Cheese, Carbon Contemplation & Leather

 No, sorry to disappoint, these are not some newfound fetishes but now that I have your attention...I’ve been running in the fixed gear winter/trainer’s newly fitted Stronglight O-light Aheadset and tweaked the bearings twice in approximately 150 miles. Nothing obviously noteworthy in that statement. However, two sets of stem bolt heads have essentially turned to cheese, despite the use of decent tool bits and a torque wrench.  

Admittedly, the originals were a little rounded, four years down the line but the replacements I had initially plucked from small parts drawer literally turned to mush and had to be delicately extracted. To clarify, the threads were fine, it was the Allen heads that were decidedly soft.  

Disappointing, given they were supposedly stainless steel, not aluminium alloy. The latter may have some weight advantages, but decent quality stainless steel is the benchmark-unless your bikes are on extreme calorie-controlled diets.  

In this instance, titanium (proper, not the cheap as chips Chinese fare- the sort advertised as ti and £1.99 for 6 bolts) is a good bet, but remember a synthetic grease, such as White Lightning Crystal High Performance Clear Grease TESTED : WHITE LIGHTNING CRYSTAL GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com) if you’re pairing them with 6061/7005 aluminium alloys, or indeed, lightweight steel, otherwise they could forma very stubborn, galvanic bond.  

Ti to ti (in common with steel to steel and aluminium alloy to aluminium alloy) is fine with PTFE, or even lithium-based preps-it's just when you mix metals of different parentage that problems can present.  

Long story short, more rummaging in the small parts jumble trays unearthed to compatible units, which were breezed in and torqued down to 5nm. I purchased some spares online, so there’s some in reserve, but crucially, these are perfectly adequate and of reasonable quality.  

Point is, like tubes and chains, it’s good to keep a supply since they usually fail at the least convenient and arguably most frustrating time-namely when the shops closed, and a job that could have been done in a few minutes has to wait.   

While the fixed gear winter/trainers’ Kinesis carbon fork seems in good health, I’m keeping an eye out for a suitable replacement. Not that it overly complicates matters but given the frame hails from 2005, I need a traditional 1 1/8th steerer- not tapered and Q/R, not through axle. They’re still around and worst-case scenario, I’d go for a decent, lightweight 4130 cro-moly replacement, which may add a few grams but, all things being equal, will last a lifetime and without undue anxiety. Serendipity will guide for now.  

I was once described as “philosophical” by two young women I had gone to school with. It was the summer of 1990, Anette and Justine were working in a dress factory, while waiting for our exam results.  

They were hoping to join the navy. Anette’s comment was a polite way of implying that I didn’t care about the results, had little ambition, or drive. Couldn’t’ve been further from the truth. I’ve always been adept at bluffing, as a defence mechanism. I will also adapt, regardless which way the wind blows, but never lacked focus, ambition, or direction.   

Ursula and fixed gear winter/trainer both sport traditional leather saddles. Ursula this Cycles Berthoud Soulor CYCLES BERTHOUD SOULOR LEATHER SADDLE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) , the fixed, this honey Spa Cycles Aire Titanium, which is made from Australian cowhide. Both have served year-round and haven’t required anything, save for periodic “feeding” with suitable leather food, to keep the hides nourished and protected from the elements.  

Both have done many thousands of miles on both, so custom formed to my derriere.  I’ve had some nice leather bar wraps, too, including this Bobbin TESTED: BOBBIN LEATHER HANDLEBAR TALE (sevendaycyclist.com). Again, provided you’ve given the hide a periodic feeding, they should hold their looks and perform well for several years. I’d also run Brooks for several years, hell n’ high water.  

Save for some patina and fading, it racked up thousands of miles, before I replaced it. I have also dressed its bars with some store-branded leather tape for several years. Souma leather have sent me theirs to test, which was warmly appreciated. I’ve designated this one for the fixed, since Ursula had recently been upgraded to some 3.5mm thick Ergon BT Gravel Bar Tape.  

I’m still perfectly happy with the silicone adorning the Holdsworth’s drops and see no reason to replace the Kranx Stretta Primo High Grip Anti Shock KRANX STRETTA PRIMO ANTI SHOCK BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) presently dressing the Teenage Dream’s Salsa bell lap. Cyclo cross bars on a road bike???...Yes, I love drop bars on mountain bikes too, which probably goes some way to explaining my fondness for Ross Shafer’s Salsa Cycles (although he has long since sold the brand). On that note, I'll leave you with my review of the Shimano PD ED500 Pedals Shimano PD ED 500 Pedals | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

White Witches, Wrenching & Other Intrigue

The Genesis Croix de fer 2.0 has certainly cast a playful, engaging and dependable spell upon me. 180 mixed terrain miles and counting.  There’s no space for another machine and in any case, simple, squeezed economics preclude such indulgence. However, swooping through the S bends or enjoying its punchy climbing prowess conjures thoughts of building a frameset along similar lines.

