Pedalling Contradictions

Some rides flow seamlessly while others have very clearly defined beginnings, middles and ends-Sunday's mid morning meander being a case in point. With the strong autumn sun calling it was time for Ninja Blue and I to take advantage of the temperate conditions before weather more characteristic of the season took hold. Ninja Blue is my pet name for the Holdsworth-there's a long sentimental story underlying this curious moniker and maybe someday I'll share it.

Gliding through the village, attune to traffic conditions, yet equally consumed by my thoughts, we turned right into the tight and winding back roads to a warm "Alright mate!". Caught by surprise, I must've seemed unnecessarily aloof bordering on discourteous realising the second of two road riders was in fact addressing me. Tongue and manners rediscovered I managed a polite "Yourself?" before his "Yeah, not bad" concluded our dialogue.

My disconnected response left a twinge of guilt but then: I was in one of those very quiet modes that typify me-times calling for steady cadence, reflection and inner peace. Bowling along the lanes saw periodic encounter with kindred spirits before confronting Little Mountains Road. My ego whispered of how I flew up here in my teens-fixed or freewheel and mercifully powering a 79 inch gear, my legs met the challenge without hesitation despite road surfaces resembling treacle toward the summit. Unusually, body and soul felt no inclination to cruise beyond 20mph throughout our journey.

In retrospect this was just as well, entering another twisting turn and chasing onward I was greeted by a group of children playing in the lane. Given these paranoid times, I was reassured to see them so carefree. This was diluted by their desire to dart back and forth across the narrow stretch of road. Mercifully, a cautiously driven Renault MPV had tempered their passion for this curious game of dare, though my right hand hovered over the brake nonetheless. A quick kick of the transmission saw us steal a march on potential chaos. Clocking up the miles, I'm starting to notice small flaws in the build. Nothing monumental but the budget Stronglight crank shows discernible flex under load. Credit where it's due, everything turns smoothly and reliably enough and given the Holdsworth will be hibernating through the winter months upgrades are unnecessarily indulgent... Unless something irresistible presents itself at the right price.
Elsewhere the Teenage Dream is entering the second phase of its makeover but this has introduced a wealth of complications. It was an oh-so-simple recipe, purchase carbon fork, Woodman sealed bearing Aheadset and suitably refined bar and stem. Teenage Dram brought well and truly into the 21st Century...Then along comes chrome. Not just any old chrome mind, oh no. 531 race blades and a threaded steerer. This saves a good wedge of cash and worthy components from languishing in the spares drawer.
It's been seventeen years since I bought anything sporting chrome-the Teenage Dream's winter sibling had a fully chromed uni-crown cro-moly fork. Objectively, chrome plating is an awful process to subject delicate,precision components and thin walled frame tubing. I'll concede half-chrome chainstays are very alluring but this exterior beauty comes at a high price....Involving acid baths and other brutality, it's a process Dr Crippin would approve of and not the sort for a beautiful bicycle frame. Before any plating is added, substantial amounts of metal are stripped from the tubes ready for polishing. Later stages involve plenty of dunking in acid and other toxic brews before passing through a neutralising bath in the hope of purging any remnants. Any traces left here will result in internal corrosion and ultimately frame/fork fatigue.

Decorative chroming by nature is notoriously thin, made worse by modern platers forgoing the protective copper layer. This leaves a porous surface and the steel beneath vulnerable to rust-especially in coastal regions. Because paint doesn't magically stop where the chrome starts, finishers employ acid etch primers to cajole it to the slippery surface but longevity is poor and the paint ultimately recedes. Columbus strongly advise against it- ironic given most Italian marques sport acres of it!

Knowing this, why then am I still lusting after a pair? Well, £55 for 531 with a sloping crown is too tempting while allowing the channelling of precious resources into other projects. That said, the merest hint of a price hike will see me running to contemporary carbon faster than a tot with grazed knees to their mother.

Knock on Wood

Influenced by wood's widespread popularity at this year's Eurobike and coinciding with the successful retrieval of a Bob Yak trailer specific skewer from storage sees the resurrection of these bespoke Maple wood fenders. Originally designed and built for my beloved Ilpompino some three years back, they became redundant when I felt compelled to run tyres twelve millimetres wider than the 28mm profile allowed. Fast forward eighteen months and their warm, tactile colour coordinates beautifully with the Teenage Dream's rich, luxurious green livery and there's just enough clearance at the fork crown and rear triangle.

Form and function extend the bike's horizons beyond October's end but I'll stop short of running it through the purgatory of the meaner months characterised by salt and slush. However, there's no sense in performing these adaptations until modernisation of the front end is complete-namely carbon fork, Woodman headset and a befitting bar and stem. Extensive upgrades are heavily reliant upon publishers cheques fluttering through the letterbox.

