Serendipity struck in the guise
of an email from Lee Cooper, inviting yours truly and Holdsworth to his
midlands based workshop for a chat. Fast-forward forty-eight hours, we were
whizzing 120 odd miles along the M1 and to Ryton on Dunsmore just south of
Coventry, a once thriving city that has
struggled with deindustrialisation and central government indifference for
several decades.
Clearly a product of his
environment, Lee is immediately likeable, extruding earthy eloquence and wry wit
typical of those who served traditional craft apprenticeships. His career began
on a work experience scheme with Triumph motorcycles, which by that stage
limped along as a cooperative until its final swansong in 1983.
A passion for grass track motorcycling
saw him assembling/repairing machines for Coventry competition motorcycles
before graduating to the blast cabinet and later bicycle frames at a local builders
in 1984. Quickly gaining enviable repute as a freelance trouble shooter meant
he was in great demand, addressing quality control issues seemingly endemic
amongst small marques during the late 1980s/early 90s. He then formed LA cycles
before branching out on his own some eight years ago.
Surveying the fracture and ruling
out other structural woes, he conjures an almost identical shell from thin air
and explores surgery in greater detail. Peering inside, tubes form an almost
interference fit, necessitating greater precision but nothing fiendishly
problematic. Refinishing will be outsourced to Maldon Shot blasting &
Powder Coating since, while a competent enameller, Lee prefers to focus on
fabrication. Business concluded; he introduced some fascinating prototypes,
including this fillet-brazed frameset designed around Shimano’s Alfine hub
system.
Tucked beside his newly acquired
lathe sat a series of freshly modified/repaired forks, rows of neatly organised
tubing, oxyacetylene cylinders and arc activated dark shield, sparking
reciprocal tales from manufacturing’s sharp end. Mindful of outstaying one’s
welcome, I bid him fond adjure’ before scooting along to a neighbouring pub and
a fruitful chat with its Landlady regarding former Peugeot employees for
another book project.
Down south, there’s been
continued pre winter fettling of one’s fleet. Tracing the Univega’s mushy rear brake to a missing cable hanger
instigated a military style search through polycarbonate storage boxes.
Forty-five minutes methodical foraging unearthed this fetching stainless steel
Salsa unit, which literally transformed modulation/feel. Said tour de spares
drawer also uncovered a 12-25 9 speed, nickel plated Sun Race cassette,
prompting this heavy duty nine speed Gusset DHS9 chain reckoned to be 20%
stronger than standard fare.
Nudging 357g, it’ll induce palpitations amongst some but is theoretically
bombproof courtesy of extensive heat treatment and oversized upper plates.
However, tool-free magic links can prove unexpectedly vulnerable so I’ll be
keeping a close eye on things over the coming weeks. Revisions to the
Ilpompino’s spec include Axiom ti and Inox cages, 1000 lumen One23 lamp since
darkness falls with alarming haste.
Carbon has long been the dominant composite but I’m increasingly enticed
by the idea of abandoning said steeds’ Topeak rack/Caradice bag for something
sleeker and post mounted. Some folks might relish the prospect of A&E
nurses picking shards from their buttocks but I’m gravitating towards Chinese
titanium offerings floating around cyberspace at mid-range 6061 prices.
Staying with the global powerhouse, fondness for pattern blinkies
requires little introduction, so imagine my delight having taken delivery of
these CE compliant GLO units from Peter Marchant (http://www.bicyclelightshop.com/).
USB charging seems almost mandatory these days, though button type
CR2032 and AA/A cells have serious advantages when it comes to touring, Audax
and reliability riding where plugging into ports isn’t an option. Initial
impressions are favourable.
Construction and weather sealing, though elementary is adequate,
contacts benefitting from a lick of silicone grease but seemingly non plussed
by prolonged cloudburst. Output is crisp as distinct from retina tickling,
grabbing attention from 150 metres but superb dynamo companions, or indeed
stocking fillers.
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