Not Fade Away

We’ve experienced some technical difficulties, leading to delays, a few tense moments and bouts of hand-wringing but with concerted effort; issue 7 of Seven Day Cyclist has now hit the digital newsstands. 

There’s a review of Frog’s junior friendly R70, an everyday/touring tyre group test, interview with Col Velo’s founding fathers Rob Harwood and Will Morgan, tours and much more besides. This Brooks’ C17 Cambium women’s saddle, Topeak waterproof wedge pack and a Waltz cap have just landed on our test bench too.

Ka and I headed up to the midlands for the bank holiday weekend. Generally speaking I’m never without a camera-usually a CSC but I found myself heaping gratitude upon my Samsung WB710 super zoom “travel” compact (a faithful belt loop /nelson pocket companion for several years) when this yellow tandem trike suddenly slipped into view.

Having asked permission, the couple were only too delighted to indulge my fascination and advised it was originally a Peugeot production model they’d bought new in 1979. The Newton conversion isn’t cheap (approximately £1500) but is fashioned from fillet brazed Reynolds 531 and handles much better than cheaper kits, especially over inclement surfaces. Cable operated discs and rear hub brake appear a sufficiently powerful combination for two adults and fully laden touring trailer.

Lovely couple, fascinating build. Knowing their locale’ I’ve dropped a business card and covering note through their door in the hope we can have a more involved chat about their machine and its history. Naturally, there was also further opportunity to capture urban artwork/graffiti porn in sunny Digbeth.  

Once upon a time, I held dear the notion that machines reflect their owners. I recognise this is somewhat over-simplistic and cringe at the suggestion they are extensions of our personalities. However, with time come component upgrades, fresh liveries and modifications that reveals something of our psyche.

Professionally, its’ imperative I remain current where technology’s latest developments, monitoring trends etc. On a strictly personal level, I find people’s winter bikes/daily drivers/workhorses truly fascinating.

So then; to the Ilpompino’s front-end conversion and after careful consideration I’ve concluded the superb TRP hydraulics over-engineered for the purposes of stopping a fixer. Besides, this would push the overall cost of the project to around £300, which isn’t really justifiable on an in-house 4130 cro-moly chassis.

The revised line up consists of user-friendly cable operated Avid BB7 with 160mm disc, which theoretically disperse heat and counteract fade better than their 140mm counterparts.

The front hoop will be an M-part Mavic/ Alex rim and Shimano M525 hub. Despite some concerted efforts to find some suitable forks on these shores, I’ll be importing some ‘cross friendly oversized carbon from the states. Then again, I’m a contrary figure, so spec remains subject to change without notice!