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Tech and Restoration / Re: A magic trick. Turning lemons into watermelons....
« Last post by Midschoolfool on March 11, 2025, 05:58 PM »Seat arrived.
Will start work on the cranks tomorrow.
Will start work on the cranks tomorrow.
Recent Posts
62
Tech and Restoration / Re: A magic trick. Turning lemons into watermelons....
« Last post by Midschoolfool on March 09, 2025, 03:26 PM »Haha.
I think it's time to make this my last all bike resto tbh.
That said its 14c today and its making s huge difference so we'll see.
I think it's time to make this my last all bike resto tbh.
That said its 14c today and its making s huge difference so we'll see.
63
Tech and Restoration / Re: A magic trick. Turning lemons into watermelons....
« Last post by Mikku on March 08, 2025, 09:15 AM »Man, those myxoid cysts don't look fun!!! Great name for a band though. 
64
New School Racing / Re: 2025 Race Blog - Year 9 - Still Lunging for the Line!
« Last post by Mikku on March 08, 2025, 09:09 AM »Made a slight detour on the way home from Tokyo on Thursday, stopping off at one of the pump tracks we hit up a week earlier. Only spent an hour there but it was a nice way to break up the long drive. 
65
Tech and Restoration / Re: A magic trick. Turning lemons into watermelons....
« Last post by Midschoolfool on March 06, 2025, 02:17 PM »Quick update.
So I got the wedge cluster with the cranks. Problem is it has fallen to bits. Meaning you need to use tons of grease and put them on one by one. CBA. Amazingly I managed to find a NOS one for 19 quid delivered.
OK so with that got I bought a backup seat just in case I make a hash of the covering.
I reckon I will use that any way tbh. I bought a used Shadow chain for 8 quid delivered.
I have lots of spare links in all different colours from other builds, but the aim is to boil it in an old kettle with vinegar (got and got) to remove the rust. Then soak in oil, or maybe gun blue. We will see. No point spending 50 quid on a chain for a wall hanger.
The hub came in.
And is now in bits waiting to be stripped. I will paint it black, 2k clear and rebuild. Will put a decal in the centre or something but I am going to have to take it to the LBS in Chi to get it laced. Hence why the savings on other things.
Talking of paint. I bought that and it has arrived. Two slime green base and two 2k clear. The bars are in too, and the stickers have been removed. Same with the fork they are both now just plain white. Scuff and paint etc.
I'm not sure how long this will take. It is obviously weather dependent and shit. However, my arthritis is now causing me other issues. IE, not just crushing pain. I started getting these blister like things on my fingers. Which set in place and then make my nails grow wavy and brittle. And it hurts like a bitch. I had no idea what it was but found out the other day they are these.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23456-myxoid-cyst
So yeah. All the fun of getting old eh?
So I got the wedge cluster with the cranks. Problem is it has fallen to bits. Meaning you need to use tons of grease and put them on one by one. CBA. Amazingly I managed to find a NOS one for 19 quid delivered.
OK so with that got I bought a backup seat just in case I make a hash of the covering.
I reckon I will use that any way tbh. I bought a used Shadow chain for 8 quid delivered.
I have lots of spare links in all different colours from other builds, but the aim is to boil it in an old kettle with vinegar (got and got) to remove the rust. Then soak in oil, or maybe gun blue. We will see. No point spending 50 quid on a chain for a wall hanger.
The hub came in.
And is now in bits waiting to be stripped. I will paint it black, 2k clear and rebuild. Will put a decal in the centre or something but I am going to have to take it to the LBS in Chi to get it laced. Hence why the savings on other things.
Talking of paint. I bought that and it has arrived. Two slime green base and two 2k clear. The bars are in too, and the stickers have been removed. Same with the fork they are both now just plain white. Scuff and paint etc.
I'm not sure how long this will take. It is obviously weather dependent and shit. However, my arthritis is now causing me other issues. IE, not just crushing pain. I started getting these blister like things on my fingers. Which set in place and then make my nails grow wavy and brittle. And it hurts like a bitch. I had no idea what it was but found out the other day they are these.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23456-myxoid-cyst
So yeah. All the fun of getting old eh?
66
Tech and Restoration / Re: Fix a ripped seat.
« Last post by Midschoolfool on March 04, 2025, 12:30 PM »Ride? Blimey. Even in my prime that bike would have been a challenge lol.
Apparently super glue gel is more flexible.
Apparently super glue gel is more flexible.
67
New School Racing / Re: 2025 Race Blog - Year 9 - Still Lunging for the Line!
« Last post by Mikku on March 04, 2025, 08:22 AM »Got an unexpected break in my schedule today, the last day of my trip, so with a snow front fast approaching, I quickly headed over to my third pump track in a week. This is another of the four Velosolutions tracks in Japan and is definitely more challenging than anything else I’ve ridden thus far. It was also bitterly cold but since I rarely make it down to this part of Japan, I wasn’t going to let that get in the way. Spent just over an hour there in total, which was enough to get a good feel for the place, not to mention freeze my nuts off. Plan to make a return visit when I’m next in Tokyo, hopefully with warmer weather!
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Tech and Restoration / Re: Fix a ripped seat.
« Last post by Mikku on March 03, 2025, 09:47 PM »Mate, that came out great!! I guess the acid test will be how it holds up to some riding but it looks fantastic.
69
New School Racing / Re: 2025 Race Blog - Year 9 - Still Lunging for the Line!
« Last post by Mikku on March 03, 2025, 03:49 AM »Made it down to Tokyo on Friday, with two pump track stops on the way. 
Then drove up to “Gorilla Park” race track on Saturday for a bit of practice. Haven’t been there for a few years, and they’ve made a few changes since then but it’s still a tight and slippery course. Fun though. Sunday’s race was nearly kiboshed by the Tokyo Marathon but 4 riders braved the traffic, so they made a 5-rider open class, with four of us the wrong side of 40 and a teenage son completing the line-up. I went 2/2/2 in the motos but finished third in the main, following some handlebar-banging on the first straight. A bit disappointing but still fun, especially as I hadn’t raced there for seven years or so. Plus, with such a small turnout, we were all done and dusted by lunchtime, so I drove an hour on to Shonan Speedway - another track that I hadn’t ridden in a while. No racing to report but I had lots of gate practice, which is always good, and got to check out the track modifications that had also been made there since my last visit. It really is a top-notch track and even better now with asphalt berms, so I’d like race there again this year, if possible.
So overall, not a bad little trip. Two pump tracks and two race tracks with a podium finish for the photo album.
Then drove up to “Gorilla Park” race track on Saturday for a bit of practice. Haven’t been there for a few years, and they’ve made a few changes since then but it’s still a tight and slippery course. Fun though. Sunday’s race was nearly kiboshed by the Tokyo Marathon but 4 riders braved the traffic, so they made a 5-rider open class, with four of us the wrong side of 40 and a teenage son completing the line-up. I went 2/2/2 in the motos but finished third in the main, following some handlebar-banging on the first straight. A bit disappointing but still fun, especially as I hadn’t raced there for seven years or so. Plus, with such a small turnout, we were all done and dusted by lunchtime, so I drove an hour on to Shonan Speedway - another track that I hadn’t ridden in a while. No racing to report but I had lots of gate practice, which is always good, and got to check out the track modifications that had also been made there since my last visit. It really is a top-notch track and even better now with asphalt berms, so I’d like race there again this year, if possible.
So overall, not a bad little trip. Two pump tracks and two race tracks with a podium finish for the photo album.
