expedition panniers. Time was when pairing drops and V brakes meant unsightly, if efficient cable pulleys but these days a few manufacturers offer dedicated drop levers with the necessary cable pull. Nevertheless, until said headset press materialises these developments remain firmly on the drawing board… The Holdsworth has also emerged from its seasonal slumber, not on regular duties but the opportunity to test some ultra seductive fixer kit (while the weather remains autumnal rather than consistently wintry) has proven too great a temptation. Most likely to get hipster hearts racing and juices flowing are these classic cutaway leather saddles. Made by Dia Tech, featuring Cro-Moly rails and a choice of three alternative colours (black, pink and white) they look capable of giving Brooks a run for your money but the proof of the perch is in the riding so I’ll see you in a few hundred miles.

With the days increasingly short, I find myself frustrated not to be forging ahead with a book collaboration. Despite tremendous initial gusto, the co-conspirators have all but fallen silent. That said I’m quite capable of paddling my own canoe, acutely aware of the emotional and intellectual energies demanded by these endeavours through watching my father- an author of several academic tomes. So, with the brakes firmly on that project, I’ve been putting these Jagwire pads through their paces. General impressions are favourable, compatible with most brands of calliper, modulation and feel are impressive paired with mid range levers but those of us exceeding ninety kilos and/or habitually riding in the worst weathers are better served by softer compound.
Elsewhere Justin Burls’ wife, Mila is introducing these socks into the UK. Russian made from naturally occurring and chemical free flax linen/elastane, their wicking properties keep the feet hygienically fresh in all weathers. With the strength and practicality of cotton, linen is widely recognised for its healing properties, said in some countries to ward off the evil eye, neurotic disease and heart conditions. These are samples sent for illustrative purposes and too small for my size nines but we’re eagerly awaiting a shipment. Notoriously hard on socks, it will be interesting to see how these fare over the coming months and without overshoes... Mila has kindly offered to send some to these fellas… These former reprobates from the murky world of recruitment, Jamie King and Henry Brydon aka “The blazing saddles” are embarking on an eighteen month charitable wander round the globe in aid of their chosen charities (MS and Brain tumour research respectively). Regular temping counters cash-flow woes between editorial payments, explaining how Jamie became a friendly acquaintance of mine. Inspiration for their epic ride came from a healthy contempt for the nine to five and Alistair Humphreys’ engaging accounts of a four year, 46,000 mile wander around the world (Documented in “Moods of Future Joys” and “Thunder and Sunshine”). Preferring expedition/mtb based tourers they might not be making the pilgrimage on fixers but it’s in aid of some very worthy causes. Take a look at their site and pledge a little something if you can. http://www.theblazingsaddles.com/

Pressing Matters

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:32:00 +0000

The teenage dream’s transformation has rolled to a complete standstill thanks to some kind soul helping themselves to my Czech made headset press and the importer advises a timescale of several weeks until the next delivery. I may have to wait, unless Justin (Burls) can come to the rescue and install the mighty Woodman. A local, mobile “Mechanic” ran the proverbial mile at the offer of work and shops seem understandably, reluctant to undertake work unless components are purchased directly from themselves. Good things come to those who wait…. Timely then is the arrival of these advanced Jagwire pads that will soon replace the OEM cartridge types fitted to the budget Miche Performance callipers earmarked for the build. Holdsworth safely hibernating for the winter months, its up to the Univega to provide those much needed smiles per mile and as ever, the tubby tourer saves the day. Sporting 2.1-inch knobblies there’s not a great deal of fender clearance but enough for negotiating surprisingly gloopy trails. Admittedly the wide profile makes for a slightly ponderous passage over tarmac but often, I feel the need to escape winter asphalt in favour of green lanes, bridal path and “roads” less travelled. For all their virtues, they’re not impenetrable as my feral cat demonstrated, puncturing the front with his claws. Attempts to repair the gashed inner tube using the imaginatively named “Porno patches” has proven unsuccessful- a shame given Joshua seemed so pleased with his efforts over the weekend. I may try again saying nothing so as not to shatter his illusions or otherwise weaken confidence in his notable mechanical aptitude. The Stronglight touring triple has been replaced in favour of this keenly priced Shimano Alivio with identical rings-pretty much plug and play with some slight tweaking of the front mech’s adjustment screws. A contemporary two-piece Deore might’ve been the obvious substitution but there’s a good 6,000 miles of life left in the venerable square taper UN52 so, on balance the Alivio is the most cost effective solution.

There was nothing mechanically wrong with the Stronglight; save for the arms running hairs breadth from the frame’s pronounced chainstays- precluding fitment of neoprene chainstay protectors. Introducing winter overshoes resulted in their rubberised heels chafing the frame’s lacquer top coat. Problem solved and shifting seems, pardoning the pun, fractionally slicker to boot… On the subject of footwear, the recent drop in temperatures have seen these emerge from the wardrobe- foul weather mtb booties, I’m eager to lay my hands a road variant but while a little portly, they’re just fine for blazing a trail through the cold but enchanting forests. The other thing I love about winter, aside from riding unspoilt moonlit trails, is cross racing. Here in the UK, Genesis have released a singlespeed/ fixed crosser finished in a very fetching retro orange. Fashioned from worthy, if slightly workman like Reynolds 520, it bears striking resemblance to the Ilpompino save for nicer frame ends and a sharper looking fork blade.
Thoughtfully it has the four pint carrier and fender mounts and sufficient bottle mounts to serve as a four seasons’ sub £500 funster. Obviously, I couldn’t justify it but it’s certainly given me ideas of reconfiguring the Ilpompino with these Schwalbe 38mm studded snow tyres. I had also been looking to acquire an mtb variant (Bike Nashbar used to do a good store branded copy) for the Univega as with good preparation and the right equipment, snow opens new dimensions in riding pleasure but unlike Utah and indeed many other parts of the globe, the paltry few centimetres hardly warrants large investment. Besides which, while there’s always room for fun and being care-free, I’m in no position to squander monetary resources either so some restraint’s a good thing. Elsewhere, good fortune has presented these non-toxic, bridgeable lubes and cleansers that seem equal to, if not superior to, most of those derived from petrochemicals.

I’m particularly fond of the bike wash that leaves behind only a shiny steed. However, a little care is warranted even with these products as they’re made from oranges and the skins contain d-Limonene, which some folk are allergic too. The firm also manufactures a range of belts made from recycled tyres and if you really wanted, they could recycle your own favourite rubber when the time comes… Watch this space.

Forging Ahead With A New Front End

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:18:00 +0000

Since my last entry, thanks to one publisher's punctual payment and some divine influence, the forks, Woodman headset, spacers and bar wrap have finally arrived. More curious perhaps are my choice of bar and stem. Admittedly the Salsa Bell-Lap with subtly flared ends were my preferred option but an over sized Outland stem with 31.0 clamp precluded this. To my surprise, the Salsa are standard 26mm bulge diameter and in no mood to waste good parts, I opted for super-stiff WTB drops with greatly exaggerated flare. They're intended specifically as a rough stuff touring/mtb drop but phenomenal rigidity ad broader profile makes climbing easier.

On something of a roll, I finally applied myself to ordering the Nitto shim ensuring harmony between 1/18th stem and one-inch steerer. Shims can be fashioned from scrap aluminium cut with tin snips but £7.50 saves scratching nice parts and/or potentially nasty accidents. Further modernisation comes courtesy of these Cane Creek SC5 levers that will commend the fender friendly Miche Performance callipers with upgraded pads.

