Joined Up Thinking

January is usually a slow month, though no excuse for coasting. Having chased a few leads, sourced products and responded to an aspiring model’s photographic request, I headed out for some serious reflection. Speeding through the winter sunlight, alert to black ice skulking beneath a thick, steaming carpet of freshly lain equine arse fruit, I contemplated braking.

Temptation to remove the Ilpompino’s rear stopper has been tempered by memories of my worn shoe cleat disengaging while hurtling down one of Surrey’s delightful 1 in 4s…One thing lead to another culminating in a barrage of ill-timed profanity as we passed a convoy of well-heeled grand/parents herding little henry/etta’s into awaiting Lexus, BMW and elderly Mercedes…

Six years and several thousand miles hence, I’m still inclined to leave this configuration completely stock given the left lever’s a convenient resting point/means of carrying a spare cable. Then of course there’s the occasional trailer coupling, necessitating a little extra prowess than afforded by cantilever and transmission alone. However, while perfectly capable of hauling Moto Guzzi motorcycle clutches fully home, I am right hand dominant and see no reason why people with reduced dexterity shouldn’t enjoy equal standards of performance/safety.

At £35 Dia Compe’s Siamese 287(T denoting tandem) seems an obvious choice, the left substituted for a composite stoker unit, shaving unwanted weight and overcoming chatter while providing useful parking for my corresponding palm. The Flat bar faithful are similarly well served by its Tech 77 siblings; although both are non-starters with integrated Sti/Ergo systems.

Mercifully Problem Solvers offer an aesthetically pleasing, CNC machined cable doubler for a very reasonable £20, though as the ride progressed I became convinced there must be a thrifty, discrete and moreover bodge free alternative… Said Eureka moment arrived in the cry of “Clutch cable junction box!!!” while overtaking a sports moped at 29mph. Perhaps unsurprisingly its pilot took such as a challenge, though no amount of wheel sucking could save his blushes.

Taking full advantage of a lofty, eighty one inch gear, I entered the descent, nudging 108rpm and 37mph. Windblast had long since muted the unmistakable two-stroke banshee howl, replaced by thoughts of upgrading the Ilpompino’s OEM 25.4 diameter cockpit in favour of its oversized and theoretically stiffer successor.

Twelve chill but uneventful miles later man and machine were safely ensconced, one rewarded with a few shots of PTFE maintenance spray, the other diesel strength coffee while purchasing this NOS (New Old Stock) Yamaha unit on ebay for the sum of £3. Now, my next project necessitates an illustrator who’ll bring some visual pizazz to my series of children’s stories, oh and best I procure a wheel jig to tame the effects of worsening local infrastructure (!)   

The (positive) Remains Of The Day

Delighted to report seasonally inclement weather has permitted extensive testing of those Schwalbe winter tyres. Tipping the scales at 998g apiece, 50epi (ends per inch) casings, Kevlar belts, tungsten carbide spikes and maximum operating pressure of 70psi denote ones designed to cope competently with the slippery season. Schwalbe recommend running them in for forty kilometres on metalled road before those studs bite predictably and I noticed some very minor cornering squirm on our maiden voyages but nowhere near change of shorts territory.

Having done so, traction on most surfaces is superb, although in common with similar designs, ice and shallow snow requires a steady, consistent riding style. More spirited acceleration; say at roundabouts and junctions can induce pregnant pauses before the spikes catch up but this wasn’t an issue at a steady 17mph along winding rural backwaters.

Once accustomed to their gravelly serenade, I rather enjoyed the training benefits of increased resistance and the smugness of knowing that stretches of iced dung were unlikely to see us clattering across the rutted carriageway in an undignified heap. Provocative over inflation and long, greasy descents couldn’t cajole shimmy or similar bad manners either, even with trailer en tow. Aramid has long been the standard by which puncture repelling casings are judged but the chevron pattern tread expels glass, flints and similarly evil debris with remarkable aplomb while Kevlar belts provide further peace of mind.

