Magic Midlands: Holdsworth in Safe Hands

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.