Changes

Eurobike and similar trade events signal summer’s slow, simpering swansong. The gradually encroaching curtain of velvety darkness brings with it more interesting colours. Being something of a night owl, the season’s new lighting in particular has me very excited.  

We’re waiting on samples but I was invited over to Moore Large’s Derby headquarters for their “Geared” event. Plenty to see, although I was particularly taken with their Moda range; this included several cross, Audax, road and TT builds.  This Reynolds 953 frameset with clear coated stainless stays, replaceable hanger and carbon fork was all too tempting…

Spec is highly tuneable to suit customer budget and expectation. Adventure bikes remain very popular too on account of their rugged versatility and this 1x11spd Hooklow cross/gravel/do-all also held my attention. 

Single rings with widely spaced cassettes eliminate the chore of keeping front derailleurs happy through the grotty months. It also allows manufacturers to deviate from traditional frame design and where appropriate, use thinner tubing since there’s no danger of it being distorted by band-on clamps.

Like the majority of frames, these are made to a very high standard in the Far East, which includes finishing. Traditionally brands would outsource construction to Taiwan and keep paint and detailing on these shores.

Chatting with their brand manager revealed this is no longer necessary, although I was surprised to discover the worldwide demand for aluminium alloys has resulted in a shortage of factories in the Far East capable of working with Cro-moly steels.     

Then of course, Knog and Pro-Viz. The Australian marque famous for its iconic silicone encased blinkies has upgraded the internals in its Blinder Arc range and introduced some new, decidedly extrovert town lighting. Silicone straps have also been beefed up and redesigned for improved durability.

Pro-Viz has introduced a 360+ line with racier cuts and improved breathability and made a reversible day glow/ grey version of the 360 jacket. We’re yet to play with this one but the concept looks great for general winter riding.  

Speaking of revamps, I’ve been toying with reinventing the Ilpompino’s livery.

Some suggested buying the latest version of the long-running frameset (which has ditched the mono-stay in favour of a more conventional rear triangle). However, more disciplined fleet control would dictate selling my MK2 on.

The MK4 is arguably an improvement, especially if you’re looking at fitting a four point rack for laden commuting or weekend touring. Having upgraded the original steel fork for racier carbon blades, the latest generations more aggressive geometry is a moot point.

Besides, despite its minor limitations, I love the MK2’s distinctive rear triangle and we’ve amassed too many happy miles together.

The existing wet-spray finish remains in very rude health, ten years salty winters hence. However, the binaural voice of temptation had been cooing seductively for too long. Chris and Trevor at Maldon Shot blasting & Powder Coating have agreed to a new and very distinctive effect.Watch this space...

Elsewhere, the Kinesis Tripster Ace has been treated to several healthy helpings of dirt these past few weeks and it handles light to moderate trail duties better than I had any right to expect. 

I found those buxom bars just too broad for tarmac terrorism, or open road cruising. However, their unparalleled leverage really helps bring things back under control when the 35mm dual purpose tyres eventually ingest too much gloop and become slicks…

The eagle eyed among you will note my use of single sided SPDR homage pedals-idiosyncratic perhaps and a decision my testicles nearly regretted on a few occasions but we’ve escaped unscathed and dulcet tones fully intact.

Recent legislation means Co2 cartridges shouldn’t be sent through the post, hence the previous weeks’ trip to the midlands coincided with a quick stop-off at a well-known French sports retailer for some replenishments.

I’m someone who punctures infrequently but then succumbs to several in quick succession. Their convenience on a cold, wet night cannot be under-estimated. Nonetheless, a decent pump should always be riding shotgun on the bottle bosses, or nestling against the seat/top tube just in case.

My Ilpompino’s lower race bearings are showing some signs of wear, so I invested in 75 10 grade balls given the races/surfaces were in otherwise good shape. Obviously, price is a key player but most found in entry level to mid-range components are reckoned to be around the 100 mark, whereas higher end Shimano and Campagnolo are around 40 and 25.

So, what do these numbers actually mean? Well, essentially we’re talking materials and accuracy of machining, which has implications for efficiency and longevity. The most basic blister pack variants offered at £1.50 or so are 1,000 grade-more commonly associated with furniture casters-not a precision engineered load bearing component.

Caged bearings are convenient for factories and servicing headsets-they also fill space, thus fewer balls are required, saving manufacturers a pretty penny. However, loose always run smoother and seating them in a bed of stout grease overcomes that heart sinking tinkle as another leaps lemming-fashion beneath the fridge, or similarly inaccessible point. 

