The Plating debate

 After an unpleasant, slightly de-humanising appointment, I decided to console myself with a trip to Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating, since I was in the area. Chris was about to undertake some metallisation, but we chatted a couple of minutes before he suited up and I spotted this Dave Russell...  

Red with electroplated rear triangle and forks. Nothing particularly unusual there...Then I spotted the rear facing dropouts, derailleur hanger and the Reynolds 753 sticker adorning the seat tube...Now, there’s a lot of debate around electroplating and thin wall tube sets. I’ve seen countless Columbus tubed framesets dripping in chrome.  

Plenty of Reynolds frames from the 70’s, 80s and 90s sporting electroplated forks, chainstays and rear triangles for that matter.  Some builders even dressed 531c in the shiny stuff. Tony Oliver in his book “Touring Bikes” was particularly forthright in his disapproval and forbid chrome on his frames.  

Now, the book is around thirty-five years old- I bought a copy in 1990 “Chrome is forbidden by Reynolds on their 753 as it causes hydrogen embrittlement, a technical term for ‘it will eventually break”. Others suggest hydrogen embrittlement, like everything else in life is a matter of luck and everything will eventually break.  

I’ve seen frames disintegrate when they’ve emerged from a dunking in the methyl chloride tank. For me personally, I can appreciate the aesthetic of chrome but would opt for chrome effect powder coating, or with a new frame, stainless steel tubes in the desired areas.  

Continuing the retro theme, I happened upon this Marin Bear Valley that was earning its keep as a flat bar commuter cum tourer, while navigating a town centre. Looking at the spec and quill stem, I’m guessing mid 90s and superficially, seems in good order.  I was aways very taken with the industrial beauty of the Zolatone 2000, especially with the fluro contrasts.   

Durability was the main draw for me at the time- it reminded me of rendered brickwork and seemed to resist abrasion/impact damage incredibly well. I had wondered if the Zolotone might be a good move for Ursula. Acquiring the paint was possible, courtesy of the internet but finding a finisher who is both familiar and competent with the paint is another matter. I had approached a couple of local finishers and took their silence as either a mark of disinterest, inexperience or a combination of both.   

I was still chewing over whether I should opt for powder coating, a wet spray enamel, or 2K acrylic. Choice of colour was also under review. Dove (or similar) grey was still top of the list, but orange or indeed, another red were beginning to challenge its hegemony.  A zebra finish…. Well, if it weren’t for the additional prep and expense, perhaps…Talking Cycology Men’s Summit Lightweight Summer | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) .   I was similarly taken with the spatter effects of this era. Kona’s were allegedly designed, so riders could touch up and ultimately, create their own custom paint effects.    

Given the weather had become decidedly balmy, I prepped the Holdsworth and enjoyed some pared to the essentials tarmac fun and to mix things up a bit. I’d only regret it come October, if I didn’t. Wolf Tooth WT-1 All Conditions Chain Lube Wolf Tooth WT-1 All Conditions Chain Lub | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) doesn’t require reapplying and the detergents employed ensure it pretty much self-cleanses. Knowing this, I also switched Denise’s KMC from the Blub to Peaty’s Link Lube All Weather.  

Another hybrid design with grot shedding properties like a wax but with an oil component for lubrication and corrosion inhibition. Aside from being relatively clean and very low maintenance, though market for dry to damp conditions, its ideally suited to thew drier stuff. It's also best suited to derailleur transmissions, the Link Lube All Weather Premium is a better fit for fixed and single-speed chains and of course, geared bikes in harder service/more changeable contexts. Think audax, reliability trials, winter training and similar endurance contexts. 

This Ergon AllRoad SR Core Comp Men’s Saddle also arrived. Interestingly, it was the medium/large version, which I presumed would be a little too broad for comfort. Many of the features are shared with its baseline (but very well-made) Comp sibling. It employs the same BASF Infinergy (Thermoplastic polyurethane- E TPU, if you prefer) which, if you examine closely, is visible around the exterior. This comprises of tiny foam particles which work to filter out and displace vibrations before they start jarring the rider.  

The scooped channel is deep, but this time without the base model’s curious cutout. The base is also nylon composite and the rails 7mm hollow Cro-moly, which explains the relative (320g) heft. However, finish and detailing seem typically, dare I say Teutonic.  The pro employs carbon rails and a carbon composite base, which obviously brings the weight down and might be the way forward, if you were counting grams.  

