Transformation Complete

Having left Kushi KA for servicing/MOT testing, Meg the magic (Nissan) Micra spirited us to Maldon Shot blasting & Powder coating for the grand finale’. Upon arrival, Chris had already tended the affected areas with Metafil-an aluminium based filler that seems much sleeker than thermal putties, although care is needed to avoid generating air bubbles since these can bleed through during the final curing phase.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given its age, there’s trace, corrosion induced pitting along the inner, drive-side chainstay, thankfully long dormant and before my adoption. This superficial scarring won’t present in the final colour coat, nonetheless, Chris leaves nothing to chance and gives said section a final, precautionary tickling in the glass bead cabinet.

Three minutes later, we’re ready for masking and that all-important zinc phosphate primer. Pedants might advocate chromates but the former is much kinder to personnel and planet while performance differentials are negligible. Indeed this brand cures with phenomenal, seemingly elastic tenacity given ten minutes at 200 degrees whereupon Chris graciously offers to create an exotic two-tone effect with no cost implication. However, accepting such would be tantamount to bladder milking, so we commence with RAL5024-pastel (sometimes called “French”) blue.

Being an electrostatic process, there’s no wastage and he achieves comprehensive, even coverage in five minutes, lovingly hanging it in their walk in oven for a further ten. At this juncture decals can be applied and sealed under a two-pack lacquer but I prefer a quiet, mysterious air. Speaking of which, there’s no need to clear coat-a finish of this calibre will look resplendent for many years. However, an acrylic was applied since opportunity presented itself.

Unlike polyesters, there’s no risk of crazing but acrylics cannot be sprayed to warm surfaces; hence said chassis sits patiently for twenty minutes beforehand. Lacquers appear white for sprayer convenience but form a glossy invisible barrier within the oven. Job done, we are reunited and homeward bound. Once again, I’d like to thank Lee Cooper (www.leecoopercycles.webs.com) and MSBC (http://ctc-powder-coating.co.uk/) for their remarkable generosity of spirit and obviously, taking such good care of my beloved frame.  

In the days since, I’ve reinstated the sealed square taper bottom bracket and am reflecting on headsets while doing some post (successful pass) MOT sill surgery- Kushi’s are sound, though demanded sanding and marine primer TLC to halt the silent killer’s relentless advances during the grottier months. Now, off to play with some 700x29 tyres!

  

With A Little Help From My Friends

Having returned from the midlands, I wasted no time in dropping the Holdsworth at Maldon Shot Blasting & powder Coating. Despite considerable demand for their services, Chris made concerted efforts to commence work on Wednesday morning, submerging it within their slightly sinister looking chloride tank, which softens the existing finish in a matter of minutes. Satisfied of even saturation, my ferrous friend is plucked free and placed within the iron oxide cabinet ready for blasting. Starting at the bottom bracket shell, these finer particles are projected at lower pressure, yet dismisses the beleaguered blue livery with remarkable efficiency, leaving behind a clean, lightly sanded texture perfect for receiving the new primer and topcoats.

Obviously, this chemical romance consumes filler too, so pre-existing superficial dents around the top and head tube will be given fresh helpings of Thermabond putty beforehand. Job-lot finishers would go straight to paint, attempting to mask these imperfections with heavier powder but this always bleeds though and looks second rate. Traditional fillers are porous, so will blow, ruining the finish as it oven cures, so the only other option would involve filling the affected with brass and smoothing it flat.    

Elsewhere, Uncle Benny came to my rescue on the coldest night thus far. Swooping serenely past his house on the newly fettled Ilpompino, our zen-like mood was rudely interrupted by the rear tyre’s sudden loss of pressure. Carrying said steed sixty odd metres to his welcoming (not to mention well-lit) veranda, I was extracting the rear wheel when he opened the door, inviting me and stricken spherical into the warm.

Boiling kettles muffled impolite curses upon discovering both tyre levers crumbling under moderate strain and several small but troublesome lesions in the previously invulnerable 24mm Halo rubber (which ironically had superseded 25mm thick slicks that succumbed to similar fate twenty three hours earlier). 

