Laws of Attraction

Brakeless fixed gear builds belong on the track. People riding fixed, on public roads, without a front brake is a pet peeve of mine.

Being brutally honest, given the publicity surrounding Charlie Alliston (Reportedly riding a fixed gear track bike-brakeless, when he collided with a pedestrian in February 2016) I’m astonished that some riders still set their daily drivers this way.

Mainstream press coverage was anything but neutral in tone.




There are a wealth of cars and other vehicles driven with defective components and by operators, without appropriate licences or insurance. Some industry sources estimate there are as many as 216,000 uninsured car drivers. 13.4% residing in East London, where the tragic incident occurred.

Their risk/likelihood of killing, or otherwise ruining lives is considerably greater.







Nonetheless, the law is unambiguous.

It is an offence to ride on a public road without two efficient braking systems. These must apply to both wheels. Riding fixed allows the rider to regulate sped by holding off against the cranks-much better in wet, or icy conditions. A handful of front brake then, could result in a very painful and undignified face plant. That said; a lever operated brake mechanism must feature.

Now, back in the 1950s, when Velodromes packed in the crowds, it was common practice to arrive on your road-path bike, stripping it of mudguards and front brake.

Some folks carried their race wheels on sprint carriers-I still have a set and occasionally deliver/collect a freshly trued wheel this way. One of those concepts I would appreciate coming back into vogue. That said; they’re easily made from aluminium alloy-assuming you’ve got some basic engineering/metal working skills.

I digress… This particular outpouring was sparked by a Bianchi conversion spotted around Coventry’s canal basin. Aside from being badly locked and that unmistakable celeste livery, the bare fork drilling caught my eye.

Thinking back to my earlier paragraph, while unlikely, it is still possible that its owner booby trapped their  bike. Removed front calliper and Dia Compe “Dirty Harry” type lever when parking up?

ON the subject of Celeste, these Jagwire Pro-shift and Pro road brake cables have arrived on the Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.com test bench.

 

I’ve earmarked ours for my Univega, since its neutral cream livery won’t clash and there are signs of kink damage where the existing (model) enters the rear mech. Ideal opportunity to pop said tubby tourer’s wheels on the jig-a quick tension and true before winter.

Speaking of winter, we’ve also had these early winter and lobster gloves arrive from Phew.cc www.phew.cc . These are designed to bridge the gap between spring and full blown duvet type winter gloves. Their windster, windproof and breathable fabric is essentially a fleece lined polyester/nylon mix designed to keep hands temperate between 3 and 12 degrees.

I’ve only had chance to give them a cursory 20miles but was impressed by how temperate the early winter were, as the mercury slipped into single figures. Fit and dexterity are also immediately noticeable too. Flipping them over reveals subtle ulnar defending gel blobs. Grippy silicone detailing adorns the palms, thumb for improved communication with brifters. 

 

Let’s see what the next few weeks and a few hundred miles say.

Elsewhere, I’ve had another of those September inspirations. I’ve always been fond of the now seemingly defunct IRO range and specifically, their Rob Roy, which was similar in concept to On-One’s Ilpompino. https://www.flickr.com/groups/723385@N25/pool/

I had originally wanted to import a Rob Roy back in 2005 but the Ilpompino seemed a better bet all-round. Primarily this was down to concerns over import tax and of course, the baggage destroyers. Would probably bite, if I found a 54/56cm with tatty cosmetics at the right price.

This slightly scabby Peugeot competition frame also triggered my spidey-senses. Hailing from 1981, these were 531 frames in the main triangle sense, which kept prices, well, competitive!

I’ve seen a few sporting 531 part chrome forks, which look lovely. Since there is overlap between electroplate and enamel, the latter tends to flake eventually. Personally, I'd opt for a chrome effect powder coat and colour lacquer, second time round.   

Changeable weather has been perfect for testing the staying prowess of chain lube. I’m still on the first helping of TF2 ultra wax lube 330 miles hence, which is pretty good going, given these types are primarily intended for dry, dusty conditions. A full review will be coming to Seven Day Cyclist very soon. That’s it for now, off to prepare for next week’s NEC show.   