I’m thinking rear facing track ends, two sets of bottle bosses, disc mounts and spacing for Alfine/similar hub transmission. This would give the option of running it fixed (packing the hub with spacers), single speed freewheel, or geared.

Cyclo cross bikes were a well-kept secret for countless years, until renewed interest in the discipline saw larger names cotton on, producing “civilian” ranges with wider gearing, mudguard/carrier eyelets, several sets of bottle bosses and similar refinements.

In many respects, the Croix de fer is a prime example of this species. Said Chimera is to cross what road path was to track-capable in competition, yet faithful weekday donkeys that will tour equally convincingly. Steel blades have been largely eclipsed in sporting terms by carbon/composites but remain extremely practical and arguably better suited to this design brief.

Short in the torso, I’m finding reach a little stretched-not painfully so and steering could never be described as barge like. Nonetheless, I’m going to see what difference a 9cm extension makes.

The past 140 miles have coincided with seasonally appropriate temperatures and challenges; though there’s been no hint of going “rubber up” due in part to the super supple 35mm Continental cyclo cross speed tyres. Designed for hard/dry courses, they’ve been surprisingly competent in soggy, churned bridle path and through leafy forest trails.

Proof that dual purpose isn’t synonymous with woefully lacking, they roll quickly over tarmac at 80psi and contribute to the “magic carpet” ride quality. I’d consider a set of these for the Ilpompino but being an earlier incarnation, its rear triangle shuts the door to anything bigger than 32mm with mudguards. 

Conversely, the Croix de fer will entertain 38mm spiked snow/ice rubber with breathing space, though playing it safe, I’d err on something 35mm like Kenda’s Klondike skinny.

Sticking with tyres in a broader context and reverting to the 90s when I lived in the capital, I found myself bitten by the “frankenbike” hybrid concept. This involved dressing an older/new old stock, upper mid-range Cro-moly XC mtb frameset in a hotchpotch of aesthetically agreeable goodies that made it stop, go and handle in decent proportion.

44/46cm Drop bars were easily acquired-cheap as chips too but patterns were decidedly conservative and a bit whippy when pushed hard.  Given  ‘Cross racing’s such a short season on these shores, many riders entered on MTBs, which were welcomed, or at least superficially most people seemed live n’ let live about things. 

Hutchinson even produced a 26x1.4 ‘cross specific model for this market. Capable, it was also decidedly niche and priced accordingly. Prior to their discovery, I also had surprisingly good results in dry to moderate conditions with WTB 26x1.5 All Terrainasaurus (£6pr NOS back in 2001).

The Univega is an extension of this concept and originally conceived for long and short haul rough stuff touring. Having upgraded its computer, subsequent test runs confirmed the head unit’s location was incompatible.

Further bin diving couldn’t retrieve a compatible bar mount, so I modified the stem-fit using Sugru putty impregnated with a powerful button magnet.  This tethers securely to the stem’s preload bolt and is effortlessly removed when performing headset strips/servicing or just locking up in the street.             

Coinciding with a bar wrap group test at Seven Day Cyclist www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk, its tainted, though extremely agreeable Lizard Skins DSP (Dura Soft Polymer) tape has been superseded by Cinelli “Chubby Ribbon”.

Claimed 30% thicker than traditional corks, there’s plenty of it, although greater density meant several revisions before pleasing, uniform effect was achieved. By contrast, this equally fetching M-part tape (M-part is Madison cycles in house brand) breezed aboard in fifteen minutes flat.

Fashioned from leather look polyurethane, its reckoned to deliver in all weathers, thus “particularly suited to daily commuters and winter bikes”. Initial impressions suggest so but in common with a few other titles, we test things for at least several weeks and a good few hundred miles before arriving at any firm, conclusive opinion. Let’s see what another 300 miles through wet, cold and fairly mucky February roads reveal….

Finally, let’s talk torque wrenches. Like track pumps, they’re not essential in the literal sense-most of us will snug something tight, guess tyre pressure when recovering from a roadside flat (though most of us carry Co2 cartridges and/or some form of gauge too). Emergencies aside, incorrect assembly tension has the very real potential to threaten life and limb via ruin components, frames and voids warrantees.  