Elsewhere, I remain of the opinion that turn signals are silly on a bike. However, these integrated light and indicator units seem very practical for trailers. UK law dictates (with good reason) all tag-alongs have independent illumination for nocturnal use and with the nights drawing in faster than the chancellor's belt, their discovery is timely.

Here in the UK, The Cyclist's Touring Club (CTC) is spearheading a campaign against the social acceptability of casually careless driving. Stop "Smidsy" (An acronym of "Sorry mate, I didn't see you") This classic war cry beloved of inept and dangerous drivers nationally is perhaps more accurately translated as " Sorry,I wasn't looking for you!". My son and I find this depressingly familiar riding the Univega and tag-along so all the more reason to ensure the touring trailer resembles a mobile flight path through winter. A more refined swing arm and hitch ensure snappier installation/removal while smoother bushes mean it tracks better than the older yaks especially through the swooping lanes and back roads where only gentle vibration reminds of its presence. Rummaging in my Ka's boot not only produced my long-lost Sugino crank extractor but two tins of silver enamel paint, identical to the trailer's finish meaning the inevitable nicks, scrapes and blemishes can be skillfully hidden. In any case, the good folk at Maldon Shot-Blasting and Powder Coating have given a sympathetic quote for a two colour black (swing arm) and red (trailer body) respray when the time comes.

Infuriatingly, I managed to loose some vital fitting kit but was rescued by Geld Holmyard from Edinburgh Bicycle (owners of the Revolution brand) with replacements and even included a much needed mudguard bridge in the parcel! Increasingly bitter industrial action by the Royal mail is likely to cause misery to many in the short term but rich pickings for the dispatch mob as the retail industry grooms the public for Christmas-the height of the last dispute saw messengers earning £800 a week! Should this continue, Univega, trailer and I might show some uncharacteristically entrepreneurial spirit!

Continuing the theme of generosity, this delightful mug was an early birthday gift from someone knowing my innermost thoughts and intimate details. For the pragmatists, it holds nigh on a pint of tea/coffee/red bush or indeed soup without resembling the proverbial builder's bucket.

Heeding the advice of one-time wrestler BA Baracus, I've got some (track) nuts, anodized blue Halo's for the Holdsworth no less. I'm not usually keen on alloy fasteners-there's no denying their allure but even precision fit wrenches can wreak havoc on the soft metal.

Unable to to resist the lure of leafy green lanes and forest tracks, made all the more beautiful by the rich autumn colours, I've fitted these Kenda small block 8 knobblies- one in the range of mountain bike legend John Tomac's signature tyres and pretty swift too in their 700x38c form. These are 2.1 inches wide leaving very little room to spare between both frame and portly mudguards-not fag paper close but as intimate as I'd like for trail duties, they're a great excuse for my six year old to join in some muddy fun on the tag-along.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully by Halloween the shim and headset press will have arrived, signalling an afternoon of measuring, checking, cutting and ultimately a beautiful makeover.

Deviating from the Script Once More

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:26:00 +0000

Michael, Michael quite contrary tell me how does your fleet grow? Why, with Miche Primato dual pivot callipers, one inch carbon forks and band on bottle bosses all in a row...
Predictably there's been an about-turn on the Teenage Dream's fork choice-the chrome plated 531 blades complete with threaded steerer were a lovely idea until the "Out of stock" reality hit home. Mercifully Acor's UK distributor, Greyville enterprises have been kind enough to oblige with a carbon unit identical to those sported by Ninja Blue. Alas, the courier, despite having clearly read my note detailing a safe place to leave said forks returned them to the depot!

Impulsively, I've upgraded the budget "performance" calliper in favour of this higher end, Primato sibling-shallower drop, stainless fittings and less generic pads has transformed stopping prowess, modulation and feel. Overkill, given the braking requirements of a minimalist fixed perhaps but far from languishing in the spares drawer, the Performance, with 57mm drop and upgraded pads have sufficient fender clearance without looking "gappy" so will serve the Teenage Dream admirably. Funding these upgrades was the sale last weekend of my unused BOB YAK.

Selling stuff can demand both stoicism and resolve. There were hoards of enquiries from people curious about the Yak-in other words, cyber chancers looking for stuff to sell on eBay. They're quite easy to spot and often seem confounded when you politely decline their offer. One such individual-smacking of a dealer posing as a private consumer; demanded to know what I'd do in the event of not finding a buyer. My response advising I "would simply keep it" clearly left him dumbfounded! My reasons for selling were two-fold, this shop branded copy had come my way and there's no sense in hoarding duplicate stuff that isn't going to be used. After this tide of time wasters, a genuine buyer drifted in, questions were asked, photos exchanged and the deal done. My healthy, robust sense of cynicism suggests the Beast of Burden has a good home and won't find itself on eBay. I'd sooner pass kit on for slightly less to someone who'll enjoy and get use from it.As these photos illustrate, the other distinct advantage of the shop branded copy is its ability to fold compactly inside the waterproof tote bag for easy storage!
Now, these funny little bits of nylon might excite those of you seeking to carry bottles on frames sans braze-ons. True, bosses are easily added to steel frames but you'll scorch the livery-not an issue timed to coincide with a re-spray but some folk like to retain a frameset's originality-especially a classic. Adding braze-ons can also weaken structural integrity-not alarmingly so but some tubesets are more sensitive than others. On the subject of frame properties and specifically issues of rigidity and strength etc, wandering around the web,I happened upon this very interesting study suggesting that good old 531 (now in it's 73rd year) holds up remarkably well against wonder materials in controlled testing.

http://materials.open.ac.uk/bikeframes/bikeframe.htm

Pop-riveting bosses to an aluminium frame can induce similar feelings of revulsion and under the saddle/seatpost mounts aren't everyone's bag. These clever and aptly named "gizmos" can be positioned on the down or seat tubes and accommodates most standard cages without difficulty-just make sure you measure the tube diameter so as to get the right size-padding them out using shims fashioned from defunct inner tube looks second rate at best. For the time being, I'll stick with the Bor Yeuh bottle caddy but these plastic ties were worth experimenting with.

Belt transmissions remained a quiet force at Eurobike and while dividing many of us into simple love/hate dichotomies, Fixie Inc seem very committed having devised the Klick-Flip-the worlds first flip/flop hub for belt drives. Using a six bolt locking system closely resembling a mountain bike disc hub ensures precise alignment-there's no discretion with a belt as anything less than perfect chain line means both uneven wear an reduced efficiency. Supporters of this system cite greatly improved acceleration and transmission braking, zero lubrication and weight savings of around 300g over a comparable chain drive. keeping an open mind, there's still a sense of de-ja vu sweeping over me . Belt drives have been tried before and while undeniably quiet and mess free, debate rages over efficiency, durability and cost of replacement.

Snow drags back the foot that's slow... The dogs of doom are howling low...Well, we've not reached that season just yet. However, I'll take the opportunity to give frames and newly resurrected trailer a booster application of Waxoyling. Given last week's concerns surrounding the chemical composition of some workshop staples, it seems ironic and possibly hypercritical that I have ploughed surplus proceeds from the trailer sale into acquiring a batch of biodegradable miracle cleaners, degreasers and sufficient car wash/wax concentrate to set myself up commercially. Rest assured, corresponding quantities of Latex examination gloves were not forgotten.