Holdsworth...The Photo Love-Story Concludes

Having meandered back from the midlands, I spent two days contemplating life, the universe and subsequent moves from the Ilpompino’s recently moulded leather perch. Persistent, near vertical climbs also had me pondering the wisdom of an 81 inch gear. Hardly certifiable but something between 72 and 76 is nearer the mark for tarmac, 63 sans asphalt-not that I’ve taken this route on said beast for several years.

Sharing obvious similarities with IRO’s now seemingly defunct “Rob Roy”; describing these as “cross mounts with track ends” is a bit over simplistic, since their loftier centres of gravity require nimbler reflexes through more technical sections compared with a standard, geared mount. Not that plummeting temperatures haven’t presented their own challenges, potholes breeding at an alarming rate and many lanes under a thick, frosty blanket, dotted with black ice.

Fixed is ideal for these contexts, since it allows the rider to hold off against the cranks, slowing the rear wheel by very subtle increments, especially in situations where engaging one’s front brake would induce a skid and subsequent painful face-plant or broken collar bone. 

Muc-off’s CF3 dry lube continues to impress with its serene tenacity and relative cleanliness, making wheel swaps and puncture purging less socially awkward. Miles per application remains a consistent 175, even through soggy stuff, although enduro’s old guard are better served by wet ceramics and cleat mechanisms seem happier with heavy-duty Teflon/PTFE sprays.

Back in the comfort of my kitchen with warmth, running water and hot beverages in seamless supply, I commenced the final stages of the Holdsworth’s reincarnation. Contrary and unpredictable aren’t adjectives usually applied to yours truly but once again, the script changed on account of the front Halo hoop’s powder coated sidewalls being inappropriate braking surfaces.

Six layers of budget electrical tape later those Miche Xpress were dressed in 23mm Specialized rubber, axles treated to a precautionary lick of crystal grease to prevent unnecessary chafing of frame ends. Diagnostics and planning complete, even the most minimal builds can present unexpected challenges. Exit stage left my trusty workshop chain splitter, choosing this crucial moment to shoot its drive pin uselessly across the tiled floor and into oblivion!

Luckily, my Axiom compact multi tool exceeded all expectations, joining ends in matrimony with incredible finesse, leaving me to drizzle some CF3 dry into its parched links before taking right magnesium Keo homage in hand and cranking things over. Awestruck at the transmissions’ refinement, I repeated this several times before introducing a quick squirt of heavy duty Teflon prep to cleat and dual pivot brake mechanisms. Cable pruning complete, I sealed its end with superglue and tweaked Tri-Bars for more ergonomic effect.

Earlier foraging unearthed this colour coordinated, albeit elementary KNOG NERD computer and pattern spoke magnet. The head unit was calibrated to 700x35, demanding twenty minutes and an online memory jog. Ordinarily, chain tugs are derigueur, the fixed equivalent of cuff-links but these otherwise exquisite NJS stamped MKS offerings were redundant since chain length dictated the wheel slotted fully home. Project complete, he can resume hibernation until spring, leaving me to focus on commissions, deadlines and related matters. 

Home-brew kits are evocative of 1970’s middle-aged suburban men with dubious taste in jumpers and facial hair. Ironic then that one’s sibling felt this nostalgic staple a fitting yuletide gift.  Recalling one or two unfortunate, shag pile ruining detonations (induced, we think by over-zealous mixing/fermentation misadventure) I commenced proceedings from the safety of my bath tub, observing measures with religious precision. 

Decanting everything sequentially, stirring as instructed, I resumed interludes of pronounced creativity/inspiration. This serenity was rudely interrupted two hours hence by a sudden, unnerving hiss. Dashing to the bathroom, I was confronted by a torrent of partially fermented brown fluid spurting uncontrollably from the exploded valve tap.

Keen to avert that notorious scene from “The Shining” where water cascades uncontrollably through the hotel’s corridors, I grasped numerous PET bottles and averted certain “cascading through the ceiling” disaster. Said receptacles can remain safely ensconced in a quiet corner, while I pursue some business leads and steal a march on 2014.