Some of you may have popped by looking for something X rated, sorry to disappoint. For those of you still reading, I am referring to Ursula’s first shakedown ride. Out at 5am, I was initially cruising along with complete and serene silence. This was swiftly and rudely interrupted by a bouncing mudguard (fender) stay and then a binding disc. Slightly dejected, I whizzed the two miles home, popped Ursula away, and headed out on my fixed gear winter trainer to contemplate the root causes.
A brisk and cold ride certainly helped and reminded me why gilets, such as this Oxford Venture OXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and other cool-weather kit is necessary during the early season. Conditions where it may be bright but can be deceptively cold, especially if you need to stop for any reason.
I returned with blood and thoughts flowing. Fixed popped away, I put Ursula on the work stand and began troubleshooting/diagnostics. Having disconnected the cable and got back to basics, I concluded the issue lay with the mount. This was confirmed when I found the TRP’s escapee mount. I say escapee since it had crept beneath the box folds.
Mounts switched; caliper alignment was immediately looking sharper. I reinstated the cable, drew the lever to the bars while snugging the calipers’ Allen bolts down-belching freely to release tension...Spinning the wheel confirmed sufficient clearance at the pads and between spokes and caliper.
Repeating this several times confirmed all was well. Home straight then...I was bitterly cold by this point, mucus streaming from my nose, chill nipping at my digits but still very much in the zone.
I drew the inner wire tighter and snugged it down. Lever pumped several times, wheel spun-repeat three times listening tentatively for anything binding. Repeat once again, to appease invasive thoughts. Neurosis vanquished I reunited mudguard and fork leg with another beefy black cable tie.
A gentle, calming wave of satisfaction crept over me, inducing quiet song. Time to pack up and hit the shower-a nice warm one. Thawed, cleaned, dressed and caffeinated I ten decided the fixed’s redundant Apeman APEMAN A80 ACTION CAMERA | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) housing needed to go. I had been tempted to get another Minoura mount but since the blue CNC machined bracket was perfectly good and there were some mounts bouncing around the electricals box, I used these.
Much neater. I can either run the old but loveable Geonaute or the weather-sealed Campark. Action cameras tend to be quite poor in low light but now the dawns are sooner, this allows me to capture footage of red deer cantering across fields and similar incidentals.
Next, I decided to install a centre lock disc to the Alfine hub dynamo Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)-all was going well until I discovered the supplied lockring was a different pattern to that I’m used to (and have a tool for).
Another dive into my small parts tray-bingo, older pattern retrieved, and everything snugged down to 40nm. I also found a quick release skewer while I was there, so added a lick of grease to that before slipping it in situ.
I’ve yet to run the Alfine and new disc, staying with the Shutter Precision and bedding that rotor in, for the time being. Technically I’ve already done it, but I’ll give it a little while longer for now. 50 miles in, I had to pull the TRP cable through a little but otherwise, I’m happy with the modulation, feel, and lever travel.
