Cabinet re-shuffle

Coinciding with the arrival of some seasonal snow and freezing temperatures came this little brass bell. Mandatory on all new bikes sold on these shores, I’ve always been of the opinion that a well-timed greeting is more effective and OEM equipment on most human beings. However, this one is extremely discrete and the genuine brass (as distinct from lacquered/anodised aluminium) delivers a more convincing sound. A simple adjustable strap secured by a cross head screw embraces most handlebar diameters very nicely so I opted to mount ours just inboard of the Univega’s Ultegra bar cons.

A deft, split-second flick of one’s thumb rewards with a surprisingly audible ping-great for quiet back lanes and mingling in close proximity with pedestrians but not a lot of use against a symphony of pneumatic drills, motorised traffic and similar noise pollution endemic to busy town centres.

Will Meister has gently asked for the return of his Kontact saddle so we've reverted to the similarly high tech carbon railed Selle Italia Turbomatic. I generally revel in the comfort of cutaways but several wet weather outings aboard Izzie reminded me that full-length mudguards (Fenders) are mandatory if a cold, soggy crotch/posterior is to be avoided.

Who loves ya baby? Sorry, couldn’t resist… After several weeks’ deliberation, I’ve bitten the bullet and breezed these Schwalbe Kojak aboard the Ilpompino’s hoops.

Filling those cross-inspired clearances gives a tidier effect, while ensuring smoother passage over erratically maintained roads. In my experience, the Kojak casings are more vulnerable to thorns and similar sharps compared with some so I’ve gone all belt and braces, fitting super dependable Kenda thorn-resistant tubes.

On a roll, I tidied the cockpit, removing the long redundant nylon handlebar bag mount, freeing up sufficient room for this cutesy baby blue Knog Nerd 5. Bringing the brands 50 lumen blinkey against the stem clamp for sharper aesthetics.

Sudden onset of sabre-tooth man-flu aside, serious outings haven’t been realistic due to icy roads and the fact those otherwise superb Continental studded tyres with 42mm casings are a non starter on the Ilpompino. On-One reckon 38mm is as big as the frame will accommodate and judging by the Schwalbe, I’m inclined to agree. That said; I’d be interested to hear from anyone with an IRO Rob Roy who’s managed this particular feat.

However, the Continentals work just dandy on ultra modern disc only cross and expedition tourers so long as you had super wide section fenders, or were prepared to forgo them altogether. Seeing as snow and Ice appears to be a seasonal regularity, I might add a set of 1.9s to the Univega’s wardrobe.

Snow-specific tyres are very much a niche product and priced accordingly but those I’ve used both on bicycles an motorcycles seem to work very well indeed. True, their additional weight means they’re a little more ponderous (like you’re going to mind, negotiating road/trails resembling skating rinks!) and pride can still come before a fall-turning a wheel in anger when entering snow covered roundabouts and junctions can result in slippage, or indeed a most undignified face-plant. However, employing a smooth, steady cadence, you’ll stand a sporting chance of remaining upright and smiling.


Received several requests for “Port-folio” work of late- businesses looking to exploit the poor economic conditions to their advantage. Every so often, I might slip something to a charitable organisation so long as I am credited accordingly but unless there’s some tangible economic reward, such requests are scooped into the spam. Old school barter is something entirely different and increasingly prevalent in situations where accepting cash doesn’t solve the problem at hand. A friend recently sorted my temperamental central heating in exchange for some family portrait photography. He wielded the spanners, I got behind the lens. My house is warm, his has some new photos-simple.

Last Tuesday was another case in point. Having finished work at a neighbours’ house, our cleaner knocked at the door needing help-she’d succumbed to a rear wheel flat and didn’t know where to begin. Bottom line, a new tyre and thorn resistant tube saw her bimbling home. Sure, I actively discourage people turning up and looking for a freebie but we pay her fairly and she reciprocates so declining to help would’ve been extremely churlish. Then there are others who just help themselves...

My sister often pops in to pass out after a hard night on the giggle juice. Most mark an end to a night's excess by savouring a Kebab or similar delicacy while stood in the taxi queue but I found her trying to toast bodyform towels in the comfort of my kitchen (!)

On that note, I’m off to test this not so little box of Muc -Off goodies.

