Upside Down

Having replaced the fixed gear winter/trainer’s headset, upon returning from our shakedown ride, I was despondent to discover a load of slop. A carpenter once said to me (while I was struggling with a student magazine feature) “Come back to it”. Words that have always resonated with me and usually, the most effective use of time, too.

Returning to something at a later point, the problem(s) and solutions are often obvious. Against this backdrop, I’d gone to do the supermarket food and fuel run in the KA.  

Fridge and cupboards stocked, I hopped online and looked for an exploded diagram of the FSA Orbit MX. Lo and behold, as I suspected the inscription on the lower race bearing was “upside down” when “right way up”.  

Hmm...work stand erected, wheel out, stem off. Sliding the forks out confirmed I had indeed, put the lower race bearing the wrong way up. Refitted, with an additional lick of Bearing Juice for luck, I double-checked the upper bearing-correct. 

 

Locking headset spacers make refitting stem etc that bit easier, since among other things, it’ll prevent the fork steerer from slipping out. This time round, I employed a gash 700x32c butyl tube to tether everything, while I fitted a 2mm spacer and a Dia Tech locking spacer beneath the Vecnum FreeQENCE Suspension Stem Vecnum FreeQENCE Suspension Stem | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

 

I’ve acquired two Dia Tech locking spacers, one plain, the other with a cable hanger. I’d found them bankrupt stock. Ursula’s is the only part that remains of its original build. Redundant in some respects, given I’ve gone over to disc, the locking function is to me, a serious boon.      

Back to the fixed...

Preload and stem bolts loosely set, everything felt buttery smooth and free of unwanted play. Wheel reinstated, K-Lite dynamo K-LITE ULTRA LOW DRAG DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) switch cabling retethered to the fork leg with two cable ties...Out from the stand...Front brake on while rocking the bike back and forth revealed some residual play in the bearings. A slight turn of the preload cured that.  

Stem bolts set to 5mm, rocking test repeated, all felt fine, so I quit while ahead and before obsessional neurosis set in. Anything obvious had been eradicated. A quick cleaning of the frameset with Motoverde Waterless Wash & Wax Motoverde Waterless Wash & Wax | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) before everything was repatriated to the garage.   

I’ve switched Ursula from the Muc Off Dry Lube to Momum MIC Wax Momum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which, in common with its dryMomum Mic Dry Oil Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) sibling is quick curing, can be topped up (without needing to strip the residual) and returns a decent mileage per application. This also gave opportunity to tweak the rear mech’s cable tension, since there was some jumping when riding in the small ring and under load. Little n’ often checks and tweaks are what keeps us rolling and more serious issues/breakdowns minimal.  

 

A few formative rides on the fixed suggests the Dia Tech spacer has solved the problem. Much the same story for the Teenage Dream’s reconfigured transmission. My suspicions that a 42 ring was a better fit than a 39 with the 14-24 block and returning to Time ATAC pedals better knee health is panning out nicely.  

I’ll leave the spec alone now, although how many times have, I said that... Hmm, watch this space... The weather has turned decidedly soggy, meaning I’ve switched back to Ursula and the fixed gear winter/trainer but great for testing, too.  

Aside from being relieved, I’d gone the sealed bearing route with the latter’s new headset, it's proven a wonderful opportunity to get some serious miles in with the Muc Off Waterproof Socks. There are plenty of waterproof designs on the market. Most are genuinely competent, but these seem a better fit with sportier cycling shoes. 

  

I’ll close here with my review of the Madison Roam Men’s Cargo Bib Shorts Madison Roam Men's Cargo Bib Shorts | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Steve’s test of the Chiba BioXCell Air Cycling Mitts Chiba BioXCell Air Cycling Mitts | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Mount Musing

 Something drew me to reflect upon the TRP HYRD calliper, which was languishing in the brake box. Perhaps this was prompted by my MK1 Ford Ka’s intermittently flickering brake warning light, maybe it was my elevated blood pressure being approached by people wanting me to work for free...I’ve concluded it’s my dislike of unfinished projects and on a wider level, loose ends generally. 

