Frisky, Flickable Fun & Formidable Futures?

This month I seem fixated by the letter F….

With the odd tweak or two from ones’ trusty T25 Torx driver the Ilpompino’s transformation is complete, pretty much as I’d envisaged.  Near as damn-it straight blades, those Kinesis forks and 28 spoke Shimano wheel have brought a much livelier, yet still predictable feel up front, while the Avid and Jagwire combination scrubs off the speed handsomely.

In retrospect I pruned the Jagwire’s housing on the shorter side of exacting but without impairing function There’s no binding while performing figure of eights, or similarly exaggerated turns and even with the relatively modest Campagnolo homage Tektro lever doing the pulling, modulation and feel are delightful. 

Some superficial grime on the rotors usually assists stopping prowess hence I’ll be cultivating a few weeks’ worth before any cleaner’s introduced. Another surprise has been how well 160mm rotors dissipate heat-even when they’ve been partially engaged for a mile or so at 25mph.

 Not that I’d be tempted (or frankly, stupid enough) to touch a hot rotor…

Talking of trimming, another foraging spree unearthed some, new and uncut mudguard stays. Stainless quality is yet unknown but they seem reasonably malleable and hopefully won’t breakout in a blizzard of corrosion several months’ down the line.

However, since summer is threatening to break through, the new front end has brought out a gravel bike persona, so I’m seriously tempted to remove the rear, pop on that 35mm Vittoria Randonneur hyper tyre and enjoy this aesthetic purity until September’s swansong.  

Previously I have explored the notion of obsolescence in relation to human capital and technological change. While there is a wealth of evidence suggesting that people with (desirable) transferable skillsets can leap frog into new industries and even experience upward social mobility; we are also facing a stark reality that many will literally become economic landfill as increasingly sophisticated robotic and cyborg technologies make the transition from military/defence to civilian/industrial contexts.

To that end and as an abstract, I have often pondered life with an android housekeeper/companion in preference to a dysfunctional marriage/relationship. Ah but what if said hybrid was able to override their programming; developed a more sinister consciousness and systematically launch a campaign of physical/emotional terror upon me…    

“Humans”; a drama presently being screened on channel4 explores this particular moral maze with remarkable depth and insight. Set in the present, large corporations are marketing “synths” (Synthetics) which are essentially complex androids as alternative nannies, housekeepers/personal assistants or semi-skilled labour to well- heeled domestic and commercial consumers.

There are some definite nods in the direction of Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” replicant narrative. Parallels are also apparent between “Black Mirror” (a series of chilling shorts); though this is to be expected given both are produced by the same company.  

Not all synths are created equal-a particularly high functioning group are on the run and trying to liberate their kin from this sort of servitude. Enter “Anita” a stunning mixed race Humanoid woman acquired by the husband of a loving, though clearly troubled professional family.

As time progresses she begins tapping into the lawyer mother’s deep, psychological anxieties, while systematically wooing their youngest daughter and slowly seducing her husband and teenage son. Thus far it’s highly compelling viewing, although I’m unable to watch the original showings, so am extremely grateful for the ability to watch it on demand.

Continuing with the letter H, I’ve finally found some time to focus on the Holdsworth, swapping its magnesium BBB Keo patterns for those recessed SPDR Wellgo R717 and installing the Altura Explore seat pack. With temperatures creeping towards the high 20s, it’s time to clip in and get some serious playtime in.   

Right now a different sort of scheduling demands I photograph some chains for a group test…

Front Ends & Fargo Revisited

After all the drama associated with procuring forks, callipers, wheels, rotors and hoops, I headed north to the midlands and to Coventry’s arty fargo district for some photographic inspiration. Plenty to see and further units are being built to accommodate its steady expansion. Back down south, I awoke early and decided it was time to prepare the Kinesis fork and gen up on Avid BB7’s.

The Kinesis steerer proved shorter than many I’ve come across given its racing credentials, so having double checked the measurements against the Ilpompino’s existing ITM Vista, I introduced my Cyclo cutting guide and pruned it to 23cm. Worst case scenario, I could always loose a spacer and adopt a slightly racier stance but there’s no excuse for sloppiness…

For this very reason and given my present workload, I wanted to complete this job in carefully executed stages, so tiredness didn’t lead to mistakes and/or frustration.  I was fairly confident the existing Tektro lever would pull sufficient cable, though a quick rummage through the spares draw unearthed its black, V brake cousin-which proved surplus to requirements.

On a roll, I introduced the crown race before putting the project to one-side, earmarking that evening for transplant surgery.

Everything came together without too much fuss and persuading the Avid’s to play nicely proved easier than I’d expected…After some initial cartwheeling, the state of euphoria bombed when the headset bearings proved baggier than MC Hammers’ trousers.

A new set of caged balls basted generously in white lightning crystal grease, musical spacers and a Gusset “headlock” clamping system dialled things in perfectly. For the time being I’m going to enjoy the new set up sans front mudguard, since the stays were a little short and fouling the calliper’s torque arm-causing pads to drag on the disc.

