Fifteen Years On...

I acquired the Holdsworth frame and period fork 15 years ago. With the help, skill and kindness of a few people, the 50's frameset underwent the first of two restorations. Road Path to Enlightenment: Primed, Painted and Restored to its Former Glory 

Road Path to Enlightenment: Blink n' You'll Miss It 

Road Path frames were versatile but with minimal compromise.  

Designed to be raced on the track, yet with geometry and clearances that allowed everyday practicalities-full length mudguards, wider tyres and geometry for predictable, yet engaging road handling.  

There was a trend for running track bikes on the road, fuelled in part by the messenger circuit, but stock, a machine designed for track is challenging on metalled roads, given the geometry, fork rake etc.

  

This did give rise to some very practical "off the peg" builds during the 2000s, including Kona's Paddy Wagon, Specialized's Langster and Surly's Steam Roller. I've a soft spot for all three, having ridden all three for a few hundred miles apiece. Of these, the Kona was most compatible with my riding style and indeed, the UK climate. The Holdsworth also signalled a new chapter in my life, the end of a loveless marriage and some might say, reclamation of self.  

There was no need to reinvent myself, I knew exactly who I was, had just been silenced and sidelined for years.  

There's more to bikes than a collection of tubes dressed in components to make them go, stop and handle well. There are miles, memories and other sentimental stuff making them unique and cherished. 

Coinciding with the fifteenth anniversary (of acquisition), I'd dropped by Maldon Shotblasting & Powder Coating, since I was in the area. Aside from a Ferrari shell awaiting blasting, and a beautifully refinished Trek gravel frameset, there was this unidentified lugged road frame hiding away in a corner.  

It had been given a protective red oxide primer coat by the owner and judging by details such as the brake bridge, cable guides and lug work, is a mid-range training frame from the 70s, possibly early 80s. Curiously, braze-ons-bottle bosses, gear levers and top tube cable guides are conspicuous by their absence.  

It was due to be blasted and refinished in a classic chrome effect/blue powder coat, which in my view is infinitely nicer than electroplating (a process tantamount to vandalism in my book and indeed, Tony Oliver's).  

The rains came- well, put more accurately, when a divine entity was washing his tandem trike, he graciously offered to wash his neighbour's tandem triplet. Roads turned to shallow rivers have taxed the otherwise refreshingly stoical Momum Mic WaxMomum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) so I've switched to Muc-Off -50c chain lube MUC-OFF -50C CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) since its thin, yet reasonably stout and attracts less dirt than a more traditional wet blend.  

One thing led to another (doesn't it always) and I found myself switching Ursula's Selle San Marco Concorde for the slightly wider (145mm) BBB Echelon, which is lighter and has a pressure-relieving cutout.  

I've also swapped the Magicshine Ray 2600 for the Ravemen PR2000, which needed some shim experimentation before I'd achieved the desired, limpet-like tenure to the Velo Orange Handlebar Accessory Mount VELO ORANGE HANDLEBAR ACCESSORY MOUNT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).  

I was also curious to see whether the PR2000 wireless switch would command its smaller stablemate. I'd had mine a few seasons, so wasn't expecting so but nothing ventured and all that...Ultimately it didn’t but worth a shot. Talking of the Ravemen, here’s Steve’s review of the Ravemen PR1400 Ravemen PR1400 Front Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Back in the late 80s and early 90s September temperatures were in the low teens, much cooler in the mornings, now we are seeing them reach the mid to high 20s in this region of the UK, which concerns me and is a topic all to itself. There have been a few mornings when the mercury’s dropped to 6 or 7 and I’ve been reaching for gilets and three-quarter lengths. Oxford Venture Windproof Gillet OXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is my default.  

Features include impressive retro-reflective panelling, four sensibly proportioned pockets (three at the rear and a zippered breast). The fluro version is my preference for murkier, overcast mornings but thanks to the retro-reflective panelling, the stealthy black counterpart is still very conspicuous.  

