Cockpit Viagra

Having decided on the oversized route and acquired those 31.8 Midge; serendipity took charge and presented a compatible 17degree matt black On-One stem. Admittedly, its 90 rather than 80mm but this discrepancy was easily addressed by shuffling the saddle forward, improving comfort on longer runs without denting acceleration or seated climbing prowess. Accessing said steeds’ unbranded ti post bolts proved nigh on impossible using standard pocket tools. Salvation arrived in the guise of this Z shaped giveaway unit, so beloved of flat pack furniture, which has since become a wedge pack staple on account of its prowess in awkward spaces.

Reclaiming that Spa Cycles leather handlebar wrap was another concern given the adhesive backing hadn’t aged particularly gracefully. However, even tension and a lick of electrical tape proved similarly successful. Net effect, £35 and one hour’s reprieve from business planning well spent. Wrap and lighting systems repatriated, rain of biblical proportions couldn’t dampen my enthusiasm for a fifteen mile blast. Swinging a leg over the Ilpompino’s semi sloping top tube, it took but a matter of minutes to fully appreciate the benefits of a stiffer cockpit.

While far from blancmange like, the front end now tracks beautifully, especially performing those last minute swerves around gaping potholes, opening car doors, rabid dogs, errant pedestrians and similar hazards. This rigidity enables rider effort to be poured into maintaining momentum-perfect for cantering gazelle fashion along those deceptively steep climbs when turning taller gears, powering away from the lights or demon descending. Fatigue inducing low-level vibration’s a moot point, tempered perfectly by those sensibly raked composite ITM blades.    

Thanks to their shallow drop and prodigious width, Midge lend themselves handsomely to geared ‘cross builds and mountain bike conversions too, the smaller diameter allowing effortless transplant of pre-existing thumb shifters/sti controls. Tempted? Well, Tektro produces a comprehensive, wallet friendly range of shapely aero levers catering for cantilever, linear pull and cable operated discs. Oh and unless intended recipients sport an old school quill unit; you’ll also need a loftier 25/30 degree stem.

Winter prompts more frequent post ride fettling, if only to flush away that corrosive cocktail of accumulated salt/grit with cold water. Timely then, that Green Oil’s third generation eco-sponge should land on my test bench. I’ve always been a big fan of the Brixton based brand’s range of blisteringly effective, yet genuinely planet friendly lubricant/cleaning goodies. Previous incarnations also hailed from the Philippines but their original texture proved abrasive, wounding thinner lacquers and leaving unsightly swirls in thinner/flamboyant enamels. Taking heed, Green oil has encased the matted Luffa “sponge” within a recycled cotton pillow  

Not only does this version promise to cleanse filthy steeds, they reckon it’s great for waxing/buffing duties too. Well, since proof of said product lies in the polishing, I’ll put ours through its paces on a wealth of different surfaces and provide more informed feedback several weeks hence. 

Continuing the new arrivals theme, I’ve just taken delivery of this Nexus geared flat bar Foffa Urban. More commonly associated with the fixed gear scene; it’s an interesting kettle of fish with a host of contradictions. Sneaking past 13kilos and commanding the lion’s share of £500, it’s based around an entry level Cro-moly frameset, which should resist accidental denting better than thin wall exotica. Welds are a little workmanlike in places perhaps but uniform and extremely unlikely to fail. Closer inspection reveals a properly reamed seat tube and clean bottle screws, which is heartening.

That said; internal cable guides might look minimalist, yet serve as a conduit to corrosion and there are several peculiarities reminiscent of small scale British marques twenty five years back-seatstays sporting carrier mounts but ends bereft of eyelets anyone? Then again, a 7 speed Nexus hub gives sufficient scope for commutes exceeding city limits, while keeping maintenance minimal, plain Jane components ensure it stops, goes and handles in good proportion without luring the light fingered…Let’s see what the next 500miles have in store…

    

Michael's Marvelous Frame Medicine

“Your mother who neglected you owes a million dollars tax and your father’s still perfecting ways of making ceiling wax”; I crooned while stirring a cauldron of highly flammable, magnolia broth. Aside from an impromptu deep clean of one’s domicile, last weeks’ somewhat comical bath tub capers prompted me to revisit my corrosion busting elixir first perfected some two decades back during the penultimate year of my degree.