Talking of which, it’s amazing what gets rediscovered when rationalising the spares bin/drawer.

This week, I have reclaimed a bedroom drawer for T shirts but much more exciting was the rediscovery of this carbon composite Blackburn Airstik SL micro-pump. At 15cm it’s hardly efficient, though handy back pocket bling when coupled with Co2 cartridges and enjoying the Holdsworth’s company, or popping out on a similarly pared to the essentials test rig.

Budget track pumps can be surprisingly longlived too, although gauges are their weak spot. I’ve had this Revolution (Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative’s own brand) unit complete with smart head for a good few years.

The gauge is well on the road to retirement but barrel, piston and other components are in rude health. A new valve end for this Lezyne Floor Drive has just arrived from Upgrade bikes- their UK importer www.upgradebikes.co.uk so; I will pass the Revolution unit on to a good and grateful home.

Speaking of testing, Seven Day Cyclist has a You Tube channel in the pipeline. Yes, it will involve action cams but no, we’re seeking to avoid More about this once its’ live.

Recent overcast conditions and summer’s slow but definite swansong sees me setting out with freshly fuelled blinkies. Tethered to bars, post and luggage-we’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of this season’s latest designs and more powerful models-promised in the next week or so…

However, an argument has been brewing suggesting cyclists should use blinkies in all conditions-all the time. Dull, low light-hell, yes but perpetually a’la Volvo no.

The perpetual sidelight argument was popularly banded about for motorcyclists too but independent studies seemed to suggest other road users simply acclimatised, thus riders became “invisible” once more.

I can also see this turning into a very convenient legal loophole for someone looking to swerve a driving without due care and attention charge.  “I was getting the perfect angle for my selfie, when I suddenly felt this disconcerting lump. Having uploaded it to my social media channels and two dating sites, I thought an exhaust mounting was coming loose and found a stowaway cyclist”…

Staying with images, Infrared photography has always inspired curiosity, not so wholesale camera conversion. Once converted, your committed-it cannot be reversed. Following a conversation with a camera dealer inclined towards this genre; I jumped at this 55mm Hoya filter.

There are plenty of filters being hawked on the online auction sites for around a third of the asking price but with decidedly inferior results. I saw no sense in taking this route, only to find myself forking out for the Hoya afterward-false economy. Initial results were quite impressive when using a tripod, small apertures and long exposures, although hot spots and similar imperfections seem harder to sidestep.

These models weren’t quite what I’d had in mind either but at least the brazing holding this Beetle’s roll cage together is nicely done. Before I close this entry, let’s talk riding attire.

For training and similar riding, I’ve always felt perfectly comfortable in Lycra but much prefer a more civilian look for commuting and more general riding. Practical and chic, we’re talking ¾ lengths and looser fitting Plain Jerseys with concealed pockets and subtler colours.

While photographing birds at a local reservoir, this young woman’s machine and attire caught my attention; rolled up sleeves and turn ups... Save for quick scoots of a mile or two, denims are a recipe for chafing and discomfort. Were hers skilfully tailored-possibly home made with a cycling specific cut, or just the old street jeans with shorts beneath trick….

Either way, she was turning a seasoned tourists’ cadence too. A few firms were converting old MOD fatigues into messenger knickers some years back, wonder if the same goes for jeans. Levis, Muxo and a few others offered some nice versions straight off the peg but bespoke always provides food for thought.

Establishing Connections

Presently organising venue(s) for September’s “everyday beauty” photo shoot-some folks are more helpful than others but a few decent options cropped up and the sands of time remain favourable.

My mother commissioned me to photograph a local landscape, which has been blown up on a 5x4 foot weather proof canvas. Primarily a centrepiece for her carport’s sound, though bland brickwork, it’s also an inexpensive bit of advertising.

I’m continually frustrated by the tsunami of people willing to work for free under the misguided notion they will gain experience and exposure before slipping seamlessly into a salaried career. Creative industries, such as photography and journalism are ravaged by this myopia. At best such behaviours devalue skilled vocations, fuelling a race to the bottom economy. If commercial, profit making entities can acquire goods and services for nothing, they will, sending an industry straight to the morgue. 

Ah but they’re giving me the byline/photo credit, leading to valuable…People look at the visuals, not to see who produced them. Proud mothers may scan the credits of TV shows in search of their freelance offspring but in practice, the viewing public generally flicks channels, nips to the loo, or for a brew.