Cranking it Up

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:17:00 +0000

Lo and behold, days after my last entry, this substantial hot forged Stronglight track crankset came under my radar. Adding 220g to the build might fill some with horror but in practice, power transfer is greatly improved thanks to the rigidity of the arms. Coupled with a deep section CNC machined chainring, this largely addresses the shortcomings of square taper designs whether climbing out of the saddle or full out on the flat-at least for riders hovering between 70 and 80 kilos.

Dual sided SPD make a great deal of sense on a road fixers but then these Look KEO copies sport magnesium bodies, sealed cartridge bearings and tip the scales at a very reasonable 220g (pair) while giving an aesthetically sharper feel. Magnesium has been criticised for being whippy but charging along the climbs, out of the saddle with my full weight atop them, I haven't noticed any of the dreaded flex and engagement's only fractionally slower when snatching away from the lights.

With the nights drawing in, the murkier and dare I say, grimier season looms large on the horizon. Less daylight demands better time management and my attention turns to convenience cleaning products-bike wash, hand cleansers etc. Being honest, save for working bikes serving in crime ridden, inner city districts, the promise of effortlessly gleaming steeds in minutes is a real crowd pleaser but in keeping with some washing detergents, ingredients can be a real witches brew.

Anyone involved in the repair side of the auto industry should be only too aware of the dangers associated with prolonged exposure to petro-chemicals and their health effects. Probe deeper into these wonder potions and often you'll discover hormones and carcinogens closely associated with infertility/birth defects, cancers and other physiological change.It's nothing new or restricted to industrial applications-these are commonly found preserves and stabilisers in cosmetics/toiletries.

Large manufacturers promote their benefits for the lowest possible price and as consumers we passively collude without thought to the longer term consequences. Equally, those boasting super invasive, filth busting formulas must also have some degenerative effect upon welcome lubrication. I for one am careful to avoid spraying such formulas-even citrus based, directly at headsets, hubs, bottom brackets. Fussy? maybe but there's insufficient evidence to suggest these chemicals, ingested through the skin don't mutate or contribute to disease or illness. I'm not trying to cultivate paranoia but it's food for thought and gloves, Latex or otherwise are wise precautions when working with them.

Nothing gladdens the callous hearts of bike-thieves more than a nice, shiny anonymous looking bike they can flog quickly without trace. Therefore, I've opted to treat Ninja Blue and the Teenage Dream to Alpha dot. It's been on the market for a good decade or so and feedback suggests it's like kryptonite to the professionally light fingered and insurers lower their premiums accordingly. Like any other tagging system, there's no substitute for solid, properly used locks and secure storage but they mean bike and rightful owner stand a hope of being reunited. It's a lacquer containing a unique code linking bike and owner courtesy of a central database. Unlike transponder systems which are easier to dispose of, a thief can never be sure they're removed all trace and can be applied to most surfaces without affecting paint, lacquer, plating or anodizing.Last but not least, the Univega finds itself sporting this nifty T section alloy cage designed to haul 1.5 litre PET bottles without flinching, making those impulsive roadside purchases easier to cart about. Measuring 33cm long, fitting's tricky on compact framesets, demanding I forgo one mounted on the seattube but the benefits outweigh the shortcomings. That said, I've a feeling my dentist doesn't share my enthusiasm!

Pedalling Contradictions

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:31:00 +0000

Some rides flow seamlessly while others have very clearly defined beginnings, middles and ends-Sunday's mid morning meander being a case in point. With the strong autumn sun calling it was time for Ninja Blue and I to take advantage of the temperate conditions before weather more characteristic of the season took hold. Ninja Blue is my pet name for the Holdsworth-there's a long sentimental story underlying this curious moniker and maybe someday I'll share it.

Gliding through the village, attune to traffic conditions, yet equally consumed by my thoughts, we turned right into the tight and winding back roads to a warm "Alright mate!". Caught by surprise, I must've seemed unnecessarily aloof bordering on discourteous realising the second of two road riders was in fact addressing me. Tongue and manners rediscovered I managed a polite "Yourself?" before his "Yeah, not bad" concluded our dialogue.

My disconnected response left a twinge of guilt but then: I was in one of those very quiet modes that typify me-times calling for steady cadence, reflection and inner peace. Bowling along the lanes saw periodic encounter with kindred spirits before confronting Little Mountains Road. My ego whispered of how I flew up here in my teens-fixed or freewheel and mercifully powering a 79 inch gear, my legs met the challenge without hesitation despite road surfaces resembling treacle toward the summit. Unusually, body and soul felt no inclination to cruise beyond 20mph throughout our journey.

In retrospect this was just as well, entering another twisting turn and chasing onward I was greeted by a group of children playing in the lane. Given these paranoid times, I was reassured to see them so carefree. This was diluted by their desire to dart back and forth across the narrow stretch of road. Mercifully, a cautiously driven Renault MPV had tempered their passion for this curious game of dare, though my right hand hovered over the brake nonetheless. A quick kick of the transmission saw us steal a march on potential chaos. Clocking up the miles, I'm starting to notice small flaws in the build. Nothing monumental but the budget Stronglight crank shows discernible flex under load. Credit where it's due, everything turns smoothly and reliably enough and given the Holdsworth will be hibernating through the winter months upgrades are unnecessarily indulgent... Unless something irresistible presents itself at the right price.
Elsewhere the Teenage Dream is entering the second phase of its makeover but this has introduced a wealth of complications. It was an oh-so-simple recipe, purchase carbon fork, Woodman sealed bearing Aheadset and suitably refined bar and stem. Teenage Dram brought well and truly into the 21st Century...Then along comes chrome. Not just any old chrome mind, oh no. 531 race blades and a threaded steerer. This saves a good wedge of cash and worthy components from languishing in the spares drawer.
It's been seventeen years since I bought anything sporting chrome-the Teenage Dream's winter sibling had a fully chromed uni-crown cro-moly fork. Objectively, chrome plating is an awful process to subject delicate,precision components and thin walled frame tubing. I'll concede half-chrome chainstays are very alluring but this exterior beauty comes at a high price....Involving acid baths and other brutality, it's a process Dr Crippin would approve of and not the sort for a beautiful bicycle frame. Before any plating is added, substantial amounts of metal are stripped from the tubes ready for polishing. Later stages involve plenty of dunking in acid and other toxic brews before passing through a neutralising bath in the hope of purging any remnants. Any traces left here will result in internal corrosion and ultimately frame/fork fatigue.

Decorative chroming by nature is notoriously thin, made worse by modern platers forgoing the protective copper layer. This leaves a porous surface and the steel beneath vulnerable to rust-especially in coastal regions. Because paint doesn't magically stop where the chrome starts, finishers employ acid etch primers to cajole it to the slippery surface but longevity is poor and the paint ultimately recedes. Columbus strongly advise against it- ironic given most Italian marques sport acres of it!

Knowing this, why then am I still lusting after a pair? Well, £55 for 531 with a sloping crown is too tempting while allowing the channelling of precious resources into other projects. That said, the merest hint of a price hike will see me running to contemporary carbon faster than a tot with grazed knees to their mother.