I don’t know everything and never will. Those who do not ask questions, do not learn...Custom, CNC machined brackets suddenly became the only idea until someone helpfully suggested a flat to IS mount adaptor.  

Fingers to keyboard, I dodged anything from the virtual flea markets since these are a lottery at the best of times. Even if they materialise accuracy of machining is often incredibly poor, so money may as well be tossed down the drain. This cheap but cheery A2Z cost a few pennies more but turned up within a few days. Alas, it also proved incompatible. Back to the drawing board. 

Another source of this inspiration was my contemplation of taking Ursula the rear disc route, too. Frame builders generally advise against this, or at least show reticence to braze mounts to steel framesets of this era. I’m certainly not going to risk a frame’s integrity or persuade a skilled frame builder to do something they are not comfortable executing. Add to that, the cost of otherwise unnecessary refinishing and the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.   

There’s a trend for converting older mountain bikes to gravel builds, complete with disc mounts and 700c tyres. Some of them are nicely, dare I say, sympathetically executed, akin to other subtle conversions. Winter trainers, or cyclocross rigs to lightweight touring/audax, older cross-country mountain bikes to drop bar tourers, or four seasons’ workhorses being good examples.  

Others, involving cutting brake bridges out to entertain bigger section 700c tyres are, in my view, extreme butchery. Rather akin to chopping houses into flats, where bodged electrics, plumbing and cheap materials seem par for the course. In case you were curious, a more traditional cyclo cross typical 32mm seems viable with 26inch mountain bike framesets.   

Back to disc brake conversion adaptors, most off-the-peg adaptors seem crude, horrible affairs.  

The only exception I’ve seen is the Brake Therapy Disc Brake Conversion Kit. However, this is no longer in production. If I found or was offered one at the right price, maybe. Otherwise, cantilevers stay. 

I replaced the straddle wire that had begun fraying while doing some other routine maintenance... This time, I’d gone for a premium quality Dia Tech wire, which, in my experience, are less prone to fraying-although super glue, crimp, or solder the ends. Powerful, progressive braking restored. Not that I engage the rear brake very often, but I like things at their best, not just operational.   

Staying with Dia Tech, I’d noted a slight tendency for Ursula’s Aheadset bearings to slacken very slightly after a few hundred miles. I concluded the best way to sort this was to reintroduce a Dia Tech cable hanger cum locking spacer.  

This works to add some additional tension, just requires a more precise adjustment, when setting the preload. I also cleaned the fork steerer and added a quick lick of grease to the upper bearing, since the opportunity presented itself.   To date, this seems to have addressed the issue. Little things, eh. 

Cooler weather gave cause for a rummage in the wardrobe, resulting in a few exclamations of “Wonder where that went!”. Most noteworthy being this DHB   Aeron Rain Defence Polartec Jacket. It’s a water-resistant softshell design reckoned ideal for temperatures between 8 and 15 degrees, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how comfortable it’s been in temperatures between 1 and 3 degrees. Admittedly, I’ve worn this Oxford Venture Windproof Gilet atop OXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) A good combination, paired with a decent quality long sleeve base layer. 

  

The sudden dip in temperature has also presented opportunity to get some miles in with the Carnac Reflective Waterproof Crab Hand Winter Gloves. Perfectly temperate between 0 and 5 degrees (I’ve worn them up to 10 degrees, but by that point, my hands were feeling a little clammy. They’re also more dexterous than I was expecting. Keys, torches and similar essentials have been easily retrieved and operated. This isn’t my experience with the more extreme “lobster mitt” types. I like these in terms of warmth, but the lack of dexterity, for me is a big turn off.  Right, time I was rounding up the buckets, brushes and bike washes ...Oh and here's my review of the Muc Off All Weather Chain Lube Muc-Off All Weather Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)