The only downside is that it’s not one you could tow around in a jersey pocket, should the temperature rise significantly. The Madison Freewheel Men’s Thermal Bib Tights with Pad Madison Freewheel Thermal Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) have also made a reappearance on the pre-dawn outings, supplying some welcome warmth to the knees and protection to the legs when indulging in some off-road exploration, without being overly warm. I'll leave you with my review of the Ravemen TR200 USB Rechargeable Sensored Rear Light Ravemen TR200 Rear Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

 

Great Ideas & Getaways

 Snow and ice relented, I switched to the fixed gear winter trainer to get some proper miles on the CST pairing and kept Ursula’s spikes handy, since the reprieve was thought to be short-lived.  The CST tyres are proving compliant and engaging along the wintry lanes- much as I’d hoped and expected to be honest.  

I’ve deliberately gone the mix n’ match route to ensure I can evaluate performance in precisely the same conditions. Both hold their line very reliably around slimy corners and at 70 odd psi, there’s little hum from the Pika’s knobblies. Thus far at least, their respective tread patterns aren’t attracting much muck- the sort that thorns and other sharps get lodged in.   

I wasn’t expecting trouble with the K-lite Bike packer Ultra K LITE BIKEPACKER ULTRA DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) dynamo headlamp, but it began flickering and delivering little more than a glimmer.  

Thankfully, I had the Ravemen LR 1600 Ravemen LR1600 Front Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) as backup, so switched to that during the ride and replaced the K-Lite Bike Packer Ultra for the K-Lite Ultra LD (Low Drag) counterpart. K-LITE ULTRA LOW DRAG DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) This delivers 750lumens, which is lower than the1300 generated by its sibling but in my experience, the lower drag factor means you can ride faster and get full output, most of the time.  

Then, of course, the diodes are designed for road riding and there’s less impact upon navigational clout. I’m certainly not struggling to navigate pitch-black lanes at a decent lick. This also serves to illustrate why secondary and/or backup lighting is important, especially on longer rides.   

I had been tempted by On-One's Mulo frame On-One Mulo Frame | Planet X but aside from clearance for 40mm tyres at the rear triangle, there’s too little separating it from my fixed gear winter trainer, so no indulgences. I had heard a rumour that there was a titanium prototype of the Ilpompino frameset. I’d never heard of, let alone seen one.   

Lightweight, phenomenally corrosion resistant (wouldn’t need paint)- arguably my ideal basis for a winter/trainer. When it comes to framesets with a definite road heritage, Kona Paddy Wagon is another firm favourite of mine. Clearance for 700x28c with full-length mudguards (eyelets), two sets of bottle bosses.  

I reviewed it back in 2006 Kona Paddy Wagon 06 - BikeRadar but had too much going on financially to justify indulging. Obviously, I would’ve gone the hub dynamo and high-power lamp, SQR Tour route- all stuff of the classic British training bike. Would’ve doubtless upgraded the fork for something carbon with eyelets and by now, the OEM paintwork would’ve gone, replaced with a chrome effect powder-coated base and Rosso red topcoat leaving the rear triangle “half-chromed”.    

The Carbon Tech carbon fork was cut and prepped ready for transplanting, literally the afternoon it arrived but I stopped short of installing, given I was weary and didn’t want to get “committed” at that stage.  

I also (surprise, surprise) found a TRP HYRD caliper for the right price and thought it best to install the pair together and relubricate the lower race with some Juice Lubes Bearing Juice which all told, wasn’t conducive to rushing.  

I pruned the steerer tube, added Zefal Skin Armor to the blades, protecting them from cable rub and similar damage ZEFAL SKIN ARMOR ROLL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), instated the Star Fangled Nut and quit while ahead.  

There’s often a fine line between the euphoria of accomplishment, which hides the inner fatigue and is superseded by a lingering frustration of being behind.  In terms of weight, these tip the scales at 742g, its almost 100g heavier than the Kinesis KINESIS DC37 DISC FORK | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) but I’d rather a bit of overbuild at this end of the market. 

The fixed’s VDO computer’s head mount battery was nagging me about its impending demise, so I switched that and checked some small fasteners while I was there.   

Talking of building stuff, I loaded up the KA and headed to the Welsh borders with Sharon for a festive break. We’d been wanting to see the British Ironwork Centre & Sculpture Park in Oswestry for several years and managed to catch it, before Christmas closing. We arrived with a couple of hours grace and while light was still favourable. I took these with 30mm 1.8 prime and 16mm f2.4 prime lenses bolted to Samsung NX1000 and 3000 bodies.