Axiom probably has a gizmo or two, which will solve this small but irritating puzzle. Failing that I’ll have to seek out something aesthetically compatible with a single stay…

Elsewhere, we’ve decided to offer Seven Day Cyclist as a free downloadable publication-starting with number 8. Back issues are also available simply by clicking on the appropriate tab: www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk

Forking Hell!!!

Having discovered (despite much fanfare on their part) the international supplier wouldn’t ship a carbon composite fork to these shores, a friendly chat with Upgrade bikes (www.upgradebikes.co.uk) secured this much nicer Kinesis model for the same money. No danger of it being obliterated by the baggage destroyers; confiscated by customs or yours truly getting clobbered for import tax and other hidden duties later along the line.

Those with a more traditional pattern are getting progressively rarer as integrated becomes virtually standard. I’m pleasantly indifferent to the humble star fangled nut, so have opted for a CNC machined expandable wedge, more commonly associated with carbon steerers instead.

With discs mainstream and increasingly ubiquitous in road circles, bolt through axles are following close behind. Rigidity is the main draw, although there’s a quiet hush (reminiscent of the dual between VHS and Betamax) as we wait to see which pattern/variant becomes industry standard. I certainly wouldn’t bet on which way the pendulum will swing but rumour suggests big S are working on something….

Rory and I also discussed the latest and extremely appealing Tripster ACE, which is a complete build. Traditionally, Kinesis have been a frameset brand marketed at experienced riders who like to brew their own a’la cart machines, whether this be upgrading a tired frameset on their commu/trainer/workhorse and using the existing components, or something more prosaic.  

Priced squarely at the Cycle to work scheme market, we’ll be putting one through its paces at Seven Day Cyclist, along with some tasty looking TRP products in the very near future. 

Talking of Big S, wheel choice has also deviated from the original script in favour of their imaginatively monikered WHFX05 hoops, which are a 28hole road/cross variant seemingly perfect for this application and bring the total cost to a reasonable £180.

However, this precludes the Avid disc, so I’ve acquired a 160mm SLX unit and hope the Avid calliper will prove compatible. Much of this will be recouped from the sale of the older ITM forks and some other unwanted components, freeing up space and capital for other, unrelated projects that are beginning, finally to take shape.

Cables are another consideration-generally speaking I’ve erred towards mid to upper end Teflon coated stainless steel fare and always keep several in stock for convenience. However, having decided on a cable operated disc, I want the very best I can get from it. I’ve always liked Jagwire cablesets, so jumped at the invitation from Moore Large (www.todayscyclist.co.uk) to test their compression-less, road elite set.

Compression-less has been around for donkey’s-well, three decades to be precise. However, the forces placed upon a gear cable are incomparable with those involved in stopping. Some brave souls experimenting with compression-less cabling soon discovered this fade free nirvana was shorter lived than Icarus’s wings.

Thankfully, manufacturers cottoned on and most seem really impressive-regardless whether disc, dual pivot, cantilever, or linear pull (V brake). Decent quality cutters are a must in any context but absolutely imperative on these relatively tough Kevlar housings.

Tempting though it is to use an existing cable as a quick reference template, compression-less housings are stiffer and require a more gradual bend, so offer up, leave some extra length-then, snip. Unless of course; you’ve money to burn.

Recent close-encounters on two wheels (and in four) have served only to intensify my already palpable contempt for poor road craft. Popular belief suggests the possession of a licence means competent to operate a vehicle with care and consideration.

However, this doesn’t take into account a pronounced culture of contempt and entitlement, which seems to remove any accountability. On the phone, texting, applying foundation, bit of blusher, reading magazines all seems perfectly reasonable activity when operating a ton plus of steel.

Perhaps there’s something particular about Thursday evenings but I’ve had two breathtakingly close encounters recently. Ironically, on both occasions, I’d left home without the Geonaute; otherwise the footage from both incidents would’ve been broadcast here, possibly via Youtube.

I’ve also acquired this resin camera mount for a quid. Build quality is vastly superior to a very similar looking big brand model costing considerably more. It’s actually designed for motorcycles, so I had hoped it would be offer a vice like, rock steady grip-no invasive vibration, slippage or camera shake. Indeed, it does and aside from the satisfaction, DIY versions almost become uneconomic.     

Poor spatial perception is no excuse for passing me, or anyone else within millimetres, regardless of the vehicle being operated. Back in the late 1990s, a heavily pregnant woman in charge of two small children strayed into my path without so much as glancing in my direction.

I happened to be riding an Indian built, single disc braked Enfield Bullet and travelling at 28mph-any faster and wouldn’t stood a cat’s chance in hell of stopping. Thankfully I did and its academic but it’s not difficult to imagine the anti-motorcyclist headlines emblazoned across the front pages of the local press, without once acknowledging the inconvenient truth.

I have another issue with the term “road rage”. Giving this set of uncontrolled and generally violent behaviours a label almost affords legitimacy-absolving people of responsibility for their own. Men in particular are encouraged to believe “losing it” is desirable and moreover, constructive…