The past few weeks have been frustratingly slow, although there’ve been some positive developments on the Holdsworth build. The fabled carbon fibre front end has finally emerged. Carbon blades with lawyers lips bonded to a Cro-moly steerer might not be the most exotic combination but the rake should have a positive effect on handling whilst providing a harmonious marriage between classic and contemporary.
Component choice is now much less prescriptive, sure a Cinelli or Nitto quill stem oozes old school charm but an Aheadstem was my weapon of choice and going threadless means I can ditch the quill adaptor, gain a stiffer cockpit and shed a few grams into the bargain. An alloy, CNC machined Woodman with needle roller bearings takes care of steering and Justin Burls has kindly offered his services seeing as my tools are on loan. Bike builds, like racing are often metaphors for life- not everything can be done by the book and I secretly enjoy offending the dogmatism of the purists, the neurosis of the weight weenies and the hipster's clique ridden, pseudo intellectual chic. Sure, it’s nice to have a faithful period build, some weight savings will undoubtedly make you go faster and Lime Green Velocity’s may get you laid but neither I, nor my bikes are so conveniently categorised.
Elsewhere, the teenage dream, my classic road frame is getting a makeover. Receding enamel of the “lick and a promise” school of frame finishing forced my hand. Sharon loves the retro British Racing Green livery so it’s been entrusted in the care of Trevor and sons at Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating for a blast clean and 6010-powder finish.
FAG sealed units seemed like a great idea twenty years back but this is being replaced by a much stiffer ISIS configuration. Sans tool, I resorted to knocking the taper through using a two- pound mallet before judicious cup removal with a hammer and drift. However, being plastic eliminated potential damage to frame threads. 