Knock on Wood

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:31:00 +0000

Influenced by wood's widespread popularity at this year's Eurobike and coinciding with the successful retrieval of a Bob Yak trailer specific skewer from storage sees the resurrection of these bespoke Maple wood fenders. Originally designed and built for my beloved Ilpompino some three years back, they became redundant when I felt compelled to run tyres twelve millimetres wider than the 28mm profile allowed. Fast forward eighteen months and their warm, tactile colour coordinates beautifully with the Teenage Dream's rich, luxurious green livery and there's just enough clearance at the fork crown and rear triangle.

Form and function extend the bike's horizons beyond October's end but I'll stop short of running it through the purgatory of the meaner months characterised by salt and slush. However, there's no sense in performing these adaptations until modernisation of the front end is complete-namely carbon fork, Woodman headset and a befitting bar and stem. Extensive upgrades are heavily reliant upon publishers cheques fluttering through the letterbox.

Project Road Path has reached the heady heights of decal design and I've agreed a price with a local graphic design company but our old adversary, fiscal restraint means the deal will complete come September's close. I had also toyed with the idea of making the pilgrimage to Cycle 2009 at London's Earls Court but having just returned from the enormity of Eurobike, will pass on the smaller show this year.

Preparing the Univega for the fall has seen not only pad upgrades but new levers and cables too. Changing a set of pads takes around fifteen minutes tops, allowing for any last minute fettling. However, somehow the nylon cable pulleys had deformed at the nipple rendering them useless after fifteen years loyal service. Shimano Ultegra have taken their place and this evening's wet blast through the lanes suggests they're an excellent pairing, although the lever's lighter action required a short period of adjustment. Repeated unravellings of the flamingo pink bike ribbon over the past six months have finally taken their toll. Electrical tape has come to the rescue, keeping it presentable enough until I can settle on a replacement-the smart money's strongly favouring Specialized's Roubaix wrap.

Adding insult to injury, gremlins also appear to have worked their mischief on its Basta dynamo lamp, melting the internal circuitry! High power NIMH and Lion rechargeable systems offer fantastic, retina burning performance but nothing compares to the convenience of a hub dynamo set-up-lighting's on tap with no charge or run times to constrain riding pleasure and there's something deeply satisfying about generating your own illumination. I will email Mr Hunt, our local Recycle agent to see if he'll supply a replacement in exchange for a small donation. On the subject of recycling, constructive vandalism sees this this tired Raleigh mtb frameset complete with misaligned rear triangle reincarnated as a headset crown race setting tool and work of modern art. The tubing was so thick as to tolerate MIG welding and bereft of my beloved pipe cutter, reducing it to useful scrap required an hour's intensive hacksaw surgery.
After some deliberation, the bottom bracket area characterised by a very worn, oxidised crankset has a certain artistic quality. A lick of paint and polish will see it transformed into a very fetching piece of sculpture...Albeit more out house than penthouse!

Showtime!

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 09:26:00 +0000

Friedrichshafen,approximately fifty kilometres from the Austrian border in southern Germany plays host to Eurobike-Europe's largest cycling exhibition.There's something for everyone whether utility/leisure rider, road racer, track ace, tourist, time trialist, trials rider or tandem stoker. Electric bikes were heavily represented as an emergent and ever refining mainstream market. Some of us may well scoff but if they re/introduce a new generation of people to two wheels and bolster cycling then they have my quiet respect.

Elsewhere, retro was definitely the order of the show which heaved under the weight of leather bar wrap, saddles and accessories. Interestingly, high quality faux leather may well steal a march in the coming year given it requires nominal maintenance- dirt/stains simply wiping clean. I found myself particularly drawn to one exhibitor's bar wrap that looked great despite bearing the brunt of several seasons use and surviving a nasty spill into the bargain. Allegedly it changes characteristic according to conditions-cooler in the heat, yet offering tenacious grip in the cold and/or wet. Chrome is cool again and not simply among the Italian marques. Jamis had a couple of very sweet looking fixers with half-chrome stays and fork blades, although I'm underwhelmed by cable clips which scratch paint, trap moisture and ultimately encourage rust. Wood proved a very popular fender material with various larger manufacturers and small scale artisans proudly showing their wares. Fixed remains an established niche however, sub groups are definitely forming in the same sense mountain biking broke into cross country, downhill, trials etc.

The world and their mother appeared to have a fixer in the range from cynically adapted road framesets with track ends still sporting the full compliment of cable guides, carbon fibre track thoroughbreds to those following the road path tradition with sensible clearances and proper rack/fender mounts. Reynolds 525 and 631 cro-molys rubbed shoulders with Tange Prestige as typical, better quality tubing amongst the production builds-principally because their material composition is better suited to high volume production methods. However, there was also a healthy smattering of Columbus and more exotic tubesets mingling amongst 7000 and 6061 series aluminium. Cinelli and a few others presented bikes with traditional, one inch, threaded steerers but I dismiss this as little more than a quirky, promotional stunt rather than a serious indication of their wholesale resurrection by the cycle industry. That said, improved spares availability would be a godsend for those of us with older but very worthy machines in the fleet.

Anyone doubting sex and glamour's capacity to boost sales need only cast a casual eye over the stands adorned with beautiful young women in various stages of undress, the greatest titillation provided courtesy of those wearing only body paint. Being a respectable medium, I can't post those so you'll have to settle for these models on the Kellys stand.

Now, excuse me I've to purge this bag load of festering clothes accumilated from my week away....

Dusk Duties and The Dubious Delights of Time Trialling

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Continued refinement sees removal of the left hand brake lever, substituted for an orphaned silver end plug found languishing on the workshop floor. Some experimentation with a cheap but not so nasty alloy bottle caddy saw me revert to the lighter and arguably nicer nylon model which at least accommodates a seatpack, no matter how minimalist. The breakthrough came courtesy of this clever little Bor Yeuh mount, clamping to the saddle rails and accommodating two cages either side. However, closed cage designs like the silver Nitto are best as ultra modern, open ended designs such as the tacx allow bottles to escape over the course of a mile or two. A stainless Salsa offering will take its place.This configuration still precludes the use of a bigger seatpack, leaving me with three options (a) mounting the trixie tool piggy-back on the the cage (b) carting it around in my jersey pocket (c)forgoing it altogether in favour of Gerber's mighty cool tool which fits comfortably inside the tiny Lezyne pouch.
Our second Sunday outing found us caught up in the excitement of some time trialling-the notorious Colchester Rovers Abberton ten mile course-a circuit with some sadistic little climbs. Fixers were a conspicuous niche' characterised by unbranded compact geometry framesets made from space-age composites. Some competitors seemed completely oblivious to traffic, cyclist or otherwise and the arrival of a race Marshall saw one rider stop dead without even the most cursory glances over her shoulder-nearly resulting in our collision!

Cross but composed I continued, only to encounter another Marshall yelling times at me, clearly oblivious to my lack of helmet, race number or other identifying marks. Another competitor, a friendly fella aboard a geared specialized began quizzing me about the route. My response was to smile, wish him every success before taking the long, straight road home, picking up the pace so as not to give the game away.