Fourteen mph... The Photographer's choice

The past few weeks riding suggest the Holdsworth’s structural integrity is very much in tact, although I shall continue to keep a discrete eye on the bottom bracket shell. However, Paul Vincent’s confident he can perform the op without too much disruption- simplicity of repair remains the greatest single advantage of traditional lugged and brazed framesets. He’s also happy to add the bottle mounts and even perform frame end surgery on the Univega too-although this will only occur when the spectre of tatty enamel comes calling. This reconfiguration is the best use of time, money and indeed storage space! Nonetheless, it doesn’t explain my sudden renewed interest in a Kona Paddy wagon. I’ve always liked the brand since the late eighties Lava Domes and Cinder Cones that remain timeless classics well-suited to the wet, soggy British climate. I had a brief flirtation with said road fixer, having reviewed the early model for a publication some three and a half years back. However, finances and storage space prohibited purchase.
A few hundred miles on and the Dhb Southsea jacket has proven its worth, resisting storms, showers and pretty much anything else our peculiar weather system chose to bestow. Being polyester and with waterproofing taking priority over breathability, the inner climate isn’t quite as comfortable as more sophisticated fabrics. Rest assured, we’re not talking mobile saunas here-it just feels a little clammy with sustained efforts in temperatures exceeding the mid teens. Nonetheless, it’s beautifully stylish, practical and represents fantastic value for money.
Continuing the theme of Lycra shy performance cycling garb are these Altura Summit ¾ length baggies. Falling just below the knee and aimed primarily at the mountain bike fraternity, they’ve a host of features useful for general riding, touring and commuting. The past few outings suggest the material is extremely hard wearing, yet very light at 280g and plenty of ventilation promises additional comfort-albeit with greater air resistance relative to road specific cuts. As usual, we’ll continue racking up the miles before reaching any hard and fast conclusions. Our first outing was something of a ride on the wilder side, comprising of secluded lanes and abandoned buildings-hence these from the saddle shots. Retro reflections coupled with some rummaging in the spares bin unearthed this old favourite- the mighty Selle Italia Turbo. This one’s seen a fair bit of service and differs from the latest re-releases in so much as the cover is genuine leather hide. Having turned saddle swapping into something of a spectator sport, I’ve returned to the design classic made popular by five times Tour De France winner, Bernard Hinault.

Firm padding and sensible width more than compensate for the additional eighty grams or so weight penalty and heralding from the same era means it compliments the nineteen-year-old frameset perfectly. There is of course one perch that might lure me away and that’s this Selle SMP offering spotted here on the Ilpompino. It might look extreme; indeed some might say a metaphor for impotence but the pressure relieving cutaway is second to none and the gateway to day long armchair comfort. Half term holidays saw Joshua and I take advantage of the warmer weather with a few longer rides on the tag-along. Long and children in the same sentence are relative but we’re talking fifteen or so miles with periodic rest stops. Aside from the Univega’s front brake gumming up and thus providing some additional resistance training (easily cured with a squirt or two of WD40 on the cables and pivot points) everything was memorable for the right reasons.
In an era when children are, by and large becoming less active for a host of reasons both social and to some extent, technological, I am trying to instill a sense of wonderment, possibility and adventure in him and to this end, heavy (especially on the climbs) the tag-along might be but it’s nonetheless a gateway to shared experiences and riding pleasure. Around the time of the Paddy Wagon, he and I were smitten with Surly’s Steamroller and had considered buying one with a flip/flop hub precisely for these duties. However, the exchange rate and import taxes put me off-IRO had a couple of machines in their range (Rob Roy and 1x1 characterised by strong brakes and sensible four season's gemoetry) during this era that also fueled my imagination. I might still partake in the IRO frameset, should one come under my radar at the right price. Ordinarily, I’d be the first to remonstrate at the very suggestion of using a fixed as a trailer tug beyond the pancake flat metropolis. However, the Steamroller is made from plain gauge Cro-moly. Sure, this doesn’t make for the most electrifying ride but offers enormous lateral stiffness, meaning it will hold its line perfectly even given the additional stresses placed by child/trailers and/or tag-alongs. More often than not, 14mph is a nice speed-fast enough to keep a sense of momentum/purpose, yet sufficiently sedate to engage with and discuss the sights, smells and world around us. As further enticement away from the lure of hand-held games consoles, a spot of compact camera upgrading saw him the proud owner of a J100. Point and shoot but with some basic manual settings and a decent optical zoom, rechargeable Li-on battery etc it should grow with his burgeoning photographic prowess. Competence with his solo fluctuates- largely dependent upon his mood and pattern of concentration at the time and while generally encouraging, I am still convinced a balance bike would break the sudden streak of uncertainty. Perhaps this new helmet and those Odi grips will spur him onwards. As for me, well Lush, a chain of handmade cosmetics retailers have put together this tub of cyclist specific goodies and to poach an expression from a huge beauty multi national “I’m worth it”.