Life's as much about working smart as it is hard and old adages in reference to busy folk getting things done seem very colloquial at present. Falling leaves of radiant colours signal the end of trade shows and the steady procession of fresh samples wind their way to my door.
Had a wonderful email from Gary Rothera advising his order book has gone into orbit and thanking me for interviewing him for a UK title. Consequently, he’s sending me some fresh lines to play with and should temping maintain consistent cadence, I’ll pop along to Lee Cooper with the Holdsworth and have him perform replacement bottom bracket shell surgery as a Christmas pressie to myself. Obviously, “Ninja Blue” will need new livery but I’ll leave that in the capable hands of Maldon Shot blasting & powder coating.
Every so often, I get fanciful ideas about upgrading the Univega’s front end in favour of a carbon fork, disc braked configuration but monies are better invested elsewhere-last year it was replenishing tiring camera bodies/lenses and this season a laptop’s looking likely.
On the consumerables front, a sudden spike in tube munching amongst the fleet (Valve stem failure, rather than belted tyre casings not doing their stuff) has necessitated buying in of fresh stock and I might go the bulk purchase bargain route should opportunity present itself. Afterall, is there such a thing as too many when it comes to the humble butyl inner tube?
Speaking of which, replacing its ailing UN52 signalled time for a good wash and hard paste car waxing to purge grime and spray that, despite full length, portly mudguards never fails to accumulate around the fork blades, seat and chainstays. Cursory inspection also revealed a dragging cantilever arm and fraying cable. But both demons were swiftly defeated with a quick squirt of water displacer, tweaking of cable tension and of course, some superglue.
Dwindling daylight has revealed the limitations of the more powerful commuter plus 200lumen lamps with integral rechargeable li-on cells. Sure, they’ll keep pace with the suburbs and are perfectly adequate in the “being seen” sense but don’t cajole oncoming drivers into dipping their main beams. Ergo the Magicshine and its previous, quirkier incarnation will become regular features, even if they sit on the lower 450 lumen setting, delivering Audax friendly six hour run times from a single charge.
Hold the front page! I've just landed this Exposure Revo dynamo headlamp. Designed as an integrated system with the UK marque's range of hubs and rear plug in lamps, it belts out a phenomenal eight hundred lumens with nominal effort.
Ours has behaved impeccably with an Ultegra dynohub, delivering the sort of crisp, flicker free illumination perfect for navigating unlit rural backwaters at thirty and less challenging singletrack to around twenty. Oncoming SUVs dip their headlamps at around three hundred and fifty metres and some drivers even stop!
Stand light technology means the lamp remains lit for up to ten minutes when stationary coming back on stream with a quick nudge of the front wheel. Suffice to say I'm completely smitten!
Coupling this with my previous commentary on the importance of effective rider-specific illumination has me researching suitable options for the trailer.
Just when I was about to launch into rocking horse/hens’ teeth analogies, along comes Fibre Flare with their range, which looks to offer the perfect blend of surface area, output and rubberised mounting hardware.
They’re offering two mini front models designed to bolster peripheral prowess and I’m visualising three originals lain horizontally at the rear and shotgun on the side rails with two miniature white models positioned vertically at the front, thus completing the flight path runway/grotto effect handsomely.
UK law only prescribes a single, rear light but in my view, it’s insufficient and inviting a SMIDSY moment when leaving junctions. Most drivers will not be factoring in a coupling, especially those piloting lowered Saxo with thumping base and big can announcing their distinct lack of virility …
Nothing came of approaching that local publisher with my series of short children’s fiction but undeterred, preliminary discussions with another small scale company looks a little more promising, albeit tempered with a level spoonful of realism. Afterall, feedback of all kinds, not just the pretty stuff is how we progress, develop and improve-if we really want to.