Frankly, if you’re determined to cut your teeth, or expand port-folios, get in touch with small, grass roots charitable organisations and see what reciprocal deal can be struck. Payment needn’t always be monetary-at least to begin with. I’ve done photo shoots at cost for friends-of friends, which has led to useful, word-of-mouth exposure and subsequent paid commissions.

However, I’ve been implicit in my terms/conditions and most people have repaid me in kind, many times over. Anything used for commercial purposes must be paid for.  Ran over, now to my week on two and four wheels…         

This Jagwire CGX SL “Universal sport” brake cableset also arrived in serendipitous fashion; just in time for a cable group test and the Ilpompino’s RL250/Cane Creek transplant. A penny shy of £20 buys wound steel outers with internal sleeve, stainless steel inners and “slick lube” lining, cable stops, end caps and doughnuts.

Length is pretty generous too-300cm of outer cable while inners measure 135/235cm front and rear respectively. Ours was the black with retro-reflective detailing-brilliant for workhorses and winter bikes, although purple and yellow are the alternatives. The M-Part bar wrap is also fairing up very nicely, despite being unravelled on four separate occasions, although I think any further disruption will be its last. 

This combination has transformed the already fairly potent front stopper, delivering precisely the sort of modulation, feel and stopping prowess I’d been looking for in a disc setup. I’ve always liked firm feedback; something I attribute to early exposure to European components characterised by strong springs. However, their action is very light, which is good news for smaller hands. This preference also applies to other vehicles-car and motorcycle clutches being obvious examples, although perhaps the cable operated VW type were a press too far.

Speaking of cars…. After some trial and error, the Ka’s erratic starting and idling was traced to an expiring Idle Speed Control Valve. Unlike its Endura engine predecessor, this hadn’t missed a beat in over 105,000 miles.

Access is much harder too, so best left to a helpful independent garage unless you’re a competent DIY/mechanic. Given its age, I opted for replacement rather than cleaning, bringing the total bill to £151.12 (including VAT). Reticent starting, unexpected stalling-often when approaching junctions, needing to keep the revs higher in slow moving traffic all point its way.

Most armchair experts are oblivious to the different physical geographies; hence finding credible guidance online requires persistence.

Removal and cleaning of the Endura unit is a twenty minute affair, well within a beginners grasp. You’ll need an old ice cream tub, retired tooth brush, carb cleaner/similar strong solvent and ideally a torque wrench, although in a pinch, 10mm ring/socket spanners will do.

Start by depressing the wire clip and sliding it from the electrical contexts. Next undo the two 10mm bolts and slide away from the inlet manifold. Pop this hardware in a zipped pocket, or ice cream tub/similar receptacle. Place the ICV unit in the bowl and check for a coating of black, sooty deposit.

Deliver the solvent inside, then scrub vigorously with that old toothbrush-repeating the last two stages until the grot’s dissolved. Refit as before, giving fasteners a cursory lick of medium strength threadlock and the cure is complete. The KA club also provide a very informative step-by-step guide on their site http://www.kaklub.co.uk/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=1898

Shot ICV? £50 from car parts supplier, or you might be able to source a serviceable, second-hand example from a breaker for considerably less...  

Trips

This Kinesis Tripster Ace arrived at my door last week, so I wasted no time in swinging a leg over the top tube and getting ninety miles in.

Our tester is the 60cm, which is a little on the generous side for yours truly-I’ve a 33 inch inseam, stand 1m81 and would be better served by a 57. ACE is an acronym, meaning “Adventure, Commute, and Explore”; though Upgrade bikes tell me at a penny shy of £800; it’s aimed at the cycle to work audience who want a versatile workhorse cum commuter with a little extra sparkle.  

Two hundred miles hence and I’m rapidly concluding this is a very fair reflection.

Features of note include a 6061 chassis with some obvious mountain bike DNA-just look at those curvy stays, industrial looking ends and beautifully executed TIG welds. Carbon forks follow this narrative, although this standard of detail comes as little surprise. Kinesis built their enviable reputation on high quality, competitively priced aftermarket frames/forks and have only recently entered the complete bike market.

Some people sneer at Sora but lower end groupsets are ideal choices for daily drivers- functional, yet cheap to replace when they finally turn sloppy and don’t scream “steal me” in the same way Tiagra or 105 would. New chains and cassettes are plentiful and can be found online for £15, ideal for keeping running costs low on a bike used in all weathers.  

