Bum Steer AKA Its Too Tight, Or Its Too Slack..

 I had a model cancel a shoot, which is annoying but comes with the territory. This presented an ideal opportunity to investigate some issues with my fixed gear winter/trainer’s recently replaced Aheadset.  

I’d pensioned off the long serving FSA, which had served faithfully for five fairly hard years. The lower race employed a cartridge bearing, the upper traditional balls, which keeps costs down, but I fancied something a little more refined, hence the Stronglight.  

However, despite having everything correctly aligned, it wouldn’t adjust properly. Removing slop meant tightening bearings to the point the bars would barely turn. Something was clearly very wrong, and I wondered if this was indicative of a more serious fork steerer issue.   

A full strip and diagnostic session followed. I dismissed the Gusset Uni-Lock Headlock, inspected the fork steerer, paying particular attention to the crown area and went the SFN (Star Fangled Nut) route.  

I then dismantled the headset and found while new, it was a “Franksenset”. One cobbled together from two superficially identical but ultimately, incompatible models (which in retrospect, explains the issues and why it was so cheap). The compression ring being a case in point. Given it was boxed and sealed, I had no reason to think anything was "off".  

Decision made. No sense attempting silk purse from sow’s ear. Might as well start again...The cartridge bearings would be useful but otherwise, I put it down to experience. Thankfully, I found a complete, sealed Olite I’d bought a while back. This also proved an ideal opportunity to use a tube of Park PPL grease that was splitting along the seams.  

Lashings of the tenacious green goo delivered to the cups and races-buttery smooth. New stem bolts, (since the Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Stem TEST & REVIEW REDSHIFT SPORTS SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION STEM (sevendaycyclist.com)’s  were getting a little chewed) some fresh thread lock on the disc caliper mount hardware, some spacer-switching... 

Time consuming but formative checks confirmed things were broadly right, so I fine-tuned the preload and snugged the stem bolts to 5nms. Cane Creek SC5 CANE CREEK V BRAKE DROP BAR LEVERS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)lever engaged and several, neurotic rockings later, I couldn’t trace any slop, so tethered the K-Lite dynamo K LITE BIKEPACKER ULTRA DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) cable to the Kinesis fork leg.  

Of course, I wasn't done there!  

Tyres inflated; pedals switched in favour of the Shimano XT, chain tension tweaked and finally, Motoverde PTFE Chain LubeMotoverde PTFE Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) stripped in favour of this Momum Mic Dry Lube. I finished by giving the frameset a light waxing, buffing with a micro fibre cloth, then popped it away.  

There’s a fine line between staying with something until you’ve got it sussed (and sorted) and quitting while ahead.  Sure enough, the following morning’s shakedown ride confirmed the bearings were a little too snug.  

 

Slackening the stem bolts, I loosened the pre-load by 16th turn, did the rocking back and forth test, then tightened the stem bolts to 5nms.  Cue loud (internal) cheer-it was 5.50am and I didn’t think my neighbours would be so appreciative, dare I say empathetic.  When it comes to bearings, headset and bottom brackets, I preside durability and weather sealing above weight and indeed price. Needle bearing models that displace loads were particular favourites.  

The Teenage Dream was originally built, (back in ‘91) with a Primax unit featuring these, which might seem strange given needle roller bearing models were a tourists’ choice and said machine was a sunny days, pared to the essential's plaything...I’ve run them up to very high mileages on traditional touring lorries but they’re also a good bet for bikes that regularly lug trailers and indeed, tag-alongs.  

Decent waterproof greases, including the Park, or White Lightning Crystal TESTED : WHITE LIGHTNING CRYSTAL GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com) certainly help extend service intervals, without shortening component life. Mudguards (Fenders) also make a big difference but if this isn’t an option for you, make a boot from old inner tube to protect the lower race.  

Obviously, being butyl go for a synthetic grease, rather than the old school lithium, or PTFE infused blends, since these will rot rubber-another consideration if headsets employ rubber seals.  Green Oil Eco Grease TWELVE MONTH TEST: GREEN OIL ECO GREASE (sevendaycyclist.com) is a surprisingly stoical alternative, albeit not rivalling the Park, or White Lightning blends discussed.  

Tubes, Glorious Tubes

 During the dying embers of 1979, I recall a Z-list comedian letting a balloon roar flatulently into the crowd, quipping “That’s what Mrs. Thatcher needs...Deflation!!” Fast forward 43 years, prices of food and other essentials are rocketing. Inflation is at a sobering 9%… 

Moments from home I was struck by another, all-too-familiar sinking, and squirming, as I engaged Ursula’s front brake. Yup, the Vittoria Evolution had succumbed to a sharp flint that had lodged within its chevrons and burrowed into the casing.  

Blowouts are rare.  

Most punctures follow this narrative and this one had the grace to hold off until I was parallel to home. Being 5.55 am, I simply switched the Ryde/Alfine Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  for the Ryde/Shutter Precision SD8 SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) shod with a Schwalbe Land Cruiser, which employs a similar level of puncture resistance to the Vittoria and broadly on par, price-wise.

  

My first flat in 750 miles, too. Inspecting the tube revealed a tiny pinprick, which was easily patched. I left it hung up and inflated while replenishing the patches in my two kits, while on my mind.  

I had some business in the midlands and made arrangements to leave my car at John Moss’s house. LOVE RESURRECTION: JOHN AND JANE MOSS'S TANDEM TRICYCLE (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Transpired he and Jane are doing some “Swedish Death Cleaning” so very kindly gifted me a batch of new, unused tubes (700x32 and a 26x1.5) which was very welcome and extremely kind on their part. Ironically, I returned to discover two 25mm Eclipse Road inner Tubes and this Kask Protone Icon Helmet awaiting me.  

The Tubes are TPU and reckoned not only to be lighter but reduce rolling resistance while being more resistant to flats. These feature a welded valve stem, which is also reckoned to be superior to bonded and glued types.  

The Eclipse are also reckoned repairable, although dedicated patches require a decent curing time-overnight, ideally. So, I’d be inclined to carry a butyl spare, or two just in case. These are earmarked for the Teenage Dream, which frankly, is the most obvious candidate, save perhaps for the Holdsworth...  

Weather conditions have presented opportunity to go out and enjoy my beloved road bike and given its presently sporting the now discontinued A520 pedals, I’ve clicked in and racked up some miles with the Shimano MT701 shoes.  

Took me a few rides before this incarnation of the Boa lacing system became truly intuitive. Well, release was the issue. I’d gone into Child-at-Christmas mode, without reading the instructions and couldn’t work out how to slacken the laces. This is just a matter of pulling the Boa wheel upwards. The MT701 are increasingly becoming my go-tos for general riding.  

That said; think I’ll stick to the Quoc Pham Tourer when it comes to the Teenage Dream since the soles are that bit stiffer. As for the PD ED 500 pedals, no surprise to learn I’m warming to their charms as the miles rack up. A good bet for touring and indeed, light, dry trail work. Dare I say the G word... 

I managed to lose a spoke magnet on Ursula’s Ryde/Alfine wheel but thankfully, I had a couple of generic, auction site specials in stock. I was also slightly surprised to find the Cat Eye Viz 100 LED light had lost its USB plug. Porting it beneath the saddle, thus sheltering it from rain and spray, was the obvious move. 

 

Talking of which, I’ve concluded the Teenage Dream’s saddle height was just a fraction too low, so raised it by a few milimetres- now perfect. Must’ve been when I re-greased the Thompson post, using the Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)