Makeover Magic: The Ilpompino's New Clothes

Sometimes deadlines are like a slow but consistently burning fuse. Having caught up following last weeks’ IT crisis, I headed off to Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating to witness and document my frames’ transformation stage by stage. 

After the usual pleasantries, conversation turned to other enticing projects booked with them including lugged n’ brazed 531 frames from the early 1990s and various classic car shells/chassis awaiting blast and/or structural repair.

Chris examined the Ilpompino’s factory livery and decided it was best left soaking in their methyl chloride tank prior to blasting. Sometimes, depending on the existing paint, it’s possible to skip straight to the blast cabinet.

Once the active ingredient in over-the-counter stripping products; methyl chloride is a nasty carcinogenic, so now the preserve of controlled contexts. This is diluted with water to prevent evaporation but agitating the depths unleashes an unmistakable, pungent odour.  After fifteen minutes marinating in the stagnant looking chemical soup, Chris dons rubber gauntlets and delves deep.

My frame emerges seconds’ later, almost completely bare save for some localised residual silty paint. Passed through the glass bead cabinet and several minutes’ intensive tickling reveals a bare, dimpled surface; it also confirms my initial suspicions of surface pitting where the salt monster had nibbled the right chainstay.

This doesn’t dictate Metafil, or similar specialist fillers but Chris gently sands it flat before masking and plugging threaded sections. Critics of powder coating cite that achieving two or more colour effects requires applying 2pac or similar wet spray paints atop. This is relatively labour intensive, costly too...

Given this backdrop, a two-tone powder coat finish sounds a bit risky but Chris and Graham seem completely comfortable with the commission.

Regardless of family, all paints have unique characteristics according to their colours/pigments. My French blue/grey effect leads Graham to introduce a thinner, corrosion inhibiting zinc phosphate primer, which won’t risk imperfections in the top coats.  

Midway through this formative stage my Sony Alpha SLR camera body gets the sulks. Despite frantic efforts to re-dial settings, it refuses to deliver three frames per second required. Hastily diverting to my trusty NEX5 ensures there’s minimal loss of footage.

Confident of even coverage, “Izzie” is passed through the curing oven for fifteen minutes and our attentions turn to locating French blue (5024) and a complimentary  grey.  A hearty cheer erupts, signalling both polyester powders are in stock and in plentiful quantity.

Graham starts by loading the 5024, confirms a good flow rate by depressing the gun a few times and returns to the curing oven. Moments later, the frame is earthed and ready to receive the colour coat. Graham covers the main triangle under a blanket of pale blue before checking the powder is heaped uniformly throughout. Two affirmative nods and it returns to their their curing oven for ten minutes at 200 degrees.

Conversation meanders to the frame’s history, how I came to acquire it and its significance to me. Having returned to the oven, we discover gallons of molten frame preserve racing from the vent holes and bottom bracket shell...pooling  on the concrete floor.

Mercifully, this hasn’t contaminated the colour coat and can be deftly dismissed but serves to illustrate the importance of warning your frame builder or spray shop, should you suspect a frame has something oily sloshing around inside.

The boys take it all in their good humoured stride, blowing the frame through with compressed air. Demon purged and our next dilemma is whether to start the grey as a solid, or gradually fade it in atop the blue.

Solid effects involve masking, which in this context, risks permanent “tan lines”; so we take the latter route. Unlike wet sprays, powders can be blown into new shapes, or reused. Meticulous in their approach, Graham revises this three times before progressing round the rear triangle.

Moments pass, tension mounts as his eyes painstakingly scan every last particle. To my relief he nods again before spiriting it into the oven once more.  Finally, my beloved frame is given an acrylic clear coat, which adds further protection, while accentuating its rich, glossy lustre.

Right, time to introduce some fresh home brewed frame preserve and helicopter tape to abrasion prone points; then I’ll build it up before October’s through.

Heartfelt thanks go to the team at Maldon Shot blasting and Powder Coating for undertaking this transformation www. http://ctc-powder-coating.co.uk/.

Trevor (Father and MSBC MD) has asked me to point out that cost for this kind of specialist effect varies wildly depending upon several factors. This includes colour choice(s), post blast remedial works and whether decals/other detailing are required.  

 

 

 

Motherboards & Other Internal Flux

  

Having returned from the Midlands, down to a third of a tank but fuelled with ideas and purpose, I stet about stripping the Ilpompino ready for its makeover. 60 minutes later, the frame was bare and removing its makeshift chainstay protector revealed some superficial wounding that had given rise to unsightly corrosion.

Stones, grit and salt monster had struck during the snowy weeks of 2012/13, scuffing caused by the chain colliding with its bottom bracket shell during a spill in the first quarter of 2008, bare metal skid mark etched into the seat tube by a slightly loose mid-section chrome plastic mudguard... Every mark tells a story.

Ten years in, time for a change. Seizing the moment, I popped said frame in the Micra and delivered it to Maldon Shot Blasting & Powder Coating, where we discussed the finer details of the new livery. They have exacting standards and demand for their services is high, hence we’ve arranged to proceed with the photo-love-story transformation next week.

The Holdsworth has been busy, putting a huge grin on my face while earning its keep with super clean, friction busting wax chain preps, Univega has ditched the otherwise brilliant Tortec rack, for a racier Altura post mount day bag, wet lubes and seriously soggy lanes.

There’s been a steady trickle of lighting arriving at my door for evaluation. Given the performance of their baby blinder arc 1.7 certainly delivered far greater clout than 170 lumens suggest their 600 (640 lumens) has me very excited. The song remains broadly identical, albeit amplified somewhat and the quality of light in its highest setting appears to eclipse some budget blasters boasting 1,000 plus.

Silicone straps look unchanged, save for magnetic claps and whether they’ll cope better with oversized bars/extensions and post diameters remains to be seen.Retro fans needn’t feel left out, there’s a smaller loop for 25-30mm, which even caters for Cinelli and other marques who were producing theirs in 26.2 before standardisation simplified matters. Apparently, Knog has not only boosted firepower but revised the optics and internals in this season’s Blinder Arc family.

In common with several other higher end models, this 900 lumen Sigma Power LED EVO Pro claims to combine spot and flood in a single lamp, allowing you to see 100metres (approximately 325ft) ahead.

Both have the options of bar or helmet mounting, look well made, simple to fit and user friendly. The blinder arc more obviously aimed at clutter-phobic commuters who fancy incorporating some fast paced saunters into their journey home, whereas the Sigma is a big, tuneable trail gun promising run times of between 3 and 11 hours depending on which end of the four setting spectrum conditions favour.

Talking of technology, my surprisingly long-lived HP laptop that served me tirelessly these past three years, succumbed to sudden and fatal motherboard failure last Monday evening. As Murphy’s Law would have it, said catastrophic haemorrhage struck before I had chance to back up files and second drafts on memory sticks and external hard drives

Several minutes’ heart stopping, irrational panic associated with lost data, documents and photographs subsided once I found most were either emailed to myself, or sitting in a pile of hard copy proof-reads, so I was able to catch up with 75% that evening and be ahead of schedule two days hence.

Having searched the web for inspiration, I concluded stripping and cooking the unit in my oven at 180 degrees to temporarily resuscitate and salvage was a fools’ mission. So begins the research for a replacement while I enjoy a newfound appreciation for a middle aged but very serviceable desktop.

 

 

 

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...