Trailer tugging is one duty I'd avoid on a fixed. Clearly spurred on by sunny skies, Joshua urged me to take him out on the tag-along for what would become his longest ride to date-a circuit of twenty-two miles to Mersea Island. Now, twenty odd miles is a nice jaunt-nothing for experienced riders to write home about but a very long way for little legs. To his credit and two rest stops he managed to pedal for the greater part. Indeed, the first stop was prompted by my need to adjust the hitch. Lowering it by a few centimetres has transformed the handling, giving a very planted feel and improving captain and stoker confidence-especially on long, winding descents. Cheaper hitches lack refinement-ours isn't too bad but I'll tighten handling yet further with the introduction of rubber bushings....

Maiden Voyage

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 19:29:00 +0000

Sometimes getting things done requires a sense of distance. Taking my own advice I spirited myself away for a few days in Norfolk-a region of the UK known as East Anglia notorious for being flat as the proverbial pancake. That said, even in Norwich the fixer scene was conspicuous by it's absence- a shame not least as I spotted the perfect graffiti backdrop for fixer photo-shoots.

Internet thieves have temporarily foiled my plans to purchase the seductive wheelset with large flange hubs so I commandeered another set, otherwise perfect for the build on Thursday morning. Older frames can spring surprises and final preparations demanded judicious filing of the ends to accommodate modern axle diameters. Gearing is now a moderate 79 inches courtesy of a 48 tooth front ring and 16 tooth EAI superstar sprocket-ample for bombing along the flat yet merciful in the hills. An uncharacteristically lacklustre Miche chain has been replaced by a substantial silver KMC offering which lacks the consummate refinement of some-especially the upmarket half link variety but enjoys phenomenal lateral rigidity, meaning transmission braking/track standing is laughably easy. Fitting some micro LEDs, a twenty two function computer capable of damn near everything bar making the tea and with the obligatory multi-tools, patch and compact camera kit slipped into the seatpack we were ready for the off...

Swing a leg over the top-tube and from the first few pedal strokes it's obvious why these now comparatively rare bikes were so popular back in the day. Short 16 inch chainstays deliver punchy performance whether sprinting away from the lights or powering along the open road. Steering is quick, yet predictable trickling through town or cornering hard on long, winding descents. 531 might no longer be the benchmark tubeset for quality lightweights but superior build quality compared with some modern frames confirms the old adage that craftsmanship, not materials maketh fine frames. For all the period fork's charms, I strongly suspect the modern, carbon replacement enhances the ride quality, delivering smooth passage over rougher surfaces while shaving a few precious grams into the bargain.

There's no trace of power robbing flex when climbing out of the saddle or dancing on the pedals, although I tip the scales at a relatively modest 70 kilos so can get away with using old fashioned square taper bottom brackets paired to modest cranksets. Stopping for some mid ride photos revealed the stem slightly misaligned but easily rectified using a 5mm Allen key. Thanks in part to a beefy chain, dependable transmission braking left the Miche calliper with relatively little to do, although it's proven a worthy stopper and in time, upgrading the pads will undoubtedly sharpen performance. Proportionally short in the torso, the Holdsworth feels overly generous in the top-tube but sliding the saddle forward compromises a good fit, placing me further over the bottom bracket into the bargain. This has the positive side-effect of increased power delivery, although I might purchase a slightly shorter Nitto stem when funds allow.

I long ago ceased talking in terms of complete and final builds given all my machines are, to some degree works in progress and subject to constant evolution. Upgrading to a larger and more practical wedge pack has necessitated removal of the Nitto cage and carry bracket so I'm returning to the hydration pack until a suitably paint friendly clip-on cage comes under my radar.

Come Together....

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Since I last put fingers to keyboard, pester power has provoked payment, allowing the purchase of replacement top cap and moreover, the Woodman specific tool. Elsewhere, decisions have been made and I've settled(for the meantime at least)in favour of sealed cartridge bearing Ritchey copy SPD pedals. I've been riding clipless, pretty much exclusively since 1992 but find the dual sided mtb type best for cornering and spilt second entry/exit.

Further foraging has proven very profitable with surprisingly rich pickings. With the constant mantra of "Use what you've got" resonating in my head, I plucked out some very fetching pink fade bar wrap. My mouse finger kept hovering on new, conservative blues and blacks but far from clashing, it complements the light blue/black livery perfectly-serendipity strikes again!

Purists will scoff at suggestion I have tried to keep the frame's original character and to some extent, given it's sporting a carbon fork with threadless steerer, they'd have a point. However, I fought shy of adding braze-on bottle and other bosses. While widening the frame's practicality at one level, I wanted to enjoy it's minimalist beauty. Initially the solution was to wear a hydration pack but in very hot weather, even the better designs can leave a sweaty back. A nifty seatpost mounted nylon bracket came to the rescue. This enables a cage to be placed behind the saddle and some further tinkering and exchanging the modern Tacx unit for a delicate stainless steel Nitto has enabled a min-pump to share the mount without fouling the bijou seat pack-Heh!.Removing the left hand brake lever and replacing it with a black end plug seemed sensibly minimalist but I decided I liked the symmetry so, unless it starts rattling relentlessly it can keep the other company. This is the final run now, the final build. I've the chain and CNC machined sprocket awaiting the wheels and what a wheelset I have planned. Keenly priced, black hoops with machined sidewalls turning on sexy large-flange track hubs....Alas, they'll have to wait 'till my return from holiday...

Poor Boy Blues

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:44:00 +0000

" My Daddy Said Son, don't you come to me cryin' cos money don't make you a happy man" Hmm, maybe not but it sure as hell makes bike builds less challenging....

Recession's a grossly over-used phrase and while the consequences of such are an increasingly uncomfortable reality for many, at one level it's a very convenient rationale' for firms avoiding or delaying payment. One such client decided to hold on to my invoice just that little bit longer, meaning I've had to postpone purchasing the replacement Woodman top race and fitting tool from the UK importer. Similarly, borrowed components by definition have to be returned to their rightful owners and so, in this reflective, yet purposeful mood I approached the bulging spares bin for components and on the whole this has proved a fruitful harvest. Resourcefulness has resurrected an inexpensive, yet unused Stronglight cranks which now sit proudly aboard the square taper bottom bracket, then there's a titanium railed Specialized Toupe' Gel saddle pride of place atop the shapely Outland seatpost while a fetching long-reach Miche dual pivot calliper takes care of stopping and my obligations under the road traffic act.

When it comes to pedal choice, I'm the child in the proverbial sweet shop. Not sure whether to stick with low-profile, sealed bearing track offerings, an ancient drum polished Look pair from 1992 or indeed Shimano and pattern mtb SPD. The latter are winning on the grounds of practicality-you can walk rather than hobble off the bike with recessed cleats. Then there's another colour-co-ordinated Look pair languishing in the spares bin....
There's a principle operating on two levels here. First and foremost why plough much needed financial resources into new stock when there's plentiful, cosmetically appealing and moreover decent quality stuff hidden away in spares drawers? The second is an exercise in skills sharpening. Being resourceful isn't exclusively fiscal, neither is it concerned with getting something for nothing. Being shrewd here means I can enjoy a nice, carefully built bike and enrol on a fully paid-up Diploma course in massage come the fall.

Regular readers will note a fair bit of barter involved in my projects. Both the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream's refinishing were undertaken on an earned basis-I might not have paid for their expertise but I exchanged my services for theirs. Simple economics dictate that while folk can't live on mutual respect and favour alone, such can go a long way toward happier, co-operative and moreover prosperous communities. However, I'm a firm believer in charity being dispensed at personal discretion and not upon demand.

