A wonderful Christmas spent with friends and family was
rudely interrupted by Beelzebub; a particularly spiteful cold virus that killed
my appetite, induced fever, headache and the sort of hacking cough/mucus
production that would impress chain smoking shipyard weldors.
Stoicism is one of the few stereotypically British traits
in my possession, hence I ploughed ahead with January’s workload while finding
time to strip and re-grease the Ilpompino’s FSA Orbit Aheadset. These are nice
examples of the cheap but cheerful breed boasting simple, yet effective O ring
seal and caged ball bearings, explaining their popularity as OEM equipe’ on mid
range mountain bikes of similar vintage.
Quiet contemplation often invites wholesale upgrades
between holiday season and January’s pedestrian unveiling, so chances are, it comes as little surprise
to learn that I've been obsessively measuring steerer tubes and cutting
these ITM Visa down to size. Well and truly gripped by cold and carbon demons, I
wanted to avoid headset replacement having established said components were in
remarkably rude health.
Generous bastings of this lithium derived Motorex grease
greatly improved souplesse so we needed a compatible crown race and bearings,
allowing effortless swaps between composite and Cro-moly should need arise.
White brews have received very bad press in recent years resultant from their
links with galvanic corrosion (chemical reaction leading metals of different
parentage to seize solid.
Fluted alloy posts and steel framesets being notorious
examples of this process). However, these are static, bearings are perpetually
turning. Surfing unearthed Dia Compe’s suggestively monikered D cup.
Essentially it’s a CNC machined lower ensemble with simple caged ball bearings,
supposedly interchangeable with a wealth of other marques…
Vital statistics were dead ringers for the elderly FSA’s
so I wasted no time in ordering one. Next day delivery saw a friendly local
mechanic install crown race and star fangled nut, although an interference
free, buttery smooth fairytale ending necessitated pruning the Visa’s alloy
steerer by eight millimetres. Non-existent weather seals are easily overcome
with some decent marine grease and scrap inner tube engineering.
Cut a two-inch strip of redundant butyl and draw this past
the bottom cup. Lubricate bearing/surfaces generously before re-coupling the
front end and adjusting textbook stylee. Ensure makeshift seal is carefully
positioned so as to prevent road/trail spray being funnelled inside and so long
as jet washing is avoided things should remain happy for considerably
longer.
Next in line were Joshua’s slightly arthritic steerer
bearings, which hadn’t seen a mechanic since Noah was hastily constructing his
ark. An hour, lashings of lube, some agricultural utterances and a brand
spanking new Jagwire cableset later, everything looks and behaves in great
proportion.
New Year stocktaking saw patch kits and CO2 cartridges
replenished, crammed inside a 750ml tool tub along with pocket workshop and
resin tyre levers. Essentially trade bottles with broader mouths and screw top
lids, these also make superb battery caddies for home brewed high power
lighting systems but I’d recommend lining with thin pile foam in both contexts
to prevent irksome jingling over inclement surfaces.
Right then, another batch of lovely blinkies has arrived
on my doorstep, so I’m off to put them through their paces and some serious
miles on the newly reconfigured fixer. Here’s to a productive and puncture free
2013.