Having filled this with Bostick’s finest while slurping piping hot diesel strength beverage, I introduced a fresh tube only to find my ultra-efficient SKS hand-pump had also blown its last…Luckily enough, I’d a fully loaded CO2 dispenser en tow-110psi reinstated in a matter of seconds. Beverages consumed, pump binned and wheel repatriated, we were home in twelve minutes. Naturally I’ve since added two replacement tubes, levers, canister and mini pump to proceedings.

Despite forecaster predictions, artic winds have brought freezing rain as opposed to snowfall, thus Univega has retained those semi-slick Panaracer RIBMO for time being. Aheadset bearings have continued to slacken every forty odd miles, leading me to repatriate the spacer below the stem. Theoretically this configuration will increase the load exerted by its heavy duty headlock (as distinct from star fangled nut) cancelling out further outbreaks of unwanted play.

Experiencing creative fatigue, I noticed the rear derailleur cable run from lever to first guide seemed a little strained so re-routed and replaced its inner wire before drizzling some clever looking Muc-Off C3 ceramic dry lube into each and every chain link. “Alien” green upon contact, it cures clear and supposedly offers similar tenacity to a wet lube but with much slicker, cleaner running. Seems delightful thus far, making easy transition to cleat/similar mechanisms, doubling as a decent assembly paste on mudguard/carrier bolts too.

Most potions tend to consist of two parts-a super invasive polymer lubricant and boron nitride stopper/thickening agent that prevents dismissal come the first puddle. There’s even a UV torch included, supposedly ensuring comprehensive, unabridged coverage but while certainly different, in practice it doesn’t seem to offer any real benefit since green is pretty difficult to miss! Still, the next few hundred road miles will reveal this particular formula’s foibles.

   

Blink n' You'll Miss It

Recent weeks have literally passed with electrifying pace and being the season of ever encroaching darkness, I’ve been happily putting blinkies of varying fire-power and orientations through their paces. As with anything, there are some remarkably tall, not to mention endearing myths about power outputs. Raw figures can be very misleading. However; suggestion that 300 lumens represent sufficient navigational clout for unlit rural stuff beyond 12mph induces hyena-esque laughter from yours truly.

500 upwards is my benchmark, though while 1000+ is absolutely superb, greater sensitivity and deft dipping is required to avoid diplomatic incidents. Speaking of focus, I’m always amazed by the power of deadlines to motivate remarkable achievement. This gyroscopic effect has also resulted in progression with book chapters and other project management, which can be overlooked given competing, everyday professional/personal priorities.

Lee Cooper (http://leecoopercycles.webs.com/) dropped me an email advising the Holdsworth’s structural repair was complete- timely since I was heading to Birmingham on Friday the 15^th to see Soul II Soul perform at the Town Hall. So I arranged to head up on the Thursday and leave it in a dry, locked and moreover secure location while this and photographic projects were pursued with commensurate vigour. Maldon Shot blasting & Powder Coating were generous enough to advise they had RAL 5024 in stock, inviting me to drop by with the Holdsworth when a convenient moment presented itself.

Once this stage and front end are reunited, I’ll reassemble, tweaking its original line up with alternatives hibernating in my spares bin. This can be done at my leisure (probably during the Christmas/New Year corridor) as we slide into the salty, slimier season. Judging by recent forecasts, the Univega might be sporting those spiked Schwalbe faster than originally anticipated.

Pleased to report said tubby tourer’s present configuration pleases me immensely, giving a really secure, planted feel, perfect for pacey winter reflections without feeling ponderous. Have experienced some minor slackening of the steerer bearings though-easily tackled with one’s trusty multi tool but might indicate the existing top cap/spacer arrangement needs slight revision.

Taking a totally different tack, while perfectly capable of being loquacious and building constructive professional partnerships, my personality type is one of positive introversion. Far from being constrained or shy, I am thoughtful and deploy these energies constructively wherever possible and do not suffer fools gladly. No shortage of graduates seemingly unable to string a coherent sentence together and I’m yet to meet a construction worker who couldn’t box-though fail miserably when pitted against an amateur fighter of similar weight.