Recently I've put a low mileage, well kempt BOB Yak up for sale and I'm astounded at the number of time wasters-they're not usually difficult to spot-asking a series of silly questions in succession before there's a pregnant pause followed by a sheepish email. This is entirely different from genuine potential buyers asking pertinent questions from which to make an informed decision but there seems an ever increasing army of window shoppers with nothing better to do than needlessly waste time.
Sermon over and returning to the Holdsworth, further joy comes courtesy of a decent track chain, CNC mirror polished sprocket and set of Halo twin rail "courier" tyres. I'm seventy-five per cent there save for an appropriate wheelset, lock ring and of course the replacement top race and fitting tool....

Good Times, Bad Times...

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:03:00 +0000

This week I have been mostly busting chain tools.... Coincidence perhaps, metal fatigue coupled with a very stubborn chain link the more likely explanations. Casualties included a very shapely Topeak, a multi tool and my late father’s beloved Cyclo. In fairness I was able to salvage operations using the latter but suggests workshop quality set of rivet pliers are the way forward.

The hand of fate deals love and hate in equal measure it seems. Kindness in the guise of borrowed parts, bringing the Holdsworth build to life-albeit temporarily. Halo’s Aerorage wheels complete with the firm’s 24mm courier rubber make for superb four season’s street hoops capable of entertaining single-speed cross during the winter months thanks to super smooth, large flange weather sealed flip-flop hubs but tipping the sales at just over two kilos means they’re slow on the climbs and not for a lithe TT mount. Powder coated sidewalls aren’t intended as a braking surface and therefore (legal) street use over here (but seem adequate in the short term with soft compound brake pads) so I’d probably plump for a machined front when circumstances allow.

Cruelty manifest itself as fluke- a chisel falling from the garage rafters struck a direct blow to the soft alloy headset top race. Miraculously there’s no other damage but I’ve contacted Woodman’s UK importer to secure a replacement and an installation tool….Finishing on a brighter note, rummaging has unearthed some very classy MKS NJS certified chain-tugs adding the finishing touch of class project road path... Well, for the time being at least!

Elsewhere, I drove over to Justin Burls to see what excitement lay in his workshop. In spite of the economic downturn the titanium side of his business is positively booming, although there's been less demand for his bespoke steel offerings. This wasn't idle sales talk either, seconds after this remark, the phone rang and a customer (a nurse commuting 250 miles a week) began discussing a mile-munching, four season's fixer build with clearances for 32mm tyres and full length guards. Building bespoke bikes and frames is far more than simply joining lightweight tubes together, it's about producing something totally unique-although the same is true for other custom crafts and coupled with raw talent is an interest in people and a willingness explore their needs. Justin builds very few forks these days-largely given carbon seems the default option but this customer wanted steel blades which intrigued me and I'd love to see the finished frameset.

Casting aside a green tarpaulin, Justin revealed a stunning space-age aero TT mount- The sort low enough to evade radar detection and fast enough to beat personal bests on looks alone thanks to over sized aero tubing. Swinging a leg over the top tube, it wasn't long before I was grinning from ear to ear, the tyre hugging seat-tube implying a shorter than actual 39 inch wheel base, meaning it corners as well as it climbs-unlike a steel frame I was unfortunate enough to test ride some years back- thirty six inch wheelbases are fantastic...in a straight line.

There's no mistaking titanium's unique characteristics and within the first few pedal strokes I was smitten, the tight rear triangle oozing prowess while damping road shock and refusing to clog, despite been deliberately ridden through manure and other roadside delicacies. Given the 17lb mass (sans pedals) it soars up the climbs without leaving the saddle-unless turning a colossal gear. Even with my 70 kilos dancing on the pedals, I couldn't induce any flex from the bottom bracket shell-thanks to the external bearings and lateral stiffness should satisfy all but the most powerful riders. The positioning suited my 181cm frame perfectly and it was possible to cruise effortlessly on the super stiff Oval bars. Being slightly stretched had the additional benefit of easing stiffness discomfort in my left shoulder caused by tendinitis- the result of several cycling "chutes" with the odd motorcycling miss-hap thrown in to seal the deal.

Aside from the gratuitous celebration of bike lust, it cements my decision in favour of mid range tri-extensions atop the Nitto pursuit bars. As for buying a Burls Russian Ti TT missile, there's no denying I'm tempted but other priorities are calling so I'll have to resist the urge a little while longer...

Flight of The Phoenix

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:40:00 +0000

Last Monday brought the arrival of the New Campagnolo Xenon crankset and Look pattern pedals. Proverbial child at Christmas I whipped the old Stronglight from their tapers, slid their replacements in position and cut the chain by three links to accommodate the change in ratios from the old fashioned 52/42 to 53/39-much better on the climbs or “up hill and down dale” to use a quaint British expression. Trimming the brake cable outers brought modulation and feel into the 21st century and with a quick once-over of stem, crank bolts and installation of a modern wireless computer, our eagerly anticipated first outing was nigh.

Despite quaint looks, there’s nothing “old flame” about performance, delivering the same supple, yet responsive ride that saw me fall in love with it all those years ago-an ISIS bottom bracket would doubtless offer a little extra rigidity when climbing out of the saddle but that’s about the only discernable difference between the Teenage dream and more modern bikes in my fleet. That said there’s some low-level tinkering taking place. Gone is the “60psi and burst blood vessel if you’re lucky” frame fit pump in favour of a much more sophisticated and dare I say beju SKS mini pump and I’m unsure as to whether the Cinelli Spinachi will remain at the helm… Think a more traditional Tri bars might be called for but I’ll see what turns up.
Project Road Path is gathering some much needed momentum in the guise of a wheelset looking for all the world as if it’s been holidaying in Chernobyl. Elegant and super smooth sealed bearing track hubs should with some basic care brave the four seasons and I’ve lost my puritanical hatred of flip/flop hubs, assuming a more moderate stance when reasoning it follows in the tradition of practicality and versatility expressed by the Road Path concept, albeit demanding a rear brake to comply with the long arm of UK legislation.
Elsewhere, Colchester was one of twelve towns (including Milton Keynes, Exeter, Woking, Peterborough, Blackpool, Southport, Stoke-on-Trent and Chester) fortunate enough to play host to professional road racing courtesy of the tour series. Crudely it’s a series of closed circuit criterium racing sweeping around the historic market town. Roads were closed throughout the day to encourage what might be termed a carnival atmosphere and upon my arrival late afternoon; it was obvious riders of all ages were taking advantage of the closed streets.

The town generally bristled with activity thanks to the market stalls hosted by national radio, television and of course cycling and other small retailers. From six onwards, the pros began to parade the circuits together, some playing to the gallery, most laughing and joking amongst themselves before the serious business of racing.

Seven and the streets swelled with anticipation as the motorcycle camera crew signalled the brightly coloured sea of riders, the Rapha Condor team particularly distinctive by their black livery. As the bunch remained largely tight and my camera shutter whirred and clicked away, I couldn’t help drifting back to Paul Kimmage’s “Rough Ride”-an expose’ of late 1980s professional cycling stooped in politics and a cynical doping culture.

I longed for the display unfolding before me to be one of genuine competition and a far cry from the days when prize monies and rider positioning were decided before the first pedal stroke.

Why do fools fall in love....?