Ergon also offers a leaf sprung design seat post, which promises to offer road bike feel with “superior suspension on rough surfaces. There are two versions, with and without layback.  On that note, I’ll close with my review of the SR All Road Ergon SR All Road Men’s Saddle | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Sinner Revamp

 

We are looking for a carbon specialist to refinish John’s beloved Velomobile body. Ideally, you’ll be based in the midlands and have a 2K paint booth big enough. Colour-wise; John’s looking for a retro-reflective yellow (think the sort of effect used in vehicle licence plates). Feel free to get in touch here, or email Michaelsevendaycyclist@gmail.com  

Grinning Through The Gloom

These Schwalbe Marathon GT tyres arrived for testing from Schwalbe UK. Ours were the narrower 35mm section- nigh on1.4 inches in old money but there’s an even beefier 38mm, which seem a fitting choice, for the latest generation of disc equipped tourer, or tarmac tamed cross/gravel bikes.

These are much faster than the legendary and justly revered Marathon. Something that is immediately obvious from the first few pedal strokes-they’re also significantly easier to mount-no tyre levers required. Stiffer sidewalls, 7mm and 68g apiece separate them from the generally likeable, uber plush Maxxis Roamer.

Their E-bike compliance is also likely to explain the additional girth, although the Schwalbe inspire greater confidence along the wet, silty lanes. The sort that seem perpetually carpeted in gooey dung, complete with thorny, talon-like hedge clippings.

They use the “Dual Guard” system. Rather than our old friends Kevlar/Aramid, Schwalbe employs a two-layer nylon casing and a further 2.5mm strip of India rubber that works like a trampoline, forcing sharps out, thus minimise the risk of a flat. Schwalbe rate it 6/7 and say it strikes the optimal balance between speed and puncture prevention, which sounds perfect for bikes in daily service.

Talking of which, sidewalls feature a reflective strip and dynamo track, adding to their appeal. 

Retro-reflective strip and the Chevron style water channelling grooves are very reminiscent of Vittoria Voyager hyper http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vittoria-voyager-hyper-tyre .

Interestingly, their profiles are slightly narrower than the faster rolling, Italian brands’ 35mm section, meaning a more comfortable fit in my winter/training fixer’s rear triangle.  

Formative impressions are very favourable. 65 miles along greasy/icy back roads suggest a quick, yet ultra dependable tyre. It’ll be at least 400 before I arrive at anything near tangible conclusions.  

Meanwhile those slushy lanes see regular post-ride rinse-overs to prevent salty, caustic stuff taking hold and moreover, nibbling away at pretty paintwork and components. I’ve got this down to around 10 minutes, including a quick, precautionary squirt of PTFE based lubes on exposed cables, pivot points and similarly sensitive mechanisms. 

I’ve also reverted to the Rock n’ Roll gold lube for more staying prowess but without the stickiness associated with traditional wet lubes.          

Decent lights are imperative during the winter months and not just the retina melting type, of which I am so very fond. Often it is the blinkies, retro-reflective and tertiary lighting that first registers on a driver’s radar. Aside from the Visijax gilet (www.visijax.com ), which continues to impress me with its presence, I’ve discovered the origins of John Moss’s preference for yellow, signal yellow to be precise.

Both his Tandem trike and Mango fairing sport this shade. Having recently changed the Velomobile’s gearing for a 2x9, thus improving efficiency overall, he’s decidedly dissatisfied with attempts to repair the scuffed nose using single pack acrylic aerosols. His godson works at the sharp end of car body repair, thus is fully equipped to apply 2K. We’ve tracked down a suitable Ford shade, so watch this space...

Elsewhere, we’re a bit further along with Graham’s GT rebuild-I’ve just introduced some cheap but cheerful, Jagwire brake cables. While Graham locates the wheels and I await derailleur cables, I’ve sanded some superficial glazing from the Alivio pads and I’m leaving those stainless steel inner wires to stretch to capacity. Then I’ll re-tension, prune and superglue the ends to stop fraying before it starts.

Premium grade cable sets, such as those Jagwire Elite presently stopping the Univega and are immune to such vices-simply tension, tighten the anchor bolts and trim to size. Budget models, though generally faithful servants benefit from a different approach.

Having set cable tension, pump brake levers ten times in succession to induce some slack. Loosen those anchor bolts, pull the inner wire through again and snug tight. I lean toward leaving them overnight and re-tensioning the next morning. They will have stretched to capacity by this point, so once tweaked, shouldn’t induce any short-soiling moments when tackling a 1in4 descent. Same basic principle applies to derailleurs. 

Right, well that’s it for this entry. Off for a chat with someone about a gravel bike...