In my newest Outdoors column I ask whether or not or not the supple tire pattern has gone too far:
The reply is sure it has.
So too has the extensive bar pattern, by the best way. At this level the “alt” biking sorts are driving bikes wider than their bikes are lengthy. (‘m unsure there’s something “alt” about alt-cycling anymore, ether. If something it’s highway bikes that are actually “alt”–and they’re again to slim bars, go determine:
Cyclists are so predictable.
After all, my favourite highway bike additionally has comparatively slim bars, because it dates again to the final slim bar cycle:
As I discussed the opposite day, I’ve bought some tasks deliberate, and one in all them is to offer this bike some much-needed consideration–together with repairing and changing the unique C-Document derailleur, which I needed to substitute with an Ultegra again in Could as a consequence of a damaged bushing thingy. Among the many goodies Paul of Basic Cycle had despatched me over the vacations was a donor derailleur from which I may supply an intact bushing. So I figured I’d get get began on that at the moment.
I’d since moved the ailing but lovely C-Document derailleur to the Faggin, having discovered that for some purpose it labored simply advantageous on that bike regardless of the damaged bushing thingy:
So I eliminated it, and whereas the chain was off I figured I’d additionally care for one thing else that was bugging me:
That’s a triple entrance derailleur shifting a 42/53 chainring combo. It was the one derailleur I had on the time that may match. It really works simply advantageous with the double, however I needed to mount it fairly excessive as much as maintain the big inside plate from hitting the inside ring. Clearly there is no such thing as a purpose for a 53-tooth chainring on an city runabout, and I did have smaller outer rings accessible, however since I’d be unable to maneuver the derailleur any decrease I didn’t wish to use them for concern of throwing the chain.
However then triple-izing the Homer (by the best way, changing the Wipperman hyperlink has actually cured the chainsuck drawback) netted me one other entrance derailleur–a Shimano designed particularly for “cyclocross”-type ring combos–so I dug out a 48-tooth chainring:
And now the Faggin’s frontal crank scenario is significantly extra usable and tidy:
Other than all of the grime that’s my trademark, in fact.
With that carried out, I turned my consideration to the derailleur(s):
The one on the left is the one from the Kestrel (damaged), and the one on the fitting is the one Paul despatched me (intact). As you’ll be able to see, the intact one is far more scuffed than the pristine-looking damaged one, although so far as I may inform it was in any other case completely practical. Whereas I believe Paul’s concept was that I’d swap the bushing over to the nicer (damaged) derailleur, I’d additionally ordered a substitute bushing from eBay, which I used to be nonetheless ready for:
Sure, you can get a reasonably respectable used derailleur for a similar cash, however I’ve come to comprehend that classic Campagnolo elements trigger you to behave irrationally, and I appreciated the concept of getting two working derailleurs, since that may put me squarely within the One P.c.
Anyway, with the half on the best way, I figured I’d simply put the scuffed (intact) derailleur on the Faggin after which restore the clear one when the half arrived. In order that’s what I did, and I spent numerous time futzing with cable housing and ferrules as a result of old-style cable cease on the ’80s body, the dearth of a barrel adjuster on the scuffed derailleur, and so forth., solely to lastly kind all of it out after which uncover I couldn’t flip the goddamn restrict screws. This was as a result of the slots had been extraordinarily slim and solely the teeniest screwdrivers would match, however then I couldn’t get sufficient grip or leverage to budge them, even with pliers. I attempted each screwdriver I had–even a bike-themed one with a pun it–but it surely merely wasn’t occurring:
I do know you’re supposed to make use of JIS screwdrivers on Japanese bike elements, which like most lazy slobs I by no means do. So realizing Campagnolo perhaps I would like a particular screwdriver with the requisite Italian ardour. Or perhaps they’re simply caught. I actually didn’t have this drawback with the restrict screws on the opposite derailleur, which flip so simply you’ll be able to virtually do it by hand:
Regardless of the case, I gave up making an attempt to show them since I’ve been recognized to break derailleurs, and at last simply snatched the Ultegra off the Vengeance Bike since I used to be going to be changing it will definitely anyway:
This finally yielded me an exceedingly clean drivetrain, if a bit pedestrian for its utter lack of Campagnolo:
Although arguably a pink Faggin is Campy sufficient.
I’d prefer to say I finished there, and also you most likely want I’d, however after that I bought deep into the derailleur surgical procedure:
In the event you’ve ever seen “Useless Ringers” what it was like*:
However let’s save that for one more day.
*[Don’t worry, the derailleurs are fine.]