Tektro Clara hydraulic discs are another lovely (moreover, inexpensive) surprise. Modulation, feel and stopping prowess is impressive-not in the same league as a high end hybrid system perhaps but fade is minimal-even when screaming downhill and towing a trailer’s worth of kit.  Light years ahead of mechanical types in every respect. Lower maintenance is a bonus too, no more adjusting pads and hoses seem reassuringly stout although some may be put off by the need to bleed the system every so often.

The overall package is very subtle though very seductive, so choose location carefully and follow the 10% (of bikes replacement value) rule locks-wise when parking in the street.  Anyhow, I’ll put 400miles on it and you can read my full report in an upcoming edition of "Seven Day Cyclist."

Talking of discs, I was rationalising the spares bin when I resurrected these Cane Creek V brake road levers, which also played very nicely with mechanical discs. Arguably my Ilpompino's existing R200 unit works more than adequately but being a perpetual fettler, I'm consumed by the urge to improve on this when a wet and windy Saturday afternoon presents.  Anything designed for Vs is an absolute no-no for cantilevers on account of the amount of cable pull-grab and handful and you’ll pitch yourself straight into A&;E...

Aside from the KA refusing to start, or idle-suggesting its ignition coil pack (a common mk1 

KA vulnerability) was expiring last Sunday night, Stenning photographic was busy in the midlands. 

This week I was commissioned to capture a 65^th birthday bash in Birmingham and am presently working with some models, seeking out suitable locations to shoot their starter port-folios in September. This will dictate choice of equipment- lenses, filters, lighting and backdrops. An exciting and moreover, very welcome new challenge for me-stay tuned.

Pumps, Photography & Punjabi

An arsenal of high pressure road and mtb derived “mini” pumps graced Seven day Cyclists’ test bench this week, so we’ll be looking at the genres and essentially putting four comparable models through their paces over the next month, or as long as it takes to reach some firm conclusions about their performance.

Falling prices has meant Co2 cartridges have crossed over from racing and become popular quick fixes for training and generic/club riding. Consequently, many riders now regard the pump as an emergency item and carry the smallest possible. The logic’s not difficult to fault, assuming of course you’re not particularly puncture prone.

However, while I too carry a Co2 system pretty much everywhere, I also like a pump that will genuinely achieve at least 60psi (mtb slick) and 95-100 in a narrow section 700x23/25 road tyre-without taking eons about it, or my biceps leaden with lactic acid. 

The difference between micro/mini/midi pump also seem to vary between manufacturers. For road, “sawn off” versions of popular frame-fit classics such as this now discontinued Zefal HPX mini are my first choices. Small enough to ride unobtrusively alongside the down tube, there’s adequate length for dignified resurrection of flaccid tyres to 100psi plus.

Light years away from those ghastly giveaways that were arguably better than nothing miles from home on a cold and rainy night but I had the pistons bend irreparably under the strain when inching past a paltry 60psi. The only down side to longer models is storing them when parking in the street along with lights, computers and other lovely gizmos.

Elsewhere, Chicken cycles (www.chickencyclekit.co.uk) have sent me these lovely Flinger disc compatible stays, meaning the neighbours will (hopefully) be spared agricultural utterances and I the effort of contorting others to fit. 

Unexpected sponginess had crept into the Jagwire/Avid system, spoiling that stop on a sixpence dependability. Introducing a different cable ferrule restored fierce disc typical bite-just the way I like it. 

Since opportunity presented, I also popped a rubberised cuff to the outer. Not that the housing was making any inroads into the clear lacquer topcoat but prevention is so much more convenient than cure.

I’ve often talked about the importance of continuous development and transferable skills (Though frankly these have been buzzwords within human resource management for three decades) in a rapidly changing economy.

The past eighteen months has seen steady evolution of my photographic port-folio. Products and technical work remain very close to my heart but demand has been tailing off in recent years as more firms streamline their budgets and scoop things in house.

Nonetheless, word of mouth and nerves of steel have resulted in much broader horizons, including social/portraiture. Traditional wedding photography is another genre that has become increasingly competitive, almost to the point of saturation. It’s not something to be dabbled with either.

I’ve heard from some devastated couples who entrusted theirs to “arty” friends with disastrous consequences. Emerging interest from NRI (Non Resident Indian)  audiences is certainly tempting me along that particular niche and I’m increasingly invited to capture other significant social events.

Eager to capitalise upon this, I’ve built a dedicated website to attract further business in these and other fields. While the importance of pushing oneself should never be underestimated, the “Jack of all trades, master of none” tag must be avoided at all costs, hence my specialisms.

