Dollars, Discs & Distractions

 

I was contacted by someone via “Up work” inviting me to write for them this week.  Keeping an open mind, I responded asking for their exact specification-sign of the times perhaps but, these sites tend to foster a race-to-the-bottom mindset where remuneration’s concerned.

A few minutes later, I received a further email offering me $17 Canadian dollars for a 1,000 word feature including photographs! "Up yours" was a tempting retort but rather than dignify this with a response, I decided stripping and cleaning the Ilpompino’s disc setup was a more positive use of my energies.

Avid’s BB7 is a markedly easier system to adjust than their justly popular BB5 but mine had become misaligned, causing the inboard pad adjuster to brush the spokes. I hadn’t taken a spill, or incurred similar trauma but a thorough back to basics exorcism seemed the most remedy.

Removing the front wheel and inspecting the 160mm Shimano rotor confirmed it was perfectly true and snug aboard the hub. Next stage was to disconnect the cable and reseat the calliper. 5mm Allen and 25 torx keys at the ready, I slackened the mounting hardware; then wound the pad adjusters out, before driving then fully home against the disc rotor. Centring the calliper is simply a matter of pushing it against the fork mount and then tightening the mounting screws.

Strictly speaking, I should’ve reconnected the cable at this point but was following my own intuitive flow, centralising the pads and double checking everything by spinning the wheel. Cable reconnected, a very gentle whisper was corrected by a quick turn of the outboard pad. Spinning the wheel and engaging the Cane Creek lever ten times to verify (and/or placate my advancing neurosis); I repatriated tools and drizzled a little more lube on the chain. Unfortunately Writer’s block was still a sitting tenant, so my attentions turned to mowing lawns before they assumed jungle status and while October still permitted.

Down time paid off, since paragraphs and inspiration flowed consistently once I’d settled back at my middle aged desktop. Four days and 100miles hence verified everything’s behaving impeccably and while I’ve a thing for fierce brakes and solid lever action, allowing fractionally more cable slack has rewarded with more progressive stopping, though pulled in anger, there’s sufficient wallop to raise the rear several inches from the ground.

That Bobbin bar wrap continues to impress with its stylish, shock absorbing properties. Tenure bare handed, even in the wet is pretty impressive too; not that I ride without gloves with any regularity.

The G-Eye2 action is another pleasant surprise and a definite improvement on its predecessor. Whether it’s a poor man’s Go Pro, in much the same sense Triumph’s GT6 was to Jaguar’s E-Type remains to be seen, although it does illustrate how far budget tech has come along in recent years.

Recording quality is good and ideal for developing video reportage skills but the Go Pro will shoot professional grade footage, whereas the G-Eye 2 is firmly in enthusiast hobbyist territory. 

Despite daily rides of 20miles plus, sometimes the walls can start metaphorically closing in. Needing some inspirational escape, I headed out in the Micra with my trusty NEX5 and stopped off at Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating.

Alongside various classic Porsche shells and a 1966 GT40 race car, the methyl chloride tank was making short work of this MG BGT’s blue 2pac paint, revealing plenty of filler and the original orange livery beneath.

This scabby but otherwise sound Specialized Rockhopper built from a Ritchey Nitanium steel alloy tubeset was also awaiting blast and pale blue powder coat makeover and certainly held my attention. I’ve always been a big fan of Specialized’s iconic steel Stump jumper and rock hopper series since first clapping eyes on them back in 1986/7. 

The romance of adventure, exploring foreign lands on a lightweight go-anywhere bicycle was an obvious draw. Then of course, the thrill of speeding along deserted singletrack, flicking around tree roots-just me, the machine and my thoughts-often fuelled by magazine contraband and rudely interrupted by a teacher’s confiscation!

Detailing suggests this one’s of 1998 vintage and while the cable run places them right in gloop’s path, I like the clean aesthetic and would be inclined to build it into a pared to the essentials 1x10 drop bar adventure bike with old school, wide arm cantilevers, fast rolling knobblies, 12-30 cassette...

Back to the future and speaking of romance, I’m due at a wedding, so will pack camera equipment into the Ka and head off to Bedfordshire.

Wrapping up for Winter

 

So, after some deliberation, I plumped for this very fetching honey coloured Bobbin bar wrap to replace the venerable Mpart. Arguably, black would’ve been more obvious given the Ilpompino’s new colour scheme but I’m rather taken with the warm, tan contrast.

Cursory inspection of the end plugs suggested it was a rebranded shop variant and one that had served me well. However, the hide seems superior-much thicker, though still very supple, so sharp effects are achievable with minimal effort and the absence of lever strips posed no problems.

Despite the strong adhesive, correction is similarly effortless, which was welcomed when doubling up at personalised points. While the end plugs looked pretty, tenure proved poor and prompted swift substitution for a set of plastic Cinelli-sorted.

Initial thoughts are of a luxurious, grippy and fatigue reducing covering that should weather reasonably well; nourished with Nikwax or similarly good quality leather proofing on a quarterly basis. On our second outing, I was convinced the tube gremlin had struck again.

A very low but persistent hiss tore through my serenity, a mere 700 metres from home. Psyching myself up for another tube swap, I was elated on discovering it was merely the sound of carbonated drink escaping my bottle valve. However, I wasted no time in plugging a small but significant nick in the Vittoria’s casing with superglue.  

There’s no such thing as too many when it comes to spare tubes, patch kits or Co2 cartridges and Murphy’s Law guarantees they’re never to hand when you need them.

More than two patches and butyl gets recycled as seat collar/headset boots, shims for lighting brackets/similar accessories. 175-2.1 inch MTB sizes are much easier to slide into place but bigger 30-38mm road sections also work reasonably well.

Confounded by the mysterious disappearance of those bought during my last decathlon dash, fastidious foraging unearthed a fully loaded repair kit, so the wounded tube has been sorted and relegated to the serviceable spares stash. I also rediscovered this handy folding stand. Lacking the outright stability of the PRO types, it’s much neater than improvising with a Perspex jug when photographing bikes.

Knog’s biggest Blinder Arc-the 640, continues to impress, with its combination of versatility and output that frankly outshines many budget models claiming much bigger numbers.

This goes to substantiate the point, that reflector, diode and lens are pivotal when talking useable light. Weather resistant to IPX6, (everything bar full blown submersion in layman’s terms), ours haven’t missed a beat when subjected to my five minute hose-pipe torture test.

This isn’t an act of vandalism, I’m not seeking to destroy these, or any other lighting system. Rather, when manufacturers claim something is waterproof, then I pursue accordingly but within reason, obviously.  

Elsewhere, wedding season here in the UK supposedly fizzled out with September’s swansong but I’m delighted to be covering some Indian ceremonies in Bedfordshire before October’s through. This month will be the last real opportunity to get some serious miles in on the “teenage dream” too; so I’ll be taking full advantage.  

 

My mother’s car port commission has also generated a steady stream of interest.

Prices start at £250 for my stock, rural scenes blown up on 5x3ft weatherproof canvasses. Bespoke works and other sizes are also welcomed-just contact me by email with your requirements and we’ll take things from there.

Continuing the photographic theme, I’m still hunting a suitable replacement Sony Alpha (Minolta pattern) body and at Seven Day Cyclist magazine, we’re recruiting interns to assist with production and marketing.