Easy then, to appreciate time-trialling’s allure over massed start racing. Having originally conceived the Holdsworth with precisely this intention, I’ve been somewhat perturbed by recent proposals from Britain’s national governing body (CTT) to outlaw everything non-standard, this includes obsolete parts/frames(!) Presently it’s unclear quite how these rules might be interpreted/ enforced but this doesn’t bode well for our particular ambitions. 

For me, TTs aren’t so much about ego or glory but rather another constructive, disciplined outlet, converting negative energies into something infinitely more empowering. Right, that Chinese titanium seatpost has just arrived, heralding the Ilpompino’s imminent reconfiguration and the Univega’s tyre swap while I’m at it.  

Gout Begins At Forty....

  

Not something commonly associated with seventy odd kilo tea total vegetarians perhaps but I appear to have been bequeathed this excruciatingly painful affliction by my late father. Once thought to be the consequence of a lavish/indulgent lifestyle, received wisdom suggests gout arises from over production of uric acid, leading to joint inflammation.

In this instance we’re talking Podagra-a variant specifically affecting the big toe, which induces sporadic yelps and agricultural utterances when donning snug fitting road/Audax slippers. Anti-inflammatory drugs appear the medical profession’s default option, though research suggests that antioxidants, concentrated vitamin C and upping good (as distinct from junk) fluid intake play a central role in exorcising said demon. Frankly, the mere thought of pharmaceutical cocktails induces palpable resentment, so I’ll seek guidance from sympathetic practitioners and explore naturally occurring alternatives.

Thankfully since riding elevates my mood, I’ve been chasing through the lanes, battling some seriously stormy conditions, hoping improved toxin flushing blood flow will reciprocate. Other casualties included the chain pin function of this long serving Specialized EMT, finally succumbing to fatigue after five years and countless road, trail and indeed, workshop service. No danger of retirement mind, since everything else remains absolutely A1-testament to tooling quality.

On a happier note, spent several fun days in the midlands, which included seeing Jamie Cullen and support perform live at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Lee Cooper has extracted the Holdsworth’s fractured shell and is in the process of cleaning the tubes before introducing its replacement. Temptation to add braze-on bottle bosses creeps in every so often but rebuffed on the grounds of structural integrity-even the most skilfully applied heat causes some very minor weakness, which is unnecessary given sturdy, paint friendly adaptors are plentiful these days. Nonetheless, this has prompted me to rethink livery-there’s no doubting RAL5012 is an extremely alluring colour, only something like RAL 5014 or 5024 signifies a fresh start/new chapter without “specialist” cost implication.

Speaking of which, my titanium fetish continues to blossom courtesy of this Swift-esque “Aire” saddle from Harrogate based SPA cycles.  http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s204p2863. Saving 171g on its ferrous sibling adds £35 to the ticket price, though even with regular feeding I’m banking on six hundred miles before my derriere’s completely smitten. While harvesting used Alpha compatible Minolta lenses, studio backdrops and Christmas presents online, an editorial cheque fluttering through my letterbox induced spontaneous investment in a 400mm ti post, which will play a lead role in the Ilpompino’s friskier makeover.    

Magic Midlands: Holdsworth in Safe Hands

Serendipity struck in the guise of an email from Lee Cooper, inviting yours truly and Holdsworth to his midlands based workshop for a chat. Fast-forward forty-eight hours, we were whizzing 120 odd miles along the M1 and to Ryton on Dunsmore just south of Coventry, a  once thriving city that has struggled with deindustrialisation and central government indifference for several decades.

Clearly a product of his environment, Lee is immediately likeable, extruding earthy eloquence and wry wit typical of those who served traditional craft apprenticeships. His career began on a work experience scheme with Triumph motorcycles, which by that stage limped along as a cooperative until its final swansong in 1983.

A passion for grass track motorcycling saw him assembling/repairing machines for Coventry competition motorcycles before graduating to the blast cabinet and later bicycle frames at a local builders in 1984. Quickly gaining enviable repute as a freelance trouble shooter meant he was in great demand, addressing quality control issues seemingly endemic amongst small marques during the late 1980s/early 90s. He then formed LA cycles before branching out on his own some eight years ago.