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Well, that was the song playing in my head as Justin reflected upon the crown race that wouldn’t fit snugly. Older bikes, no matter how well loved can present unexpected challenges and it seemed as if the Teenage Dream’s fork crown had been subject to some minor distortion over the years. This left three possible solutions (a) build up the affected area with molten brass (b) Replace the fork (c) try the other headset I brought along as a contingency.

Much as 531c is nice, benchmark tubing, replacing the fork with a budget carbon offering makes greater economic sense in the longer run. Mercifully fate came to my rescue and the arguably nicer alloy headset slotted straight in without recourse to cutting steerers, Justin executing installation with his usual precision. Perfectionism and meticulous attention to detail are essential qualities in a bespoke builder. Headset assembled, Justin turned his attention to the seat-tube. The late 1980s and early 90s saw many manufacturers engaged in ruthless price wars, frequently offering complete bikes with high end framesets for little more than the groupset's asking price. I recall seeing 531C framesets festooned with XT parts for £400- badly reamed seat tubes came as standard and deluxe versions enjoyed major frame failure.

Casting a critical eye, he noted some distortion of the collar-not uncommon on steel frames and easily remedied. We explored the possibilities of opening it up by a further point two of a millimetre, thus allowing a much greater choice of post- the collar was certainly substantial enough but closer inspection of the internal walls left Justin uncomfortable pursuing this. Banishing temptation, five minutes judicious reaming removed the offending burr and with post in place, drawing the seatbolt tight, the collar resumed its round profile. The post remains a closer than ideal fit but safeguards against dirt and ingress thrown up by the rear wheel entering the seat-tube.Back home, it was a question of rounding up the other components and assembly. I began with the transmission, fitting a new chain and tweaking the front mech cage slightly. Other than some cable stretch, the rear breezed effortlessly up and down the six- speed block. Closer inspection confirmed my fears of warped chainrings-something I attribute to Dural’s soft characteristics rather than my mechanically sensitive riding style. A quick wander round the web uncovered a new old stock Campag Xenon for less than the price of two-replacement rings- sold to the man with the green frame Regular readers of my column will note I am notorious for changing the script and sees me revert to the original Cinelli cockpit. These feel closer to 44 than their actual 42cm width suggests and have quite a pronounced drop better suited to long steady summer miles. This also saves a perfectly good set of contact points and brake levers from languishing in the spares drawer. Some would argue Spinaci clip ons serve only as mounting points for lights and other accessories but they’re less obtrusive than full tri bars and add negligible weight. From here it was simply a question of fitting control cables and fresh bar wrap. The outers are a little on the long side but quick trims and tweaks are timed to coincide with the new crankset's arrival.

Next Week: Flight of The Phoenix

The Pool's in But the Patio Aint Dry...

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Mercifully, Monday brought the eagerly awaited fitting tool allowing the installation of the venerable UN53 copy with much grease and minimal fuss. However, this state of euphoria was short lived upon discovering the disintegration of the plastic cable guides-hardly a crisis but means waiting a few days for the postman to call with a replacementSliding the Stronglight cranks aboard the traditional square tapers had my senses screaming with alarm- the inner ring was apparently warped! Removal and inspection of their integrity atop a flat surface revealed this to be little more than a trick of the light. However, I took the opportunity to re-grease and thoroughly tighten the fasteners.

Justin (Burls) remains indisposed at the moment so, with much of the drivetrain aboard the frame and other components coming together, progress is restricted to installing a new plastic guide and wiring up the derailleurs. The finishing touches such as bars, stem and braking will have to remain on ice until such time as Justin can work his magic.
This resurrection of a treasured machine has forced me to reconsider the Holdsworth’s role in my fleet. Make no mistake, he’s here to stay but rather than becoming a pure TT mount, I’m returning to the basics of the Road Path principle-bikes that are simple to maintain, a blast, yet not “too nice to ride”. In short, pared to the essentials during the brighter months, winter will see it sport Maplewood fenders and 28mm tyres for practical, low maintenance fun.

Low Down n' Dirty

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:31:00 +0000

I was planning on installing the Acor bottom bracket this morning having flooded the frame internally with Waxoyl on Friday night. This was somewhat dependant upon the splined fitting tool arriving in today’s post. Sadly the postman brought it to my door but fought shy of ringing the bell, choosing to deliver his calling card instead.Undeterred, with a Saturday to myself, I took advantage of the warm spring weather and set up camp on the back garden’s concrete quarter. Teenage dream securely in the stand, I set about cleaning the derailleur hanger, lever and bottle boss threads before lightly greasing and installing the respective components.

The transmission save for bottom bracket and chain remains unchanged but elsewhere there’s select modernisation to herald personal and technological developments over the past eighteen years.

I couldn’t resist upgrading the stoppers to these high lustre dual pivot callipers with Ti fittings keeping the weight low. The front end is taking an equally radical departure. Gone are the classic, if conservative 42cm Cinelli bar, stem and Campagnolo Athena brake levers. Enter Nitto pursuit bars and Ahead stem-naturally demanding an adaptor and lacking the outright rigidity of threadless configurations but silver anodising keeps things aesthetically crisp. The Athena were substituted for some very sweet Acor carbon TT levers-the sort secured into the ends by expandable wedges, eliminating the need for plugs. Offering the bottom bracket to the shell and threading it hand tight allowed me to temporarily position the crank, providing a useful template for accurately mounting the Victory front mech. These beautiful NOS derailleurs from 1982 were an eighteenth birthday present from a friend who sadly hasn’t been in touch for ten years so they’re staying. As the old saying goes, Campagnolo wears in…others wear out.

The coming days should present sufficient opportunity to install the bottom bracket and crankset. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks Justin will have a spare couple of hours to fit the new headset and of course, ream the seat-tube properly. From there it’s simply a question of wiring everything up, taping the bars and enjoying some long summer miles…

Low down n’ dirty might be an apt description of British Politicians at the moment but I’m starting to think it’d look great emblazoned along the Teenage dream’s top-tube. Hmm, might have a graphic designer knock me up some decals…

Gorgeous in Green

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Friday morning rolled around and it was time to witness the teenage dream’s re-birth. When I arrived Chris and Graham were busily loading the guns with zinc-chromate primer and it only took ten minutes for Graham to work his magic in a mist of gunmetal. Satisfied with an even coverage, my frameset was passed into the oven for curing at 150 degrees.
Taking a break, Trevor led me through to the back room playing host to all manner of projects awaiting refinishing. In amongst the motorcycle frames, mudguards, tanks and less engaging household items sat a Kirk Precision. It’s been a while since I saw one of these magnesium frames, although I was tempted when a local dealers offered them as a frameset including headset and bottom bracket for £99 back in 1990. Mercifully I resisted, ploughing my limited reserves into the teenage dream.

Interesting from a cult/curiosity perspective, Kirks suffered from terrible lateral stiffness-a 70 kilo rider could easily cajole the seat-stay into fouling the tyre when cornering hard. Casting, while improved when Dawes cycles bought the marque in the early 90s remained relatively poor and corrosion equally problematic. The owner is clearly smitten, asking Trevor and the boys to put it right irrespective of cost. Given magnesium is both brittle and extremely flammable, restoration is far from straightforward… Before work can begin the frame will be chemically stripped prior to blasting. Casting needs refinement with skillful applications of filler. Given the heat, powder coating isn’t viable, so epoxy two-Pack and a final lacquer are the order of the day. Keen to chart the Kirk's progress, I’d never have one other than as an ornament given their flaws but hopefully there'll be opportunity to follow the restoration of this one in the coming weeks.

