Spring has sprung and the
Holdsworth emerged from seasonal hibernation. Much as I suspected, adding two
2mm spacers beneath the stem sorted the minute but very annoying play in the
beautifully sealed, Woodman Saturn Aheadset.
Staying with the front end,
gone are those BBB aero bars for a less cluttered cockpit; saving a few grams
while freeing up space for high power lights and other gizmos.
The bargain bin pink/black
fade bike ribbon bought originally for £2 in a clearance sale has also been
substituted for some Genetic Silicone (off-cuts from my Univega’s moustache
bars). Though delightfully easy to clean, the bike ribbon’s glossy texture is
also seriously slippery and damping doesn’t compare with mid-range modern tapes
either.
Discovered said fixer’s
colour-coordinated Knog Nerd computer display blank and unresponsive- nothing
more serious than dead CR2032 and LR44 cells; thankfully they hadn’t leaked. This
also presented an opportune moment to pop its silicone blankets in with some
training kit for a decent low temperature spruce up.
Lick of Vaseline, new cells,
recalibration and back on the bars!
This particular Nerd is a
simple, five-mode unit-easy to read and arguably all that’s needed for a general
riding, though won’t win bragging rights down the clubhouse, or deliver
in-depth scrutiny of riding performance demanded by elite racers. Backlight
would’ve come in handy too.
Nonetheless, that huge,
touch screen display is extremely clear, allowing me to focus upon maintaining
decent cadence and average speed. Accuracy, even when riding close to strong
electro-magnetic fields has been consistently good too. Not everyone’s cuppa
but works for me.
I also came across some
these grey, magnesium bodied BBB Keo pattern while undertaking a much-needed
bin/sell/keep inventory. Lightweight, low profile and slightly unusual...Temptation
to reinstate was strong but the Wellgo are lower profile, recessed cleats
permit dignified, safe walking and more importantly, don’t chew holes in very
expensive lino...
Talking of which, the old 96
Shimano patterns were looking decidedly dog-earned, so I pensioned them off
before sometimeish or dodgy dis/engagement struck with embarrassing
consequences. Besides, shoe cleat hardware is an excellent test of a
lubricant’s anti-seize properties and I’d just received Green Oil’s revised
formula Eco grease.
Like many projects, the baby
blue fixer was conceived as a simple, fun classic. I’ve always loved the road
path concept-bikes that were practical for daily service, yet equally capable
on the track.
Arguably borne from
necessity; (the average post war club rider could only afford one machine) this
genre and indeed, cycling’s mass appeal was extinguished by the abolition of
petrol rationing in 1957.
Gifted by a friend and
respected bike journalist, the frameset had been languishing unloved in a
garage, hidden behind old Land Rover parts. To complicate matters, it seemed
the garage was owned by a friend’s ex-wife, who wasn’t particularly willing to
co-operate with its release; prompting all manner of sneaky retrieval plans.
The initial brief was new
paint, 700x28c tyres, full length mudguards and a hotchpotch of carefully
selected parts to make it stop, go and handle in good proportion...However, new
bottom bracket shell, minor dent filling, and other remedial works hence, it
will remain my sunny days plaything.
Love of old steel framesets
established; you can imagine my excitement upon spotting this tatty Fuquay.
Judging by the distressed enamel, someone had either left in languishing in a
highly corrosive environment, or had been attempting a DIY paint strip using
DOT or similarly corrosive fluid.
Look closely at the seat stay, which sports some serious battle scarring. Structurally sound, the obvious solution is to
fill the affected area with brass, then sand flat prior to blasting. Metafil; an aluminium based filler is another
option and worked wonders on my Holdsworth’s corrosion induced acne.
However,
in this instance, the dents are too deep and would show in the new paintwork.
This also illustrates the importance of giving your paint-shop a ring once your
frame’s been through the blast phase...