Thankfully as prices for space age materials tumble, consumer tooling follows suit. £50 buys something like this M-Part, which comes complete with protective carry case and compliment of popular bits. Regardless of type; these are very sensitive to everyday wear n’ tear, let alone abuse, so should always be stored in their protective cases at the lowest settings.

“Click” models such as this are the most common variety. These employ a factory calibrated clutch mechanism with a pivoted head indicating when desired pressure has been achieved.  

STOP AT THE FIRST CLICK, beyond this places additional strain on the component/fastener, enticing fatigue and the risk of tool destruction (though you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise, watching some automotive fitters!!).

A consistent, mechanically sensitive technique is equally imperative. Components such as four bolt stem faces demand following a diagonal pattern to prevent stress points or stripped threads. You did introduce that lick of grease/bonding agent….        

Subversive Streak

Well the present administration, despite being so openly critical of police states and similarly repressive regimes seems determined to snoop with free abandon on the email, skype, Internet, text and telephone activities of everyone in the UK. Some folk have retaliated by infiltrating government websites or being party to other civil disobedience. Tongue firmly in cheek, I have chosen to procure a transcript of Mr Gadaffi’s Little “Green Book”. Rather akin to the ancient Sanskrit texts and Antonio Gramschi’s prison notebooks, its authenticity is somewhat questionable but interesting nonetheless. By the same token, surveillance is hardly a modern phenomenon in this country-the authorities monitored many, many people (including my late father) through the late 1950s and beyond. Many cold war installations, thought to be dormant and abandoned were anything but… Further afield, Poland and neighbouring countries are dotted with mysterious ex military bases, which I’ve always yearned to photograph but for reason or other haven’t had the opportunity. Time to badger family in these regions more convincingly perhaps…

As for Muammar, he has little to say on the subject of riding fixed, let alone perfect chainline- a shame since some gut wrenching sounds emanating from the Ilpompino’s newly appointed Gusset implied a rogue or stiff link. Stopping at a convenient point by the roadside, I whipped out the Ice tools wrench, slackened the track nuts and drew the wheel further back along the frame ends, improving chain tension-restoring serene silence and rider confidence. Cantering up to 25mph, we rejoiced in the near empty lanes and chill, spring sunshine. Dyed in the wool traditionalists will justly remark that the S link and comparable half-link brethren are notably heavier than the Miche it replaces but phenomenal rigidity is immediately apparent whether accelerating hard on the climbs, stealing away from the lights or transmission braking. For the time being, it’s dressed only in the factory drizzle, not least as thee seem notably more resilient than the aftermarket potions we put our faith in.
Elsewhere it seems there are infidels in the postal service with items taking some considerable time to arrive. Any organisation of this magnitude is likely to attract a small rogue element and the majority of postal workers are as honest as the day is long. However, things are likely to worsen thanks to widespread use of email, fax and courier services and the apparent inevitability of privatisation. Raleigh have sent me a delightful book celebrating the marques 125-year history. Some have said the brand lost out to sexier marketing but their specialist division produced some iconic top-drawer mounts through the 70s, 80’s and 90s.

Ridden to victory by professional teams, frames carried other manufacturer's decals too. Raleigh also brought Univega to these shores for a short while, although I’ve always enjoyed importing unusual frames, components and clothing from overseas for personal consumption.

Talking of the tubby ruby red tourer, something wasn’t right as I twiddled along the climbs recently. With the crank at the bottom stroke, my legs appeared correctly extended. As the miles clicked by, my suspicions were aroused-the new seat collar’s binder bolt had stretched minutely, allowing the post to creep frustratingly inside the seat tube, marking the dun finish slightly-nothing serious and easily hidden but annoying nonetheless... Shame 400mm carbon posts don’t come in 26.0 diameter. Slackening said bolt and raising the post (with contrasting zip tie marker) by fourteen millimetres and nipping everything tight with the torque wrench solved that issue and prompted a wholesale checking of its other fasteners. Want has a set of eight- speed Microshift or Sun Race brifters in its sights but need suggests another thousand miles, or ten weeks will call for a replacement bottom bracket. Only the front mech, Ultegra bar cons and headset remain of the original build. Wondering how many Alpina 506 are still whizzing along the highways and byways and moreover, in what guises, I had a quick sprint around the web, confirming a high OEM spec (Deore LX/XT) back in the day, with a few pleasingly updated in cross country mtb dress but nothing more intriguing.