The leap between this and learning Punjabi is not a difficult one. Indeed, I am also confident on current projections that India and Brazil will overtake China as a global economic powerhouse, meaning that command of Punjabi and possibly Portuguese will become increasingly desirable. Then of course, there’s the simple satisfaction gained from learning a new skill.    

Over the past week or so, I’ve had several enquiries from aspiring models, although have been unable to accommodate them for a variety of reasons.Sometimes this has been down to availability, others expectation i.e. that I would be willing to work for free AND surrender the images to them for commercial purposes.

There has been some asking about glamour, which is not a particular field I wish to be associated with. Not so fine art and implied nudity, which for me; are an interesting marriage of erotica, fun and imagination.     www.stenningphotographic.com

Glancing back but moving forward.

After a week of searing heat and serious fun on the Holdsworth, thundery skies and gusty winds saw a return to the Ilpompino. In my haste to repair a flat, I remounted its Vittoria Voyager hyper in reverse direction, inducing some mild, though tangible skittishness through waterlogged corners. High time I reinstated that front mudguard too…

While out running some errands, my eye was immediately drawn to a long row of club bikes shackled to café’ railings while their owners tucked in to hearty lunches. A flat bar build with discs stood out on account of its full length SKS guards with neatly angled stays.

These stays look an excellent option should my stay bending prowess prove lacking, so I’ve dropped their UK importer a quick email. Elsewhere in this line up, some cut down drops had me fishing for my Samsung CSC (Compact Systems Camera) However, I was conscious that loitering with intent ran the risk of inducing suspicion, so took a single shot and turned on my heels.  

The popularity of complete bike builds has mushroomed in recent years thanks t the economies of scale-purchase power and falling prices (a full carbon build with Dura Ace groupset at £1300 is very hard to resist!!). However, that tradition of “recycling”; upgrading tired framesets and swapping the components over, or  building a machine that stops and goes in excellent proportion using “what you’ve got” remains in rude health.

Juniors are better catered for in this new wave of complete packages too, although choice still remains comparatively limited. Many long serving enthusiasts are raiding their overstocked spares bins, giving once forgotten wheels and part worn groupsets new leases of life on 14 inch 6061 framesets.

Joshua’s rekindled interest in two wheels has seen me pondering such a project, which would also bolster the father/son bond. Not that this has become particularly strained, although that quest for increased autonomy and evolving sense of values can induce friction.

At the other extreme, I’m fast assuming MAMIL status (Middle Aged Man in Lycra) and while confident it would, was pleased to discover this Motorola team replica Jersey (Bought for my eighteenth birthday in um, 1991) fitted perfectly-phew!

Despite leaving team jerseys and mass start racing pretentions behind in my twenties, I retain a soft spot for this one. Sentiment aside, the shallow zipper and waffle weave polyester mean climate and odour control lags behind contemporary designs with 3/4length zippers and faster wicking polyester blends.

Nonetheless, despite countless thrills and numerous spills it remains in remarkably rude health. Pockets are deep enough for trade bottles, tubes and longer mini pumps too.

After a few failed missions, I’ve managed to catch up with John and his fantastic Peugeot tandem trike. He’d been having some trouble with the rear hub, which offers an infinite range of gears-possibly the Holy Grail for slogging up a really long climb with proverbial kitchen sink en tow.

With three (sometimes, five when their trailer’s added to the equation) wheels on his wagon, John reckons he can drop the speed to two mph without any adverse effect. However, while handling is generally pretty civilised, there are some limitations to the build. Potholes being the most obvious and some would argue, daunting examples. As he puts it:

“Even at a very modest speed, say 15mph you become very aware of it tipping, which is extremely disconcerting-especially for the stoker and with trailer following behind!” Talking of which, there’s rather a lot going on up front too. Alongside the usual suspects, I spot a sizeable set of Winkku mirrors with integral indicators and dipped “daylight” beams.  

Aside from the obvious observations, these also allow him to keep a watchful eye on their trailer, which can slide out when tackling tighter turns given the wheelbase.

Then I spotted an old thumb shifter resides on Jane’s stoker bars.

This commands a Deore XT linear pull, allowing her to gently scrub off some speed without any risk of it locking the rear wheel. It also doubles as a very convenient parking brake. We weren’t the only admirers, one of John’s cats decided he fancied some worship, swiftly followed by their neighbour’s Akita! Thankfully, Mr Singh was close by and his dog is uncharacteristically indifferent to the feline community.

We’ve a full interview with John and the fascinating story behind his special build shortly in Seven Day Cyclist (www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk). He’s also talking in terms of buying a fully faired Mango recumbent with electric assist for long solo efforts-watch this space…