I was contacted by someone
via “Up work” inviting me to write for them this week.
Keeping an open mind, I responded asking for their exact
specification-sign of the times perhaps but, these sites tend to foster a
race-to-the-bottom mindset where remuneration’s concerned.
A few minutes later, I
received a further email offering me $17 Canadian dollars for a 1,000 word
feature including photographs! "Up yours" was a tempting retort but rather than dignify this with a response, I decided stripping and
cleaning the Ilpompino’s disc setup was a more positive use of my energies.
Avid’s BB7 is a markedly
easier system to adjust than their justly popular BB5 but mine had become misaligned,
causing the inboard pad adjuster to brush the spokes. I hadn’t taken a spill,
or incurred similar trauma but a thorough back to basics exorcism seemed the
most remedy.
Removing the front wheel and
inspecting the 160mm Shimano rotor confirmed it was perfectly true and snug
aboard the hub. Next stage was to disconnect the cable and reseat the calliper.
5mm Allen and 25 torx keys at the ready, I slackened the mounting hardware;
then wound the pad adjusters out, before driving then fully home against the
disc rotor. Centring the calliper is simply a matter of pushing it against the
fork mount and then tightening the mounting screws.
Strictly speaking, I
should’ve reconnected the cable at this point but was following my own
intuitive flow, centralising the pads and double checking everything by
spinning the wheel. Cable reconnected, a very gentle whisper was corrected by a
quick turn of the outboard pad. Spinning the wheel and engaging the Cane Creek
lever ten times to verify (and/or placate my advancing neurosis); I repatriated
tools and drizzled a little more lube on the chain. Unfortunately Writer’s block
was still a sitting tenant, so my attentions turned to mowing lawns before they
assumed jungle status and while October still permitted.
Down time paid off, since
paragraphs and inspiration flowed consistently once I’d settled back at my
middle aged desktop. Four days and 100miles hence verified everything’s
behaving impeccably and while I’ve a thing for fierce brakes and solid lever
action, allowing fractionally more cable slack has rewarded with more
progressive stopping, though pulled in anger, there’s sufficient wallop to
raise the rear several inches from the ground.
That Bobbin bar wrap
continues to impress with its stylish, shock absorbing properties. Tenure bare
handed, even in the wet is pretty impressive too; not that I ride without
gloves with any regularity.
The G-Eye2 action is another
pleasant surprise and a definite improvement on its predecessor. Whether it’s a
poor man’s Go Pro, in much the same sense Triumph’s GT6 was to Jaguar’s E-Type
remains to be seen, although it does illustrate how far budget tech has come
along in recent years.
Recording quality is good
and ideal for developing video reportage skills but the Go Pro will shoot
professional grade footage, whereas the G-Eye 2 is firmly in enthusiast
hobbyist territory.
Despite daily rides of
20miles plus, sometimes the walls can start metaphorically closing in. Needing
some inspirational escape, I headed out in the Micra with my trusty NEX5 and
stopped off at Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating.
Alongside various classic
Porsche shells and a 1966 GT40 race car, the methyl chloride tank was making
short work of this MG BGT’s blue 2pac paint, revealing plenty of filler and the
original orange livery beneath.
This scabby but otherwise
sound Specialized Rockhopper built from a Ritchey Nitanium steel alloy tubeset
was also awaiting blast and pale blue powder coat makeover and certainly held
my attention. I’ve always been a big fan of Specialized’s iconic steel Stump
jumper and rock hopper series since first clapping eyes on them back in
1986/7.
The romance of adventure,
exploring foreign lands on a lightweight go-anywhere bicycle was an obvious
draw. Then of course, the thrill of speeding along deserted singletrack,
flicking around tree roots-just me, the machine and my thoughts-often fuelled
by magazine contraband and rudely interrupted by a teacher’s confiscation!
Detailing suggests this
one’s of 1998 vintage and while the cable run places them right in gloop’s
path, I like the clean aesthetic and would be inclined to build it into a pared
to the essentials 1x10 drop bar adventure bike with old school, wide arm
cantilevers, fast rolling knobblies, 12-30 cassette...
Back to the future and
speaking of romance, I’m due at a wedding, so will pack camera equipment into the
Ka and head off to Bedfordshire.