Project Road Path has reached the heady heights of decal design and I've agreed a price with a local graphic design company but our old adversary, fiscal restraint means the deal will complete come September's close. I had also toyed with the idea of making the pilgrimage to Cycle 2009 at London's Earls Court but having just returned from the enormity of Eurobike, will pass on the smaller show this year.

Preparing the Univega for the fall has seen not only pad upgrades but new levers and cables too. Changing a set of pads takes around fifteen minutes tops, allowing for any last minute fettling. However, somehow the nylon cable pulleys had deformed at the nipple rendering them useless after fifteen years loyal service. Shimano Ultegra have taken their place and this evening's wet blast through the lanes suggests they're an excellent pairing, although the lever's lighter action required a short period of adjustment. Repeated unravellings of the flamingo pink bike ribbon over the past six months have finally taken their toll. Electrical tape has come to the rescue, keeping it presentable enough until I can settle on a replacement-the smart money's strongly favouring Specialized's Roubaix wrap.

Adding insult to injury, gremlins also appear to have worked their mischief on its Basta dynamo lamp, melting the internal circuitry! High power NIMH and Lion rechargeable systems offer fantastic, retina burning performance but nothing compares to the convenience of a hub dynamo set-up-lighting's on tap with no charge or run times to constrain riding pleasure and there's something deeply satisfying about generating your own illumination. I will email Mr Hunt, our local Recycle agent to see if he'll supply a replacement in exchange for a small donation. On the subject of recycling, constructive vandalism sees this this tired Raleigh mtb frameset complete with misaligned rear triangle reincarnated as a headset crown race setting tool and work of modern art. The tubing was so thick as to tolerate MIG welding and bereft of my beloved pipe cutter, reducing it to useful scrap required an hour's intensive hacksaw surgery.
After some deliberation, the bottom bracket area characterised by a very worn, oxidised crankset has a certain artistic quality. A lick of paint and polish will see it transformed into a very fetching piece of sculpture...Albeit more out house than penthouse!

Showtime!

Friedrichshafen,approximately fifty kilometres from the Austrian border in southern Germany plays host to Eurobike-Europe's largest cycling exhibition.There's something for everyone whether utility/leisure rider, road racer, track ace, tourist, time trialist, trials rider or tandem stoker. Electric bikes were heavily represented as an emergent and ever refining mainstream market. Some of us may well scoff but if they re/introduce a new generation of people to two wheels and bolster cycling then they have my quiet respect.

Elsewhere, retro was definitely the order of the show which heaved under the weight of leather bar wrap, saddles and accessories. Interestingly, high quality faux leather may well steal a march in the coming year given it requires nominal maintenance- dirt/stains simply wiping clean. I found myself particularly drawn to one exhibitor's bar wrap that looked great despite bearing the brunt of several seasons use and surviving a nasty spill into the bargain. Allegedly it changes characteristic according to conditions-cooler in the heat, yet offering tenacious grip in the cold and/or wet. Chrome is cool again and not simply among the Italian marques. Jamis had a couple of very sweet looking fixers with half-chrome stays and fork blades, although I'm underwhelmed by cable clips which scratch paint, trap moisture and ultimately encourage rust. Wood proved a very popular fender material with various larger manufacturers and small scale artisans proudly showing their wares. Fixed remains an established niche however, sub groups are definitely forming in the same sense mountain biking broke into cross country, downhill, trials etc.

The world and their mother appeared to have a fixer in the range from cynically adapted road framesets with track ends still sporting the full compliment of cable guides, carbon fibre track thoroughbreds to those following the road path tradition with sensible clearances and proper rack/fender mounts. Reynolds 525 and 631 cro-molys rubbed shoulders with Tange Prestige as typical, better quality tubing amongst the production builds-principally because their material composition is better suited to high volume production methods. However, there was also a healthy smattering of Columbus and more exotic tubesets mingling amongst 7000 and 6061 series aluminium. Cinelli and a few others presented bikes with traditional, one inch, threaded steerers but I dismiss this as little more than a quirky, promotional stunt rather than a serious indication of their wholesale resurrection by the cycle industry. That said, improved spares availability would be a godsend for those of us with older but very worthy machines in the fleet.

Anyone doubting sex and glamour's capacity to boost sales need only cast a casual eye over the stands adorned with beautiful young women in various stages of undress, the greatest titillation provided courtesy of those wearing only body paint. Being a respectable medium, I can't post those so you'll have to settle for these models on the Kellys stand.

Now, excuse me I've to purge this bag load of festering clothes accumilated from my week away....

