As winter slips into spring and forecasters threaten a bitterly cold Easter, I’m reflecting on the Ilpompino’s two-tone powder coated finish. Regular visitors will know that I’m a firm fan of powder coating, which is both extremely durable and these days, available in pretty much any colour you’d care to mention. Some with equally bewildering monikers too and I’m suddenly very taken with this orange....
However; overall effects and longevity are dependent on the
quality of materials and sprayer skill. Given Maldon Shotblasting and Powder
Coating (http://ctc-powder-coating.co.uk/pedal-bikes/) offer a five year
warrantee against corrosion or defects as standard, I wasn’t surprised to
discover my beloved MK2 remains resplendent.
Unlike the Teenage Dream (refinished in May 2009) the fixer
is not a fair weather member of the fleet, it serves year round and in all but
snow. Six months and a few thousand miles spent navigating slippery backwaters
carpeted in soggy dung, salt, stones and other caustic, nasties have made zero
impression.
In the interests of critical evaluation, I’ve been
uncharacteristically slack when it comes to cleaning, allowing grime, filth and
spatter to cultivate and solidify around the down tube, bottom bracket shell
and rear triangle for several weeks at a time.
With this in mind, its worth
noting that any imperfections resulting from reasonable use would be honoured
under warrantee. After all, winter, ‘cross and mountain bikes serve in contexts
where a grimy patina is to be expected. Several months’ ride-into-the-ground
neglect is not.
Do not expect a spray shop offering and enduring warrantee
to cut corners.
Critics of powder cite weight as being a major detraction
and yes, compared with a 2pac it does pile on the grams, which could be a deal
breaker for race whippets and other bikes on calorie controlled diets. This
leads some finishers to skip the zinc phosphate primer and go straight to paint
at customer request.
Many mass produced racks/accessories are painted this way as it keeps costs competitive, In the event of stone chip/similar damage, the frame/fork's parent metal is left vulnerable to the elements. Moisture can sneak beneath, the colour coat, which then peels/flakes-especially if corrosion/oxidisation has been able to thrive unnoticed.
Never ask, let alone attempt to cajole a project finisher to
do something they know to be poor practice.
Elsewhere, I’ve finally found a suitable body to replace my
elderly Sony Alpha workhorse SLR. This enables me to retain my range of Minolta
lenses, which are still quite plentiful and relatively inexpensive second hand.
In the hands-on sense, I’m fond of Sony’s A & NEX
systems but irked by the Japanese firm’s tendency to discard, or change spec,
seemingly on a whim and compelling owners to abandon or upgrade. Such practices
might be acceptable for enthusiast armatures but a sure-fire way of alienating
semi/pro audiences.
Talking of electronics, my Hudl2 tablet computer has also
gone the way of my previous KA’s exhaust baffles and arouses suspicions that
inbuilt, software induced obsolescence was responsible.
Tesco, the retail giant was quite public in its intentions to
discontinue and therefore, no longer support the range. I had it repaired under
original guarantee at the close of November and this work
carried a further 90 day warrantee.
Said Android powered device suddenly expired while I was
entering the soft corridor of sleep a few days outside of that period. Annoying
yes but lesson learned and I’ll acquire a different brand, when one presents at
the right price. Bert Wagendorp’s
“Ventoux” has just landed on the Seven Day Cyclist test bench, so I’m off for a
read before drawing up a shortlist for potential design interns...
