Cranking it Up

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

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.