Dusk Duties and The Dubious Delights of Time Trialling

Continued refinement sees removal of the left hand brake lever, substituted for an orphaned silver end plug found languishing on the workshop floor. Some experimentation with a cheap but not so nasty alloy bottle caddy saw me revert to the lighter and arguably nicer nylon model which at least accommodates a seatpack, no matter how minimalist. The breakthrough came courtesy of this clever little Bor Yeuh mount, clamping to the saddle rails and accommodating two cages either side. However, closed cage designs like the silver Nitto are best as ultra modern, open ended designs such as the tacx allow bottles to escape over the course of a mile or two. A stainless Salsa offering will take its place.This configuration still precludes the use of a bigger seatpack, leaving me with three options (a) mounting the trixie tool piggy-back on the the cage (b) carting it around in my jersey pocket (c)forgoing it altogether in favour of Gerber's mighty cool tool which fits comfortably inside the tiny Lezyne pouch.
Our second Sunday outing found us caught up in the excitement of some time trialling-the notorious Colchester Rovers Abberton ten mile course-a circuit with some sadistic little climbs. Fixers were a conspicuous niche' characterised by unbranded compact geometry framesets made from space-age composites. Some competitors seemed completely oblivious to traffic, cyclist or otherwise and the arrival of a race Marshall saw one rider stop dead without even the most cursory glances over her shoulder-nearly resulting in our collision!

Cross but composed I continued, only to encounter another Marshall yelling times at me, clearly oblivious to my lack of helmet, race number or other identifying marks. Another competitor, a friendly fella aboard a geared specialized began quizzing me about the route. My response was to smile, wish him every success before taking the long, straight road home, picking up the pace so as not to give the game away.

Trailer tugging is one duty I'd avoid on a fixed. Clearly spurred on by sunny skies, Joshua urged me to take him out on the tag-along for what would become his longest ride to date-a circuit of twenty-two miles to Mersea Island. Now, twenty odd miles is a nice jaunt-nothing for experienced riders to write home about but a very long way for little legs. To his credit and two rest stops he managed to pedal for the greater part. Indeed, the first stop was prompted by my need to adjust the hitch. Lowering it by a few centimetres has transformed the handling, giving a very planted feel and improving captain and stoker confidence-especially on long, winding descents. Cheaper hitches lack refinement-ours isn't too bad but I'll tighten handling yet further with the introduction of rubber bushings....

Maiden Voyage

Sometimes getting things done requires a sense of distance. Taking my own advice I spirited myself away for a few days in Norfolk-a region of the UK known as East Anglia notorious for being flat as the proverbial pancake. That said, even in Norwich the fixer scene was conspicuous by it's absence- a shame not least as I spotted the perfect graffiti backdrop for fixer photo-shoots.

Internet thieves have temporarily foiled my plans to purchase the seductive wheelset with large flange hubs so I commandeered another set, otherwise perfect for the build on Thursday morning. Older frames can spring surprises and final preparations demanded judicious filing of the ends to accommodate modern axle diameters. Gearing is now a moderate 79 inches courtesy of a 48 tooth front ring and 16 tooth EAI superstar sprocket-ample for bombing along the flat yet merciful in the hills. An uncharacteristically lacklustre Miche chain has been replaced by a substantial silver KMC offering which lacks the consummate refinement of some-especially the upmarket half link variety but enjoys phenomenal lateral rigidity, meaning transmission braking/track standing is laughably easy. Fitting some micro LEDs, a twenty two function computer capable of damn near everything bar making the tea and with the obligatory multi-tools, patch and compact camera kit slipped into the seatpack we were ready for the off...

Swing a leg over the top-tube and from the first few pedal strokes it's obvious why these now comparatively rare bikes were so popular back in the day. Short 16 inch chainstays deliver punchy performance whether sprinting away from the lights or powering along the open road. Steering is quick, yet predictable trickling through town or cornering hard on long, winding descents. 531 might no longer be the benchmark tubeset for quality lightweights but superior build quality compared with some modern frames confirms the old adage that craftsmanship, not materials maketh fine frames. For all the period fork's charms, I strongly suspect the modern, carbon replacement enhances the ride quality, delivering smooth passage over rougher surfaces while shaving a few precious grams into the bargain.

There's no trace of power robbing flex when climbing out of the saddle or dancing on the pedals, although I tip the scales at a relatively modest 70 kilos so can get away with using old fashioned square taper bottom brackets paired to modest cranksets. Stopping for some mid ride photos revealed the stem slightly misaligned but easily rectified using a 5mm Allen key. Thanks in part to a beefy chain, dependable transmission braking left the Miche calliper with relatively little to do, although it's proven a worthy stopper and in time, upgrading the pads will undoubtedly sharpen performance. Proportionally short in the torso, the Holdsworth feels overly generous in the top-tube but sliding the saddle forward compromises a good fit, placing me further over the bottom bracket into the bargain. This has the positive side-effect of increased power delivery, although I might purchase a slightly shorter Nitto stem when funds allow.

I long ago ceased talking in terms of complete and final builds given all my machines are, to some degree works in progress and subject to constant evolution. Upgrading to a larger and more practical wedge pack has necessitated removal of the Nitto cage and carry bracket so I'm returning to the hydration pack until a suitably paint friendly clip-on cage comes under my radar.