Monty python-esque detonation of my improvised distillery (induced by a passer-by carelessly discarding their cigarette end) and subsequent mirth were to be avoided at all costs, so raw materials were decanted safely away from unidentifiable flying embers/similar sources of ignition. Ninety minutes hence, my 5 litre tub was sealed shut and left resting in a cool, dry, secure location.   

This latest, sprayable formula is characterised by higher solvent content, hastening circulation, coverage and therefore, protection of thin walled tubing. Doubting Thomas’s will scoff, asserting they’ve ridden their ferrous friends across the seven seas without faintest freckling but just as smoking tobacco doesn’t induce terminal cancer by default, prevention is much better, nay cheaper than cure-especially in coastal regions.

Talking of coastal, Harwich based frame builder, Justin Burls has been in touch, enticing me to come and play with his new mini velo. Until recently these have been something of a Japanese phenomenon but are slowly finding favour in densely populated cities on account of their size and subsequent manoeuvrability in slow moving, sardine-esque traffic.

Small (20 inch) wheels continue the compact, whippet-fast theme, enabling swift getaways, while theoretically ensuring said steeds store unobtrusively in the most bijous abodes. However, these are fixed, as distinct from folding framesets with otherwise classic road geometry.  

Justin has opted for Reynolds’ venerable 525, a justly popular tubeset loosely on par with 531 but capable of withstanding modern TIG welded construction methods. Conversely, it boasts a lugged n’ brazed seat tube, slightly reminiscent of Raleigh’s bonded Dynatec series. Elsewhere, we’ve a very contemporary 11/8^th head tube, full carbon fork and Sram Rival groupset keeping things competitive. Proof of the concept’s virtue lies in credible mileage, hence I’ll reserve judgement while remaining suitably intrigued until such opportunity presents.

Disc brakes, both hydraulic and mechanical have been standard issue in mountain bike circles for fifteen years, though mass produced, compatible racks have often seemed comparatively poor relations payload-wise. However, their increased prevalence within utility and expedition/touring markets is forcing manufacturers to respond ingeniously. 

Axiom continues to impress me with innovative, user friendly design and their Journey MK3, with colossal 50kilo payload is probably the easiest I’ve installed to date. Much of this stems from nicely engineered, interchangeable adjustable feet that accommodate most frame configurations, including those with sportier chainstays and/or sans eyelets, which often translates into heel clearance hassles with larger, expedition type panniers. 

Most tour ready models employ two-tier design, improving centre of gravity while calming neighbourly disputes with rack bags. Ours was the T6 6061 aluminium version dressed in tasteful satin black epoxy powder coat but there’s a Cro-moly sibling boasting identical, elephant ferrying capacity. Figures of this magnitude are based upon belt n’ braces four (as distinct from three) point mounting, so I’d be inclined toward a low slung mono-wheel trailer in this latter context, should one’s burden exceed twenty-five.

Given the right variables, fatigue will eventually claim any rack, although aluminium alloys succumb faster than steel. Therefore, minimise, or better still; avoid laying bikes down on their luggage and while warrantees are cold comfort should breakage strike, overloading, abuse or indeed modification risks voiding them…Having said this, something of a perpetual fettler, I have no qualms about adapting products once their warrantee period elapses, so long as such is safe and delivers genuine improvement.

Another endearing misconception is that of the developing world artisan- roadside sorcerers capable of seemingly effortless frame/carrier reunification.While theoretically easier to fix distressed Cro-moly, the sort of temperatures involved in automotive/agricultural contexts is ruinous to wafer thin walled 4130, inducing spontaneous collapse of brazed/silver soldered examples. Thus, sweeping statements about steel being repairable virtually anywhere teeter on urban myth.

Thorough product evaluation shouldn’t be confused with wanton vandalism; rather I (and many others) am concerned with how something performs according to design brief, intended purpose and of course, price. Occasionally products do fail but just as twenty minutes turbo trainer slavery cannot determine bib short/insert quality, taking a belt sander to the crotch in attempt to assess abrasion resistance in the event of a nasty spill is equally spurious.