Studs wear much faster (especially in regions where snow is an occasional winter visitor) but with negligible effect, tempered by the availability of aftermarket replacements and seasonal use. At seventy odd quid, it’s tempting to suggest they’re an indulgence but means I have the option of heading out in otherwise unfavourable conditions after a hard day’s typing or temping without doing myself and/or machine a mischief. 

Continuing this theme, having heard of my recently demised levers, Paul Winn at Weldtite www.weldtite.co.uk was kind enough to send me two sets of these banana- shaped Cyclo Ezytech. Sharing striking similarity with Pedro’s, they’re made from a lightweight and supposedly super durable polymer.

Broader profiles and more aggressive scoops suggest they’re dependably tenacious with tight beads but I’m going to push the boat out and invest in the British marque’s laughably understated workshop tyre removal and fitting tool and chain rivet extractor for home duties. That said; both cool tool and Specialized EMT are still doing surprisingly well (I nearly said sterling job but that’s inappropriate given the nation’s recent credit downgrade).

    

Ever since spotting a child’s home brewed ‘cross build based around a scrap HLE Peugeot frame that had been chopped, MIG welded together and dressed in leftover paint and parts, I have wanted to create something similar for Joshua. From a purely economic standpoint, the amount of labour involved in sourcing, cutting and fusing such a Franken bike far outstrips its worth. Timely then that Frog bikes have sent me their model 62, a lightweight kids bike tipping the scales at just under ten kilos.

A TIG welded 6061 aluminium chassis (designed for 62cm inside leg), steel fork and 24-inch wheels mean it’s not only light but versatile too thanks to generous frame clearances. OEMs are 1.75 but there’s ample clearance for 1.9 knobblies and trail riding courtesy of a surprisingly lofty bottom bracket. Components are proportionally sized, addressing maters of reach, comfort and control. Transmission wise, a single ring, seven-speed twist grip system offers a decent spread of ratios without being unnecessarily complicated or hefty. However, Joshua will have the casting vote in a few weeks.

Taking an inspirational wander round the web in search of people’s bare bones budget bike builds I happened upon a blog called “Lovely Bicycle” written from a uniquely feminine perspective by a freelance consultant, designer and photographer, who embraces everything from frame building and classic roadsters to dressing beyond Lycra without being biased in any particular direction. I also admire creativity skill and entrepreneurial spirit. Something in plentiful supply at Dill Pickle gear owned and run by Emily O’Brien.

Emily is a mile-munching Massachusetts lady who not only loves pickles and Limericks but also makes a beautiful range of saddlebags; U lock totes and even mud flaps- for your fenders, or guards as we say in the UK. Well, until her (luggage) sample arrives, I’m going to upgrade the Univega’s stoppers, draft some more copy, watch a Korean film or two and scour temp land for something suitable.     

The Blow Out Before Christmas

Having replenished my supply of spare tubes and indulging the Ilpompino in a fresh set of Freedom ryder tyres, it was highly ironic that my little ford KA should succumb to the pothole boom, blowing the tyre and leaving its steel rim with a gruesome flat spot. Mercifully, Uncle Benny sent the cavalry and a local garage resurrected both in exchange for £20, which came as something of a relief.

Just the previous night, I’d narrowly averted disaster aboard said fixer while haring through those unlit lanes and debating the importance of rim brakes. Someone pumping floodwater from their land left a corpulent, inflexible blue pipe straddling the highway-suffice to say I’m eternally grateful to my 600 lumen lighting ensemble and those re-badged, wide arm Tektro cantilevers, stopping us literally eight inches from disaster!

Right, well having met my targets deadlines-wise I’ll head to the midlands and wish you all a happy Christmas.

