The arrival of this crown
race removal tool prompted transplant surgery on the Univega. Aside from adding
a second spacer and longer headlock bolt, everything slotted together with
minimal faff.
Weighing a very reasonable 118g (by my scales) Stronglight O light LX alloy
Aheadset is nicely machined from 7075
aluminium. Annular contact bearings are another definite plus, vastly superior
to standard balls. Deliciously slick, these are popular with touring, tandem
and trike builds given their large contact area and load bearing properties.
Irrespective of genre, lower
races suffer most and pitting can occur alarmingly quickly with traditional
balls, especially those of more humble origin. By the same token, rubbishing these is
utter nonsense-high end models last years with regular servicing, stiff
greases and 25 grade balls.
Contact lip seals should
shut the door to moisture and similar ingress between overhauls and a two year
warrantee bodes extremely well. Those of a belt n’ braces persuasion might want
to slip a rubber “boot” made from a section of old mountain bike butyl, secured
with colour coordinated cable tie.
I may go this route come inspection time but
it’s less of a concern on bikes wearing full length mudguards (fenders to our
friends in the states).Ours was treated to a hearty
helping of Muc-off bio grease, which consists of “naturally derived lubricants,
anti- corrosion agents, friction modifiers, viscosity controllers and
stabilisers”.
Hmm, well colour and
consistency are reminiscent of premium grade strawberry jam, lubricant
properties seem favourable and it should be kinder to seals, skin and
rubberised components than petrochemicals. I’ll take a peek come March to see
how it compares with Teflon, Lithium and Ceramic blends.
Talking
of kindness, the curious, yet previously agreeable SR Becoz has mysteriously
started encouraging Lycra to gather intrusively-Nora Batty fashion. I initially
thought it attributable to old, saggy shorts/3/4lengths but the song remained
consistent with new pairs.
Uncomfortable,
not to mention aesthetically unflattering, I originally substituted the Becoz
for the marques’ sportier Lookin; then remembered this superb Turbomatic gel
flow team perch snoozing in a drawer. As its name suggests, this is the late
90s classic reinvented with a wealth of contemporary twists.
These
include carbon fibre rails, cutaway, variable density memory foam padding, gel
inserts and a very sturdy Lorica (faux leather) cover. 230g is seriously
impressive too and shaves a welcome 320g from the portly tourer. Seventy miles
hence and levels of support seem perfect.
Bereavements
tend to focus the mind-what is genuinely important in life and death’s
inevitability. Sorrow and mourning are the most obvious sentiments but funerals
should also celebrate someone’s life.
I only
met Mr Alturo Gandolfi on one occasion but despite advancing years and ill
health, he was one of those genuinely remarkable people who leave a lasting,
positive impression. Like scores of young men, he served in North Africa during
World War II in various capacities.
Badly injured
and left for dead, he was subsequently transferred to the UK as a prisoner of
war. Soon afterward, while chatting with a friend in the street, a young woman
caught his eye.
Bound for
Italy and speaking no English, he vowed to return and marry “That girl”. He did
and I’ve seen some beautifully preserved photographs of those formative days,
which became a happy 66year marriage.
Ending on
a completely different note, I’ve a selection of handlebar coverings and do-all
touring bikes to harvest for group testing in “Seven Day Cyclist” magazine.
Hopefully, their arrival will coincide with challenging weather conditions.
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