With my frame freshly baked, it was the moment we'd all been waiting for. Trevor had generously ordered some 6010-there’s not much call for green amongst his clientele. A few pumps of the trigger and we were away, the frameset coming into bloom one tube at a time before entering the tunnel of love for a final curing. An acrylic clear coat was applied once sufficiently cooled to beautify and protect. Polyester lacquers are cheaper and tolerate being applied directly to hot surfaces but Graham explained these have greater tendency to craze and peel in the long term. Next on the agenda is to arrange some time to visit Justin Burls and ask him nicely to clean the offending seat-tube and install a new headset and bottom bracket.

Whatever Happened to The Teenage Dream....

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Project road path is taking something of a back seat while I await the right wheelset and crucially, the right wheelset at the right price. In my experience when one project slows, another gathers momentum and in this instance, the teenage dream-my bespoke road bike from 1991 has been blasted ready for spraying by the good folk at Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating. They’ve been so busy over the past weeks but Graham found five minutes on Friday morning to work his magic.Poor finish wasn’t exclusive to the paint-the seat-tube was poorly reamed, scratching nice and indifferent seatposts with equal malice. Supposedly reamed to 27.0 thus preserving the integrity of relatively thin tube walls, I had designs on taking it out to 27.2 but conversation with frame builder Justin (Burls) suggests this is inadvisable. That said, he’s generously offered to clean it up for me and install a new headset into the bargain. While preserving the bike’s character, some modernisation is planned starting with the cockpit. An Ahead adaptor will allow me to enjoy the benefits of stiffer bars and a really nice set of dual pivot Ti callipers will bring stopping bang up to date.
Reasoning that an ISIS type bottom bracket and crank would not only look out of place but means retiring a perfectly worthy Stronglight crank to the spares drawer, the princely sum of £10 changed hands buying another square taper ACOR fit and forget cartridge bearing model-basically a 113mm version of that sported by the Holdsworth. It might lack glamour but remains a marked improvement over the nigh on twenty-year old FAG design it replaces.
Noting the Hutchinson tyres were now ready for pensioning off, I acquired a nice set of folding 700X23 Kevlar belted rubber-the sort that should really blast along with nominal effort. Their super supple carcass should’ve literally slipped aboard the rims but they fought back with gusto, earning my thumb a huge, pulsing blister and snapping a very nice tyre lever in two! Running seven bikes and with a stint on the trade side of the counter under my belt, I’ve changed plenty in my time but the language they induced turned so blue as to shame the Holdsworth.

Next Week: Primed & Ready For Painting

A Break In The Chain?

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:07:00 +0000

Neither shy of, nor purposefully courting controversy rumour of the hipster crowd’s desertion of the fixed fraternity in favour of another fad pleases me. The Times newspaper suggests the beautiful people are headed in the direction of a new retro revival-1950’s French style delivery bikes. Bon! This hopefully means the fixed faithful can continue enjoying the one cog as part of a wider cycling diet without approval or direction from the self appointed gurus of chic.

This might spell an end to the fashion for stripping every braze-on clean from a frameset in the name of aesthetics. I’ll confess to a pleasant indifference to conversions having cut my teeth on one some twenty years back.

Conversions make great, low maintenance winter trainers while providing a new lease of life for older but otherwise worthy bikes. Fashion can be fun but all too often it’s at cost to practicality and many fixer framesets were track inspired with no provision for rack or fender mounts. Track bikes by definition are intended for the Velodrome and have some very distinct limitations for road duties- you only need to stand on the corner of a busy London street watching the messenger wannabes wind-milling about on ridiculously tall gears sans brakes.

Conversely, we owe the hipster a degree of gratitude; afterall, they’ve been influential in driving the boom and much improved supply of frame and components. Take hubs for example, not long ago choice was limited to Maillard double fixed for budget builds or Campagnolo or Dura Ace at the opposite end. By contrast there’s now a wealth of wallet friendly, weather sealed units just right for daily road duties and the same applies to cranks and sprockets, which, frankly is just what the doctor ordered.

Clothing has become more exciting and arguably more practical-especially round town. However, while supply and demand are reasonably well matched in these contexts, this fixed fetish has pushed the price of older steel frames through the roof. Admittedly many of the gallery bikes are found unwanted and unloved, rotting in a neighbours yard, by the roadside or indeed in skips/dumpsters. I was very, very fortunate to have been gifted the Holdsworth given its relative rarity and the asking prices for very tatty examples.

Such trends are by no means exclusive to cycling and I draw parallels with the cyclical popularity of Lambretta scooters and old type one and two VW cars. Time was when basically well kempt 1500 Beetles could be had for £1,200. Now, thanks largely to the hipster/pseudo surfer crowd you’d be luck to find a wreck for £1800.

Long lived fixed as a popular, enjoyable and relatively inexpensive niche. Good riddance to messenger wannabes and anyone else for whom fashion is their only culture

Bother That Bung!!

Roadpathtoenlightenment@gmail.com (Michael Stenning) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:44:00 +0000

Things had got off to a flying start, I’d unearthed the high lustre Nitto stem with lazer etching, a bevy of compatible pursuit type bars, a little used EAI track sprocket and of course, the dynohub front wheel complete with front tyre to replace the elderly Araya that met it’s maker the week previously.

In the quiet of Saturday afternoon, I set the Holdsworth in the workstand and had a quick check, offered the spacers and stem atop the steerer-everything aligned perfectly- just a question of getting the bung in place and save for bar tape and brake calliper, the front end was complete.

The Woodman bung does away with the star fangled nut in favour of a re-useable expanding wedge, working on exactly the same principles as SFNs and the old fashioned expanders found on quill stems. Inexplicably, mine had been assembled incorrectly so a quick bit of tailored surfing confirmed the correct layout. Returning to the garage, I applied a slither of non lithium based grease to the expander wedge and threaded sections before inserting, popping spacers and bars and stem in position but alas, this was not to prove a euphoric climax…Mysteriously, the cone shaped locking nuts and metal sleeve managed to come adrift, lodging themselves firmly into the steerer tube. I had hoped to turn the fork upside-down, pass a small drift through the fork crown and tap it free-unfortunately; I had screwdrivers of correct diameter but insufficient length so the race is on to find a suitable implement and I’m now wondering if a SFN might prove the better option and in this respect, Cro-moly steerers are a godsend.
Deflated but calm, I turned my attention to the Univega. Setting in the stand, I reasoned if I was using the Nexus dynohub wheel, I might as well turn the increased resistance to good use-namely producing my own illumination. The Basta lamp gifted me a few weeks previously thoughtfully incorporates an integral switch (fortunate as I couldn’t find the Shimano unit) and so it was simply a case of trimming the wiring to correct length and plugging into the hub.
Having treated the contacts to a quick lick of Vaseline, I invited my six year old to spin the wheel. His eyes lit up as the headlamp bust into life and I explained the principles behind dynamos. He seemed very excited at the prospect of generating our own light without worrying about charge levels in Ni-Cad and Lead acid bottle batteries. I’ll be mounting a white LED as a contingency but it’ll be nice to remove some handlebar furniture!