Small House Inspiration

There’s no getting away from the fact that flashes of inspiration often strike on the toilet. Well, my bathroom toilet, not the infamous festival Dav Lavs, or those few remaining public facilities, which though welcome are of variable quality and clientele. Spacer choice and height are not something easily focused upon when the person in the next cubicle announces they’ve missed a vein or is about to give birth... I digress... 

Having replaced Ursula’s spacers, mid-ride, I was musing about going the Star Fangled Nut route and holding the Blumels mudguard in situ with a compression plug- I had two bouncing around in the small parts drawer. However, I quickly dismissed this idea. No sense in over-complicating matters unnecessarily. As I’ve said before, the Gusset Headlock system gives some added security, should a fork/steerer crisis strike and while the SFN and plug trick might save a few grams, any benefits are otherwise negligible. 

 

That said; I may revisit, next time I strip and re-grease, or indeed, replace the Stronglight O’lite Aheadset. I spotted another, from a reputable supplier and at the right price, so bought, while I still could and before BREXIT’s “benefits” really bite. Otherwise, I’m pleased with the carbon fork switch-compliance remains the biggest plus and when I say compliant, I don’t mean whippy.  

Lateral stiffness is reassuringly good too. I’ve gone for the version with V/canti posts, since it’s nice to have options, although in practice, disc is my default. Having run it with the weightier Alfine hub wheel, I’ve switched to the Shutter Precision SD8 SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which saves 213g, so will be interesting to see if there’s any discernible difference.   

I’ve regularly wondered about titanium forks- not necessarily for Ursula (my fixed gear winter/trainer being another obvious candidate).  

Justin Burls and his Torus range of ti components TORUS TITANIUM STEM (sevendaycyclist.com) are particularly well made. A Guide To Seatposts | Seven Day Cyclist However, others crop up periodically. Where these are concerned. I’d want a much closer look at the welds, threads etc since the devil is very much in the detail. Otherwise, Ti could well and truly outlast me- by some margin. I’d contemplate having them painted too. Corrosion’s a moot point but could draw the wrong kind of attention.  

As August rolls out, I’ve been doing some further “while I’m at it” tweaking and prepping. Removed the Fixed gear winter/trainer’s seat post, shot a blast of oily grease into the seat tube and applied some Peaty’s Bicycle Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) to the post and raised it by a few milimetres.  

Dawn is arriving later, and the nights are subtly drawing in, meaning I’m using “proper” lighting more regularly. By proper lighting, I’m referring to the K-Lite dynamo systems and Magicshine Ray 2600 Smart Remote Bike Light on the Holdsworth and Teenage Dream. Not in the navigational sense per se (although that need is very slowly creeping closer, but more presence).  

The Orp Smart Horn’sTESTED: ORP SMART HORN (sevendaycyclist.com) 150 lumen flashing modes are OK in these contexts, but I prefer greater punch. Ravemen LR 500s RAVEMEN LR500S FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is another particularly useful compact light for these contexts-especially for extended evening play times on the best bike. Talking of which, the Green Oil Dry Chain Wax is performing well, given the very arid conditions. I’ve gone well past the 120-mile mark., with no hint of waning.  

Not that impressive, compared with some petrochemical, or hybrid blends I hear you cry. However, it's cited as 80 miles per application, transfer to hands, legs and indeed, trousers is minimal and unlike some, curing times are also very quick-so practical for impromptu rides, touring, or commuting. Gear changes are light, frisky-just the way I like them, and continuing the clean theme, it attracts minimal dust, dirt, or similar contaminant. Right, that it for this week, I'll leave you with my review of the Souma Leather Handlebar Tape Souma Leather Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

 

Forks, Spacers & A Bit of Faff

 

I decided to break fitting into two sessions. Primarily since there was quite a bit going on and am a subscriber to the measure thrice, cut once school of steerer tube pruning. After all, you can always lop a bit off, or add another spacer. You *can’t* add more fork steerer tube.(I know it is technically possible, but highly impractical, especially when it comes to aluminium alloy).    

Some will point out that you don’t need a dedicated cutting guide and, taken to its lowest common denominator this is also true. However, guides make life considerably easier and reduces the risk of potentially costly mishaps. However, a decent quality hacksaw, marker and steady hand are imperative. 

Preamble aside, having pruned the steerer to the desired length, I quit while ahead and started installation the following afternoon. I had been more conservative when cutting the steerer, so rounded up some additional spacers to compensate. Wheel removed, cable ties for mudguard (fenders), dynamo cabling and computer sensor snipped, it was time to perform the switch.  

The most complex part was juggling everything in situ (only to discover I needed to switch the spacers around). Blessing in disguise, it gave an opportunity to re-grease the Aheadset bearings (Last done six months back). Park Tool Polylube 1000 TESTED: PARK TOOL POLYLUBE 1000 LUBRICANT FOR BICYCLES (sevendaycyclist.com) to the rescue. Besides, I wanted to use the tube up, since it had burst along the seam.  

A quick lick to the Gusset Headlock’s threaded parts since I was there and shot of spray grease inside Ursula’s inner sanctum rounded things off nicely. Even doing the crude, juggle n’ lift comparison test, the new carbon set was palpably lighter than the very likeable 4130 Cro-Moly “school chair” pair.  

Everything together, pre-load set, I reintroduced the wheel and tethered cabling to the new fork leg and was just about to tether the mudguard (fender) stays when I noted a distinct lack of graceful curve. After some contemplation, it was clear that I’d need to trim the stays down a bit. I have chosen the cable tie route since this was discrete and yet stable arrangement.  

Topeak Versa mount are another alternative, although I’ve seen some riders employ “Banjo clips” commonly employed in plumbing and other applications. However, if you are going this route, regardless of fork material, make a shim from cut down inner tube to protect the finish.  

Admittedly, the mudguard’s curve isn’t as graceful as first hoped but stable and functional. I also switched this “universal” computer sensor magnet for a Cat-Eye unit. To some extent, one magnet is much the same as any other and in my experience, many have proven interchangeable. Sensors tend to be model specific, although, from time to time, I've got lucky when plundering the spares box. 

 

However, the profiles can be incompatible with some setups too thick and thus strike the disc calliper. Precisely the issue with my fixed gear winter trainer-hence the switch around. A stock of spacers always comes in handy. I’ve replenished supplies of these and some M5 bottle bolts since those belonging to my working bikes were past their prime.

 

I managed to restrain my “Child at Christmas” urges and resisted the temptation to nip out for a shakedown ride the following morning. Wanted to cast fresh eyes over everything first. Saturday came. A quick once over and I headed out for a 90-minute dawn meander.  

Formative impressions are favourable.  

Aside from a palpably lighter front end, they seem to provide a compliant ride over washboard tarmac. I pulled over at one point to tweak the Aheadset- an easy two-minute job-once I’d found my multi tool. Pondered 15mm spacer beneath the stem, for improved aesthetics and possibly tenure at that point. Went that route several days later and, famous last words, I won’t meddle with this arrangement. 

I'll leave you with my review of the Shimano MT701 GTX SPD Shoes Shimano MT701 GTX SPD Shoes | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)