Stripped

In between prolonged typing to an eclectic blend of Ska, Progressive rock and indeed radio4, I’ve been out sampling some lovely kit and the wonders of an unseasonably mild January. A gentle tinkling became steadily more audible, demanding a quick twenty-minute tweak of the Univega’s indexing-a not unfamiliar chore for triple set ups run year round. Budget squeezes are the default rationale’ for everything at the moment but the pothole infestation is running rampant locally- a moot point on the Univega with it’s buxom 1.75inch trail inspired Vittoria but super skinny road rubber calls for cat-like reflexes. Speaking of which, the Ilpompino’s front-end transplant might be on the backburner but I’m toying with the idea of a tyre swap-something 700x35 for super compliant passage over these inclement road surfaces and whipping the rear wheel round to take advantage of a more becoming, mid seventies gear ratio for those long, steady climbs that serve as an eloquent metaphor for life. Besides, I’ve long held an interest in massage/reflexology and look to invest in this particular discipline, although since I don’t come from a sports science or beauty therapy background, finding suitable foundation level courses is proving particularly elusive. I’ve sought out some background teaching materials for my own curiosity but need another stimulating vocation, supportive to my mainstay professions of word-smithery and lensmanship running in parallel.

Rain and slurry call for fenders and waterproofs/luggage and in this age of parental over-protectiveness, I was heartened to see a father and children commuting back from school on their bikes bedecked with fenders, racks and waterproof TPU panniers. Sadly I can’t bring you the images since photographing children outside of strictly regulated settings is deeply taboo. As both parent and image-maker, I have mixed feelings about this and understand the competing arguments.

On the one hand generic legislation has freed many, many children from highly exploitative and harmful situations but the McCarthy-esque “Perverts behind every viewfinder” is borderline ridiculous. Some of the best documentary photography capturing life and times- the morays, mood and living standards of any given era have frequently captured children playing candidly in the street. Contrast that with my own detention by Police Community Support Officers who interrogated me as to my intentions-why I was taking photographs of my own son in-spite of him smiling, waving and clearly referring to me as “Dad”.

Sure, you’d be insane to point a camera anywhere near a school without express, written consent and there have been some deeply distressing high profile cases of “photographers” using the profession to lure and groom vulnerable people but unfortunately, sections of society are ruthlessly exploiting or endangering their children through regular exposure to pornography and inappropriate adults within their kin/friendship circles. Such behaviours are all too often “normalised” within families, leading to generations of very damaged/damaging adults. Richard Ballantine’s brilliant Piccolo Bicycle Book (Sadly long out of print) had a beautifully balanced chapter steering children to recognise there are good people, bad and really bad people-to be vigilant but not paranoid. Children in particular need a gradual exposure to controlled risk in order to grow as rounded capable adults who recognise potentially dangerous people and situations; side-stepping them accordingly.
Calling in at the spray-shop, another classy looking Cro-moly mountain bike frame caught my attention. Devoid of decals, I scoured the frame ends for clues as to its identity but to no avail. This was in for a wet spray, two-pac finish since removing the cross threaded Royce titanium bottom bracket would’ve meant re-cutting the bottom bracket shell (from British to the relatively rare Italian-a common fix but make sure you buy a few bottom brackets there and then since replacements are relatively tricky to find). The alternative (assuming it had been a UN52/72 square taper pattern) is to install a pressure-fit model specifically designed for worn/stripped or otherwise damaged shells. On the subject of wet and dry stuff, the squirt chain wax has held up well to everyday riding, typically returning 180miles from each application and aside from some congealed lumps nestling between the Univega’s cassette cluster; it has the good grace to drop off once contaminated with seasonal grime.

