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)  

 

Silencing the stoppers & quieting the mind

A few weeks and 400 miles down the line, I’ve been delighted by the performance benefits offered by the Swiss Stop rotors. Oodles of stopping prowess, no squeal, or other intrusive noise. No loss of power on longer descents either and lateral stiffness means they haven’t felt whippy, when braking hard-say to avoid a mange et tois with red deer, who like to leave crossing to the last minute. They’re staying!  

Now the climate is becoming more spring-like, and the days longer, my thoughts are also turning towards getting some early morning miles in, on the Teenage Dream. When dropping the Halo White Line rim and Shutter Precision PD8 hub off with Mick Madgett, I was somewhat mesmerised by a late 70’s Mercian.  

Beautiful, with period proper components. Ok, so I’m anything but purist, though can appreciate this narrative and I was momentarily whisked back several decades. Non aero cables, down tube shifters, white bar tape.  

Contrast that with the Teenage Dream’s 531c frame, carbon fork, dual pivot calipers, Aheadset, Time ATAC pedals, Cinelli Sub 8 mini tri bars. I’ve switched the Freedom Thick slick tyre for this Schwalbe Lugano TESTED: SHWALBE LUGANO ROAD CYCLING TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com) since I noticed some formative sidewall damage.  I had planned to switch the Selle SMP Strike for a BBB Echelon but I discovered (to my astonishment) that the Echelon’s rails were incompatible with the Thompson post’s cradle. 

 

Would’ve shaved a few grams from the build. Not that the Teenage Dream could ever be described as weighty (although the original grey Look pedals I bought in February 1992, as an introduction to clipless were decidedly “solid”). Nonetheless, I still have the ARC and some similarly solid Shimano SPD from that era-which by contrast, make an appearance from time to time.   

Easter brought with it some unseasonably warm, dry weather, so rude not to whip TD off its hook, pop some wind in the tyres, a shot of Jokker 440 on the cables. It's still dark at 5 am, when I head out, so on went this Magicshine  Ray 2600 Smart Remote Bike Light, which as the name suggests, delivers 2600lumens, top whack but thankfully, there's a fair bit of tunability and I find the 1300 lumen setting provides more than enough bite for the backroads.  

A wired remote, similar to that employed by Raveman (PR 2400 USB Rechargeable Front Light with Remote RAVEMEN PR2400 FRONT LIGHT (sevendaycyclist.com) and the PR 1200 RAVEMEN PR 1200 DUAL LENS FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Concluding the lighting theme, here’s my review of the Lelumia The Beast Rear Light LELUMIA THE BEAST REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) Oh, and a reminder to check older models for battery leakage. Luckily I was able to salvage the Teenage Dreams before any damage was done-a quick shot of Jokker 440 on the contacts and fresh AAA cells saved the day. 

 

It may look like it’s straddling two decades but the bike’s specification works for me, on a very practical level. It’s still a blast to ride-on dry, sunny days, naturally. Besides, there are so many memories tied up in that frameset- it's been with me throughout my adult life and through its twists n’ turns. It was built during a recession, which I was largely sheltered from, having the good fortune of two parents with solid, well-paid careers.  

I wasn’t alone in that respect, but I had it easier than many counterparts. Over thirty years later, I’ve seen living standards and expectations for many people-even those with solid academic/vocational backgrounds fall. I’m relieved to have been able to invest in myself, parents and friends who encouraged me. Though all things are possible, and there has always been rich and poor, I never envisioned a time when there would be large numbers of people facing food insecurity.  

Not to mention the soaring costs, of this and other essentials-energy, fuel (petrol and diesel, rather than home energy per se). Some commentators have suggested the UK is on the verge of civil unrest but in practice, this is unlikely. Aside from the reversion of people’s rights to peacefully protest, the UK public tends to grumble behind closed doors, rather than take to the streets.