Come Together....

Since I last put fingers to keyboard, pester power has provoked payment, allowing the purchase of replacement top cap and moreover, the Woodman specific tool. Elsewhere, decisions have been made and I've settled(for the meantime at least)in favour of sealed cartridge bearing Ritchey copy SPD pedals. I've been riding clipless, pretty much exclusively since 1992 but find the dual sided mtb type best for cornering and spilt second entry/exit.

Further foraging has proven very profitable with surprisingly rich pickings. With the constant mantra of "Use what you've got" resonating in my head, I plucked out some very fetching pink fade bar wrap. My mouse finger kept hovering on new, conservative blues and blacks but far from clashing, it complements the light blue/black livery perfectly-serendipity strikes again!

Purists will scoff at suggestion I have tried to keep the frame's original character and to some extent, given it's sporting a carbon fork with threadless steerer, they'd have a point. However, I fought shy of adding braze-on bottle and other bosses. While widening the frame's practicality at one level, I wanted to enjoy it's minimalist beauty. Initially the solution was to wear a hydration pack but in very hot weather, even the better designs can leave a sweaty back. A nifty seatpost mounted nylon bracket came to the rescue. This enables a cage to be placed behind the saddle and some further tinkering and exchanging the modern Tacx unit for a delicate stainless steel Nitto has enabled a min-pump to share the mount without fouling the bijou seat pack-Heh!.Removing the left hand brake lever and replacing it with a black end plug seemed sensibly minimalist but I decided I liked the symmetry so, unless it starts rattling relentlessly it can keep the other company. This is the final run now, the final build. I've the chain and CNC machined sprocket awaiting the wheels and what a wheelset I have planned. Keenly priced, black hoops with machined sidewalls turning on sexy large-flange track hubs....Alas, they'll have to wait 'till my return from holiday...

Poor Boy Blues

" My Daddy Said Son, don't you come to me cryin' cos money don't make you a happy man" Hmm, maybe not but it sure as hell makes bike builds less challenging....

Recession's a grossly over-used phrase and while the consequences of such are an increasingly uncomfortable reality for many, at one level it's a very convenient rationale' for firms avoiding or delaying payment. One such client decided to hold on to my invoice just that little bit longer, meaning I've had to postpone purchasing the replacement Woodman top race and fitting tool from the UK importer. Similarly, borrowed components by definition have to be returned to their rightful owners and so, in this reflective, yet purposeful mood I approached the bulging spares bin for components and on the whole this has proved a fruitful harvest. Resourcefulness has resurrected an inexpensive, yet unused Stronglight cranks which now sit proudly aboard the square taper bottom bracket, then there's a titanium railed Specialized Toupe' Gel saddle pride of place atop the shapely Outland seatpost while a fetching long-reach Miche dual pivot calliper takes care of stopping and my obligations under the road traffic act.

When it comes to pedal choice, I'm the child in the proverbial sweet shop. Not sure whether to stick with low-profile, sealed bearing track offerings, an ancient drum polished Look pair from 1992 or indeed Shimano and pattern mtb SPD. The latter are winning on the grounds of practicality-you can walk rather than hobble off the bike with recessed cleats. Then there's another colour-co-ordinated Look pair languishing in the spares bin....
There's a principle operating on two levels here. First and foremost why plough much needed financial resources into new stock when there's plentiful, cosmetically appealing and moreover decent quality stuff hidden away in spares drawers? The second is an exercise in skills sharpening. Being resourceful isn't exclusively fiscal, neither is it concerned with getting something for nothing. Being shrewd here means I can enjoy a nice, carefully built bike and enrol on a fully paid-up Diploma course in massage come the fall.

Regular readers will note a fair bit of barter involved in my projects. Both the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream's refinishing were undertaken on an earned basis-I might not have paid for their expertise but I exchanged my services for theirs. Simple economics dictate that while folk can't live on mutual respect and favour alone, such can go a long way toward happier, co-operative and moreover prosperous communities. However, I'm a firm believer in charity being dispensed at personal discretion and not upon demand.

Recently I've put a low mileage, well kempt BOB Yak up for sale and I'm astounded at the number of time wasters-they're not usually difficult to spot-asking a series of silly questions in succession before there's a pregnant pause followed by a sheepish email. This is entirely different from genuine potential buyers asking pertinent questions from which to make an informed decision but there seems an ever increasing army of window shoppers with nothing better to do than needlessly waste time.
Sermon over and returning to the Holdsworth, further joy comes courtesy of a decent track chain, CNC mirror polished sprocket and set of Halo twin rail "courier" tyres. I'm seventy-five per cent there save for an appropriate wheelset, lock ring and of course the replacement top race and fitting tool....