Surveying the fracture and ruling out other structural woes, he conjures an almost identical shell from thin air and explores surgery in greater detail. Peering inside, tubes form an almost interference fit, necessitating greater precision but nothing fiendishly problematic. Refinishing will be outsourced to Maldon Shot blasting & Powder Coating since, while a competent enameller, Lee prefers to focus on fabrication. Business concluded; he introduced some fascinating prototypes, including this fillet-brazed frameset designed around Shimano’s Alfine hub system.

Tucked beside his newly acquired lathe sat a series of freshly modified/repaired forks, rows of neatly organised tubing, oxyacetylene cylinders and arc activated dark shield, sparking reciprocal tales from manufacturing’s sharp end. Mindful of outstaying one’s welcome, I bid him fond adjure’ before scooting along to a neighbouring pub and a fruitful chat with its Landlady regarding former Peugeot employees for another book project.

Down south, there’s been continued pre winter fettling of one’s fleet. Tracing the Univega’s mushy rear brake to a missing cable hanger instigated a military style search through polycarbonate storage boxes. Forty-five minutes methodical foraging unearthed this fetching stainless steel Salsa unit, which literally transformed modulation/feel. Said tour de spares drawer also uncovered a 12-25 9 speed, nickel plated Sun Race cassette, prompting this heavy duty nine speed Gusset DHS9 chain reckoned to be 20% stronger than standard fare.

Nudging 357g, it’ll induce palpitations amongst some but is theoretically bombproof courtesy of extensive heat treatment and oversized upper plates. However, tool-free magic links can prove unexpectedly vulnerable so I’ll be keeping a close eye on things over the coming weeks. Revisions to the Ilpompino’s spec include Axiom ti and Inox cages, 1000 lumen One23 lamp since darkness falls with alarming haste.

Carbon has long been the dominant composite but I’m increasingly enticed by the idea of abandoning said steeds’ Topeak rack/Caradice bag for something sleeker and post mounted. Some folks might relish the prospect of A&E nurses picking shards from their buttocks but I’m gravitating towards Chinese titanium offerings floating around cyberspace at mid-range 6061 prices.

Staying with the global powerhouse, fondness for pattern blinkies requires little introduction, so imagine my delight having taken delivery of these CE compliant GLO units from Peter Marchant  (http://www.bicyclelightshop.com/).

USB charging seems almost mandatory these days, though button type CR2032 and AA/A cells have serious advantages when it comes to touring, Audax and reliability riding where plugging into ports isn’t an option. Initial impressions are favourable.

Construction and weather sealing, though elementary is adequate, contacts benefitting from a lick of silicone grease but seemingly non plussed by prolonged cloudburst. Output is crisp as distinct from retina tickling, grabbing attention from 150 metres but superb dynamo companions, or indeed stocking fillers. 

Perpetual Evolution

An industrious week culminated with the submission of “Belgian Mix” and timely arrival of some Cyclo tools including this tube cutter, which as its name implies is for precision slicing of raw frame materials, fork steerers/handlebars et al. Sure, a bench vice, decent lighting, hacksaw and steady hand reaps commendable results but mistakes can prove irreparable, not to mention costly. Similarly, downtubes cannibalised from gas pipe frames make surprisingly accurate crown race setters but improvisation has its limits-purpose made, CNC machined examples repay their investment very quickly if you've a big fleet, or were elected club mechanic. 

Left to my own devices and with seamless supply of piping hot, diesel strength coffee, the urge to commence front-end transplant surgery became irrepressible.Fervent re/measuring of stack heights/ steerer lengths saw work stand, “school chair” forks, hacksaw and cutting guide repatriated to the comfort of one's kitchen. Five minutes hence said beefy Cro-moly pipe had been trimmed to perfection, ready for bearing components. However, bitter experience warns against performing more complex procedures at 12.30am, so I retired to bed-though not before removing all trace of such clandestine debauchery.

Returning to said duties twelve hours later, disassembly/inspection of the tubby tourer’s steerer bearings confirmed their exhaustion.  Devoid of suitable successor, I dropped an email to Alan at Riverside Cycle Centre, who was only too happy to address the finer points of Ahead replacement first thing on Monday morning for the princely sum of £21.50. Wanting to minimise labour costs, cups were deftly dispatched using this badly ravaged 300mm, 27.0 diameter Kalloy post and engineer's mallet.

