Forks, Spacers & A Bit of Faff

 

I decided to break fitting into two sessions. Primarily since there was quite a bit going on and am a subscriber to the measure thrice, cut once school of steerer tube pruning. After all, you can always lop a bit off, or add another spacer. You *can’t* add more fork steerer tube.(I know it is technically possible, but highly impractical, especially when it comes to aluminium alloy).    

Some will point out that you don’t need a dedicated cutting guide and, taken to its lowest common denominator this is also true. However, guides make life considerably easier and reduces the risk of potentially costly mishaps. However, a decent quality hacksaw, marker and steady hand are imperative. 

Preamble aside, having pruned the steerer to the desired length, I quit while ahead and started installation the following afternoon. I had been more conservative when cutting the steerer, so rounded up some additional spacers to compensate. Wheel removed, cable ties for mudguard (fenders), dynamo cabling and computer sensor snipped, it was time to perform the switch.  

The most complex part was juggling everything in situ (only to discover I needed to switch the spacers around). Blessing in disguise, it gave an opportunity to re-grease the Aheadset bearings (Last done six months back). Park Tool Polylube 1000 TESTED: PARK TOOL POLYLUBE 1000 LUBRICANT FOR BICYCLES (sevendaycyclist.com) to the rescue. Besides, I wanted to use the tube up, since it had burst along the seam.  

A quick lick to the Gusset Headlock’s threaded parts since I was there and shot of spray grease inside Ursula’s inner sanctum rounded things off nicely. Even doing the crude, juggle n’ lift comparison test, the new carbon set was palpably lighter than the very likeable 4130 Cro-Moly “school chair” pair.  

Everything together, pre-load set, I reintroduced the wheel and tethered cabling to the new fork leg and was just about to tether the mudguard (fender) stays when I noted a distinct lack of graceful curve. After some contemplation, it was clear that I’d need to trim the stays down a bit. I have chosen the cable tie route since this was discrete and yet stable arrangement.  

Topeak Versa mount are another alternative, although I’ve seen some riders employ “Banjo clips” commonly employed in plumbing and other applications. However, if you are going this route, regardless of fork material, make a shim from cut down inner tube to protect the finish.  

Admittedly, the mudguard’s curve isn’t as graceful as first hoped but stable and functional. I also switched this “universal” computer sensor magnet for a Cat-Eye unit. To some extent, one magnet is much the same as any other and in my experience, many have proven interchangeable. Sensors tend to be model specific, although, from time to time, I've got lucky when plundering the spares box. 

 

However, the profiles can be incompatible with some setups too thick and thus strike the disc calliper. Precisely the issue with my fixed gear winter trainer-hence the switch around. A stock of spacers always comes in handy. I’ve replenished supplies of these and some M5 bottle bolts since those belonging to my working bikes were past their prime.

 

I managed to restrain my “Child at Christmas” urges and resisted the temptation to nip out for a shakedown ride the following morning. Wanted to cast fresh eyes over everything first. Saturday came. A quick once over and I headed out for a 90-minute dawn meander.  

Formative impressions are favourable.  

Aside from a palpably lighter front end, they seem to provide a compliant ride over washboard tarmac. I pulled over at one point to tweak the Aheadset- an easy two-minute job-once I’d found my multi tool. Pondered 15mm spacer beneath the stem, for improved aesthetics and possibly tenure at that point. Went that route several days later and, famous last words, I won’t meddle with this arrangement. 

I'll leave you with my review of the Shimano MT701 GTX SPD Shoes Shimano MT701 GTX SPD Shoes | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)

The Emperor's New Forks

Plenty of excitement-of the right and wrong sort this past fortnight; continued progress with the children’s stories, a couple of hours spent interviewing Austin Vince (www.austinvince.com) leading up to his adventure travel film festival on 12-14^th August. http://www.adventuretravelfilmfestival.com/

Then along came tyres that would not mount, mechs that swung too far and of course; a “Forking hell! My blades/steerer are divorcing!!!” drama.

Thankfully; this was all sorted with a call to upgrade bikes www.upgradebikes.co.uk. Two minutes later, Rory sorted me a set of Kinesis DC37 at a very compassionate price. Two days later, they arrived at my door suitably boxed to fox the notorious parcel destroyers, along with a brand-spanking new hacksaw.

I knew I had a packet fresh, replacement blade “somewhere” but rather than wasting time, simply ordered another saw, specifically for guillotining steerer tubes. Some will argue this is unnecessary expense; most of us replace forks every-so-often.

Maybe so, but £6 pales into insignificance compared to a badly cut tube, or operator injury. Keeping two sets of wire snips is also good practice; one for everyday jobs-cutting zip ties, plastic housing, wire fencing to length etc and another specifically for inner wires-they’ll repay their investment countless times over.

Back to the forks; these are a keenly priced and relatively lightweight composite set with an alloy steerer, disc mount and 45 degree rake. Check out a full review in Seven Day Cyclist. http://www.sevendaycyclist.com/kinesis-dc37-disc-fork

Kinesis frames and forks are well made and this one seems particularly good for a budget fork; countering the perpetuating myth that composites go floppy with age, or should be arbitrarily replaced at specific intervals. Personally, I’m inclined to inspect regularly and, in the event of a serious tumble, consult a specialist and make an informed decision.

Bottom line, I’ll pension off anything dubious. The cost implications of new teeth, time off work, or the prospect of having shards of composite plucked from my derriere by an overworked and underpaid A&E nurse far exceeds that of a replacement post/handlebar/fork.

I was tempted to plump for their Crosslight. These are a slightly quirky, industrial looking 6061 set, which I’ve used to good effect on a cross inspired mtb mongrel. There's  only 70g separating them from the Dc37. 

However, while I’d describe the Crosslight as direct, rather than harsh; carbon blades translate into a more compliant ride. Ideal opportunity for headset replacement-another FSA, from the comfort of one’s kitchen, naturally. 

Talking of comfort, I am largely a MAMIL (Middle aged man in Lycra) for point to point blasts; though I’ve always had a soft spot for “messenger” longs, which are extremely practical for spirited riding, yet more suave, dare we say, socially appropriate sans bike.

Price is usually a good indicator; although I have three particular favourites are at each end of the spectrum (£25-£75). Given this backdrop, I was decidedly disappointed by another top drawer set commanding the lion’s share of £100. 

No denying their appeal sans saddle but the cut saw them ascending my thighs faster than an 80’s Columbian climber. Could just be a poor liner/short combo, so I’ll persevere for another 100miles or so before passing comment proper.

Elsewhere, I’d been eager to get my sweaty little mitts on tom-tom’s bandit action cam for some time, attracted by its spec and promise of user-friendly editing.

Suggestion that action cams, regardless of quality are serious film-making tools is misinformed. Limited focal length and sound recording quality are the most obvious limiters but they are a useful way of recording the highs n’ lows of a ride, broadcasting short, first-look promotional pieces on social media channels.

Convergence; crudely the adoption of SLR cameras for film-making and we can now edit footage without having access to professional editing suites. However, as Austin Vince pointed out during our interview; the grammar of television-the way in which stories are told remains unchanged and must be mastered first.

I’ve seen several “Uncle Bobs” produce abysmal wedding footage using completely stock, entry Level DSLRS in movie mode. Undeterred, I’m going to learn this language at my own pace, while having some uncomplicated fun with the Bandit…