Showing posts with label Alfine 11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alfine 11. Show all posts

Thursday 19 April 2018

Chopping n’ Changing












At the close of last week, my working fixed was struck with an infuriating phantom squeak. Cranks snugged, tight, stem bolts freshly greased, seat post cradle stripped and lightly greased, chain still sporting a filmy layer of lubricant…Still, something piped up, unannounced, and slightly unnerving.
I had wondered whether the UN55 was beginning to sing its swan song. Some gentle tugging suggested those single-sided Tiagra, pedals might be to blame. Will strip and re-grease, when time presents.
Meanwhile another grope around in the pedal box unearthed two sets of Wellgo RC 713 (Shimano SPDR homages) which feature buttery smooth, sealed bearings. One for the fixed, the others spun aboard my Univega’s cranks.     
Single sided designs aren’t the most obvious choices mixed terrain riding and less practical for click n’ go getaways on the fixed. Not that ground clearance is an issue on either machine but some additional won’t hurt. Could be one of my five-minute wonders…May even go old school, back to some first generation Shimano SPD from 1990. Watch this space…
On the testing front… There’s my test of the Vee Tire Co Baldy https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-baldy-tyres  while I rack up the miles on their Zilent cousins and of course, the Soma Supple Vitesse.
150 miles, or so in, and I’m warming to their swift, yet very compliant charms. The ride quality is very reminiscent of tubulars, gripping the tarmac liker a leach, while soaking up those light, washboard type imperfections, majestically. All without the gluing and stitching drama, associated with tubs.  
The unrelenting soggy spell consumed the finish line 1-step in 160miles, which isn’t bad for lube at the lighter end of the middleweight scale. Given the bike was grotty, I took the opportunity to strip the remainder using some neat Crankalicious Pineapple Express.  
I’m revisiting Smoove Universal chain lube to see how it performs in less taxing conditions https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/smoove-universal-chain-lube . We were also very pleasantly surprised by Crankalicious Science Friction ceramic chain lube. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/crankalicious-science-friction-cera
The frameset’s accumulated filth, easily dismissed with a dilute, though custom variant.
I hold the belief (and, some would say, an almost religious observance) that cleaning is part of riding. To be done regularly and providing surfaces sport a decent quality, protective wax, we’re talking 20-25 minutes start-to finish, no drama.
 Although fighting the compulsion to fettle and tweak, often sees this task expand, to fit the time available...
A few months back, I was looking for an IRO Rob Roy frameset for a single-speed cross project but drew a complete blank. More recently my urges tugged me in the direction of Genesis Day One.
However, these are not available as a frameset option. So I’ve decided On-One’s Pompetamine, complete with disc mounts, is the next best thing. These had a fairly short production run. Bottom line, I’m looking for a sound, if cosmetically tatty example, at the right price. So, feel free to get in touch if you’ve a large, in need of a good home. 
For those of you who’d rather be out riding, Seven Day Cyclist has teamed up with route you https://www.routeyou.com/en-gb/route/view/5046397/recreational-cycle-route/to-tan-hill-and-over-the-stang
A sudden shift to summary weather presented my first opportunity to pluck the Holdsworth from hibernation, for some serious skinny tubed, skinny-tyred fun.  
Swapping hats a moment, models continue to come to me for port-folio building/development. Jersey Jones booked me for a glamour/boudoir session, with a bit of fashion mixed in last week.
Krystal J got in touch to refresh her port-folio. Another really pleasant, 3 hour shoot.  With the wedding season just around the corner, I’m also getting approached in the context of Punjabi and other South Asian events. Contact me (Stenningphotographic@gmail.com) if you’re a model, or bride and want to discuss your requirements.