Monday 18 November 2013

Blink n' You'll Miss It







Recent weeks have literally passed with electrifying pace and being the season of ever encroaching darkness, I’ve been happily putting blinkies of varying fire-power and orientations through their paces. As with anything, there are some remarkably tall, not to mention endearing myths about power outputs. Raw figures can be very misleading. However; suggestion that 300 lumens represent sufficient navigational clout for unlit rural stuff beyond 12mph induces hyena-esque laughter from yours truly.

500 upwards is my benchmark, though while 1000+ is absolutely superb, greater sensitivity and deft dipping is required to avoid diplomatic incidents. Speaking of focus, I’m always amazed by the power of deadlines to motivate remarkable achievement. This gyroscopic effect has also resulted in progression with book chapters and other project management, which can be overlooked given competing, everyday professional/personal priorities.

Lee Cooper (http://leecoopercycles.webs.com/) dropped me an email advising the Holdsworth’s structural repair was complete- timely since I was heading to Birmingham on Friday the 15th to see Soul II Soul perform at the Town Hall. So I arranged to head up on the Thursday and leave it in a dry, locked and moreover secure location while this and photographic projects were pursued with commensurate vigour. Maldon Shot blasting & Powder Coating were generous enough to advise they had RAL 5024 in stock, inviting me to drop by with the Holdsworth when a convenient moment presented itself.

Once this stage and front end are reunited, I’ll reassemble, tweaking its original line up with alternatives hibernating in my spares bin. This can be done at my leisure (probably during the Christmas/New Year corridor) as we slide into the salty, slimier season. Judging by recent forecasts, the Univega might be sporting those spiked Schwalbe faster than originally anticipated.

Pleased to report said tubby tourer’s present configuration pleases me immensely, giving a really secure, planted feel, perfect for pacey winter reflections without feeling ponderous. Have experienced some minor slackening of the steerer bearings though-easily tackled with one’s trusty multi tool but might indicate the existing top cap/spacer arrangement needs slight revision.

Taking a totally different tack, while perfectly capable of being loquacious and building constructive professional partnerships, my personality type is one of positive introversion. Far from being constrained or shy, I am thoughtful and deploy these energies constructively wherever possible and do not suffer fools gladly. No shortage of graduates seemingly unable to string a coherent sentence together and I’m yet to meet a construction worker who couldn’t box-though fail miserably when pitted against an amateur fighter of similar weight.


Easy then, to appreciate time-trialling’s allure over massed start racing. Having originally conceived the Holdsworth with precisely this intention, I’ve been somewhat perturbed by recent proposals from Britain’s national governing body (CTT) to outlaw everything non-standard, this includes obsolete parts/frames(!) Presently it’s unclear quite how these rules might be interpreted/ enforced but this doesn’t bode well for our particular ambitions. 

For me, TTs aren’t so much about ego or glory but rather another constructive, disciplined outlet, converting negative energies into something infinitely more empowering. Right, that Chinese titanium seatpost has just arrived, heralding the Ilpompino’s imminent reconfiguration and the Univega’s tyre swap while I’m at it.  

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