Lipstick, Powder n' Paint

"Red lips, hair and finger-nails, I can tell you're a mean old Jezebel, let's go upstairs and read my tarot cards"...Ahem, well, here's the offending top-tube enamel imperfection in question- insignificant but annoying nonetheless. Much pleading with close female friends, siblings and the odd passer by for good measure drew little more than playful ridicule, so I boldly strolled through the doors of a well-known high street cosmetics chain and scanned the neatly aligned rows of nail varnish (quietly oblivious to periodic quizzical glances) until I happened upon this "New York Color". Not quite a perfect match (Metallic being notoriously tricky) but cures close enough on small areas. Univega's haven't been imported to these shores for a few years but should a genuine OEM colour stick come under my radar at the right price, I'll snap it up there and then. Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating's showroom was positively awash with vibrant, beautiful colours, brightening up the prospect of another day's dull but necessary temping. This glittering pearlescent livery transforms an otherwise bargain basement mid nineties Cro-moly mtb frameset into a thing of beauty. The effect is created using a "flip" powder coat and would cost around £80/90 (including VAT and blasting dependant upon whether a lacquer coat was required). These plain-gauge tubesests aren't particularly rewarding to ride but resist dents and dings better than exotica while lateral stiffness ensures dependable laden handling-especially paired with trailers/tag-alongs.The constant lockings and unlocking take their toll on a bike's livery and while mummifying the top-tube in old inner tube certainly helps, design Maestro's Knog think they have overcome this necessary evil by introducing a range of locks encased in their trademark medical-grade silicone. Pictured is their amusingly monikered mid range Kransky which occupies their " Council Estate" security rating. Complete with "strap-on" carry bracket and tipping the scales at around the kilo mark, it isn't designed to match the outright security of ABUS Steel-O Flex and similar top-flight urban defences but it's really convenient, parking up for shorter periods in prominent areas around town, on club runs, track meets etc. So far so good but we'll see how it fairs under assault from the bike thief's typical arsenal in the coming weeks... Elsewhere, the ETC cushioned cork wrap unveiled last week might just be the perfect finishing touch for long haul tourists and mile munching Audax aficionados looking to trim costs without sacrificing comfort. Generous measures also permit the use of aftermarket MARS type shock absorbing underlays (so long as you didn't mind a slightly chunky look to your cockpit). Real world performance is equally impressive, providing excellent all conditions purchase whether screaming fully laden along wet, winding descents or simply trickling through town.Prolonged rides on and sans asphalt, in gloved or bare hands suggests cushioning rivals that of more exotic polymer blends, although December was quick to leave her calling card upon our pink sample. In fairness, tickled with a medium bristled brush dipped in warm, soapy water returned ours to its original lustre but winter, cross and other bikes in hard service are better served by the more restrained red or blue variants.

Freezing conditions coupled with a modest thaw are once again wreaking havoc upon our infrastructures. Rim ruinous potholes are opening up everywhere and in light of central government spending cuts, local authorities are struggling to cope. Cushioned by two inch rubber and mtb wheels certainly helps but I've had to swerve around a few where the asphalt has seemingly opened up in slow motion!

Persistent low-level vibration succeeded in loosening the RSP Tour light mounting hardware and the recently fitted 12-25 cassette. Both easily cured using 8/10mm wrenches and this rather nifty little tool from Cyclo. Measuring 24cm long, it consumes nominal space in saddlebag or tool board and is so much nicer to use than the traditional hexagonal types thanks to superior leverage, accurate machining and rubberised handle.

Relentless testing of the Gusset 8spd chain suggests the factory lube is one of the most tenacious I've ever come across, still clinging to the links in spite of high mileages in the present climate, although mercy came in the form of Finish line's one stop cleaner and lube to coincide with tightening of the cassette body. Regular audiences will note my sporadic search for decent quality 350/400mm posts in the increasingly obscure 26.0 diameter.

Enter our old friend serendipity and some casual conversation revealed Dutch component brand BBB still offer their aptly named "Skyscraper" in extensive and more unusual sizes (25.4 through to 27.2 in point two millimetre increments). Some may baulk at the 386g weight penalty but rigidity is of greater significance on smaller mtb/other compact geometry designs-especially those that partake in tag-along slavery. Sure, there's nothing, structural or otherwise wrong with the venerable polished and lacquered Kalloy but I've happened upon this model at a very tempting price so, seeing as it coordinates perfectly with the Univega's other finishing kit...