The Teenage Dream has to be
one of the trickiest configurations where fitting full-length mudguards is concerned (fenders, should
you prefer) hence my delight when an editor sent me a pair of BBB BFD22 Slim
guards. The Dutch brand asserts these will accommodate pretty much any road biased frameset-within reason and with the sensible caveat, that some minor adaptation/compromise
may be required.
Their
video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fIB3-cyvvM) makes
fitting look incredibly straightforward but my quaint n’ contrary road build
from 1991 still had some surprises in store. Ultimately, achieving sufficient
clearance meant filing the rear mounting bracket and substituting the 25mm
B’Twin X light for a Lifeline’s virtually slick, prime armour road tyre.
I
could’ve forgone the rear’s lower section (arguably the only option for bikes
with curved seat tubes) but doing so was an aesthetic no-no. Besides, the whole
idea is to prevent the seat tube and to a greater extent, front mech and bottom
bracket shell getting blasted with dodgy, gritty water!
Having
also discovered said bike’s front hoop was suffering from a minor wibble and
flat spot (an occupational hazard given the local infrastructure’s poor
condition just now). Alan at Riverside cycle centre kindly popped it on his jig
and tamed any samba dancing tendencies within a matter of minutes-for a measly
fiver!
Fag paper clearances foxed;
aside from some minor tweaking (including some glue to achieve more secure bond
between stays and sections) the joys of a dry derriere and relatively clean
bike have been fully realised, despite the wet and windy wrath of hurricane
Katie. This photogenic couple also seemed to approve!
Matt finishes stir mixed
emotions in me. When I lived and rode in London’s less salubrious, transient
districts characterised by bedsits and brothels, flat colours were a great means
of keeping motor/cycles under a thieves’ radar.
However, it wasn’t long
before this urban warrior theme caught on commercially, thus inviting unwanted
introspection from thieves. BBB offer these in any colour you like, so long as
its stealth black that compliments contemporary and traditional road builds
very convincingly. Think I’ll add retro-reflective stickers at key points and
know I’ve some plug-in mud flaps hiding in the spares stash-somewhere...
Next phase of fleet fettling
is to replace the Teenage Dream’s fork sensor battery (computer is registering
big fat zero, though digits suitably bold) and address the Holdsworth’s headset
play. Nothing serious-just a question of adding a spacer or two and possibly
substituting the so-so expander wedge for something more substantial.
Talking of commercial, Green
Oil announced they will be joining Lee Cooper and some others in advertising
with Seven Day Cyclist. www.sevendaycyclist.com
Simon Nash has also sent us
their latest range of anti/lubes, greases, which includes SLIP-the brands first
foray into general purpose lubes. Plant based, it’s reportedly suitable for chains,
bearings, locks, hinges and other moving parts.
They also suggest its safe
on rubberised components, plastics too.
We’ll be putting them through the mill over the coming weeks and longer
term, to see how they compare with previous blends and petrochemical
competition. We’ve also received the MK3 eco-brush.
Previous versions were
extremely effective on tyres, chain rings, cassettes, hubs and other drivetrain
components. I’d shied away from paintwork and other delicate finishes, such as
silicone/polymer based handlebar coverings, so it will be interesting to see
whether the softer bristle plot can deliver all-round.
Elsewhere, my illustrator is
confident he will have brought the characters for my series of children’s
stories to life by close of April and I’m working on some new
storylines/adventures.
This trike also came under
my radar while mooching around the midlands. Seems to be based around a Reliant
engine and Honda CB750 front end-didn’t have chance to speak with the owner but
would love to know more, so will drop by another time.