Now, we’re talking common or garden cheap n' cheerful like-for-like Dia Compe turning on simple caged balls with rudimentary O-rings keeping Mother Nature at bay. Then again, these seem very reliable so long as servicing and full length mudguards (fenders) aren't overlooked. Speaking of which, relocating said chrome plastic presented a few challenges given those beefy legs are sans eyelets and standard P clips won't straddle their girth. Wandering round the web in search of commercially available solutions drew a blank but one or two folks had overcome said obstacle, employing Jubilee clips with old inner tube serving as protective, paint friendly interfaces.       


Extensive rummaging in my graveyard of redundant mounts unearthed two oversized cat-eye computer sensor brackets. Comparably stout cable ties tethered everything together-not ideal perhaps but ensures sufficient clearance to prevent nasty stuff getting jammed between tyre and guard section, while allowing spiked snow tyres to ship straight aboard .   

Fettling/repair/replacement are all central to riding, though there’s a strong economic argument for outsourcing more complicated work when time is short, or indeed better expended on other things. Good shops are pivotal in this equation, so cultivate a positive rapport, not forgetting a periodic packet of biscuits/ jar of instant coffee/ their way. 

Hold On, What About The Holdsworth?

Didn’t feel inspired to assume keyboard duties first thing, so resurrected “Ninja Blue” from hyper sleep, popped it aboard the work stand and commenced disassembly, ready for bottom bracket shell replacement surgery. Contrary to popular folklore, only brazed/silver soldered framesets are realistic candidates for this sort of invasive repair.

An ocean of home brewed frame preserve sloshing round the tubes certainly rendered internal corrosion academic, ensuring threaded components released easily too, though given their high torque settings, crank bolts benefitted from a squirt of heavy duty penetrant.

Bottom bracket extracted, I doused the slightly grimy chassis in a blizzard of Brite Ride’s super sudsy foaming bike wash and let its ionic surfactants get busy while harvesting bucket, fresh water and super tactile Muc-off brush. The latter inducing spontaneous, yet not universally welcome rendition of Prince Buster’s “Wine and Grine”-afterall, have brush you avoid rush. Strongly suspect he wasn’t referring to post winter cross race clean ups mind…    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcI3m_tbnyc

Joshua’s reproving looks weren’t adding anything beneficial to proceedings, so he was sent in search of SLR, prime lens and these Seal Skinz waterproof kid’s gloves… Several minutes later, he emerged from the office brandishing said goodies, by which time the Holdsworth’s 5012 powder coat livery positively gleamed, offering an unhampered view of the hairline fracture.

Temptation has been to fill with brass, smooth flat and repaint-somebody quoted £40 for the structural stuff but Murphy’s Law dictates said damage will simply recur a few weeks hence, rendering such efforts futile. Ergo, Midlands based Lee Cooper http://leecoopercycles.webs.com/ seems our best bet once cash flow resumes a more favourable state.

Some would suggest taking this opportunity to introduce bottle bosses and similar modernisations, afterall, said build is hardly original. However, there’s little need given the availability of high quality pressure fit composite cages. Cosmetics will remain unchanged, though it may be enamel rather than powder this time round-depending on whether Lee is comfortable with paint being outsourced to Maldon Shot blasting & Powder Coating…

With all that water sloshing about, its inner sanctum was flushed through with liberal blasts of maintenance spray. Gently rotating the frame before leaving it upturned for twenty minutes largely eliminates risk  of moisture lodging ruinously inside.

Several season’s continuous use of Seal Skinz products affirms they’re genuinely waterproof-right to the cuff lines. Nonetheless, thorough evaluation of any performance claims is essential. Joshua willingly immersed his hands for ten consecutive minutes, confirming bone dry digits, although felt slightly disconcerted by the sensation of water lapping against the inner membrane. Textured palms offer reassuringly good purchase too, so scoots to school shouldn’t be too uncomfortable as the nights draw in and temperatures plummet.…