Showing posts with label Broken seat posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broken seat posts. Show all posts

Monday 18 February 2019

Saving My Maracas











Phantom squeaks have been a recurrent theme, these past weeks. Having confirmed my Univega’s Bottom bracket, left crank wasn’t on the eve of expiry, I relaxed and racked up another 200miles.

SQR brackets can be subject to a fair bit of stress-10kilos, potentially. However, they mustn’t be torqued too tight.

I decided the bracket needed moving upwards, closer to the post cradle. Part of this was aesthetic-closing the gap. However, upon removing the titanium post, I discovered (with a mix of surprise and horror) it had developed a very clear crease, which suggested failure, and with it, possible impalement.

Not something I was prepared to ignore. Decent quality posts are either 27.2 or 31.8 these days. Standardisation of this kind is generally a good thing. Keeps manufacturing costs lower and ultimately, this is reflected in prices, for the end consumer.   

However, my Univega was manufactured in 1996, when 26.0, 26,4 and 26.8 were quite common. These days, its still possible to get posts in these diameters but, these are often quite crude, and relatively hefty. There are still some titanium/similar exotica floating about online. However, as attached as I am, to the “Old girl” economics are significant, in principle and practice.

A decent 6061 post will hold the saddle up, just with a minor weight penalty. Choice was boiling down to another BBB Skyscraper. (400mm long, nice aesthetics and low weight) or a similarly worthy System EX… Then along came this Selcof… Bankrupt stock and a penny shy of £10- half the price. Decision made. 

I really rate the SQR system. However, its worth making a shim from old inner tube, to protect hosts from being scratched by the aluminium clips.

Black anodised, and dun finishes are particularly vulnerable to this sort of cosmetic damage. A straight sleeve. made from inner tube offcut worked fine.  

The post has been topped off with a Selle Italia sport gel flow saddle, which arrived for testing. I’ve found it tricky, getting a perch that really suits my derriere, on the Univega, in its present guise.

Ironically, given the bike’s relatively upright configuration, an ordinarily perfect 143mm with tends to chafe my inner thigh. The Selle Italia Sport Gel is 270mm long, 140mm wide. Narrower than might be expected, of a model claimed to offer high level performance to “occasional riders for whom time on the bike can be scarce. The Sport Gel Flow strikes the perfect balance between sporty design and total comfort, the best way to enhance your riding experience”. 

400 mixed terrain miles should give me much better insight but forty miles in, the gel padding density, shape and FEC alloy rails are a proving a good fit.   I’ve also received this Easton Pin Line EVA foam road bar tape, for testing. The Tubby tourer seems a good fit, for these duties.

The Microshift M45 rear mech is still doing the business, six years down the line. There’s little obvious “slop”, either which comes as a pleasant surprise, although there are traces of the salt monster’s caustic tongue, along the painted steel cage. I can see something like Shimano Alivio M4000 Shadow replacing it, when time comes.

As for my beloved fixed, I’ve exchanged the Axiom Grand Fondo wedge pack, for this Carradice SQR tour, which has been in my possession, some eighteen years. The SQR tour is made from waxed cotton duck, a very hard wearing, waterproof fabric. However, it’s less convenient to clean, compared with the Carradry’s ultrasonically welded PVC.

Reverting to this old friend meant forgoing my fixed gear winter/trainer’s post mounted guard. However, this isn’t a big sacrifice, given the Tour’s wide profile and partially laminated bottom, offers decent protection from rain and spray.

On the subject of grotty stuff, Steve’s reached his conclusions, regarding Oxford Product’s Mint bike wash https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-mint-bike-wash   and I’ve generally been impressed by their torque workshop stand. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-torque-workshop-stand   

Oh, and this bike beautifying bundle has just arrived from Velo 21.