The Mexican Super Killer Returns

Finally the framed arrived back from Argos. Each time I send something to Argos they take ages to return calls answer their phone and to get anything done it seem to take a week or 2 longer than it should, I'm not sure it's worth the hassle. Well that's just the box it came in and you'll have to assume the bike is in the box.


And that's the bike out of the box, Yes yes it looks like it did before, except for the small bright, shining titanium at the front. They were going to put a small amount of silver weld on the inside of the headtube, so the headset fits perfectly, but instead they fixed the headset by epoxy, the gap between head set and tube was too small for the silver. Anyway they assured that the epoxy would withstand any battering I give it. And that the alignment of the bearings would be perfect, alignment of bearings is of paramount importance, misalignment bearings mean early wearing and early replacing etc etc....


So here it is, the Chris King Titanium Headset. Hard to see the how gorgeous it is (there's always a slight loss of style and aestheticness in photography) Anyway it spins like a top, and smooth as a smooth thing.



Worth every penny.

The most important thing about a down tube protector is that it is invisible and this looks pretty


good to me. The back derailleur cable crosses the underside of the down tube and this stops the paint from being rubbed and chipped.

The cranks and seat post with saddle go on. Beautiful external bottom bracket with an XT hollowtech crank set, check out the Bookes Swift saddle, it's a real honey.

Stripping

Well the MSK is totally stripped, to be sent off to Argos Racing Cycles. They will reduce the bore of the head tube, which has been stretched over years of usage. Then they will fit the Chris King Titanium head set (it's a real honey, I know I have said that before but it really is!)








The Arkel GT-54's have arrived they are georgeous and so big you can fit enough stuff to last till I get at least to Greece. Unfortunately as I have stripped the MSK then I have not been able to find out if there is enough heel clearance. I also have an Arkel TailRider, this is quite a honey as well, I can now get all my stuff inside so nothing is hanging off the sides, It should look a lot cleaner than this bunch of plastic bags!

And I have bought the MRS Titan Titanium cook set lighter than a light thing and can have food cooked in it.

How light can everything be, it must be Titanium bolts next for everything, they're bright, shiny and light.

Panniers

Panniers are a nightmare

Ortleib - Are completely waterproof but have no pockets

Arkel - Have lots of pockets but the outer is not fully waterproof but does have a waterproof inner.

Well I decided on having Ortleib on the front and Arkel on the back.

I already have the Ortleib panniers, they are good and if you do not want to get into or out of them too often then they are fine

I originally bought the Arkel XM-45s these are a mountain bike rugged pannier, direct from the shop in Canada, wow what service got to me in 4 days from purchase, as always something has to go wrong and unfortunately, I found a slight hole in one of the pockets (stitching problem I think) I got onto Arkel and they offered to exchange immediately, that would be too easy for me so I decided to upgrade to the GT-54s these are bigger and with more pockets (I love pockets, a place for everything and everything in its place). If they get here before Christmas I will be a happy man, I'm not holding my breath, but after the last 4 days delivery anything can happen.






There always has to be a slight complication and with these panniers it's going to be heel clearance. I set a template up on the side of the bike and see if the heel of you shoe clears the pannier when pedalling, it seemed OK. We'll find out what happens when they arrive. The problem will be that it will be too late to send them back as I have caused so much hassle at Arkel I will be embarrassed to send them back.






Watch this space.

The Mexican Super Killer

Like it's that easy to get a bike for a long trip.

I bought a specific touring bike from Condor cycles, but somehow didn't like it's feel that much the problem was I was trying to copy the feel of the old 1997 Kona Kilauea which I had done most of my previous touring on.

I crashed the Condor into a post in the middle of Richmond Park, caved in the front forks, all my fault I know. The first trip abroad I went on with the Condor the back wheel nearly buckled and I had to re true it in the middle of Greece, and I was well pissed off about that! A month or 2 after that someone pulled out in front of me and I went over his bonnet, caved in the front forks.......... again, luckily this was an insurance job and so, forks repaired and bike resprayed, it's now pristine. As you can see the Condor was just not working out for me, it's going on e bay in April or March.

So I stripped down the old Kona Kilauea, worked out what I wanted adding onto the frame and what colour paint job I wanted then sent it down to Argos Racing Cycles in Bristol. What a sweet job they did on it, there was a little confusion, but in the end the bike looked like a, like a............

Put all the bits on: Shimano XT external bearings bottom bracket and cranks, Shimano XT front derailleur, Shimano XTR back derailleur, Shimano Deore bar end shifters, Empella FrogLegs cantilever brakes, Brookes saddle, Original Kona seat post, Thompson stem, Nitto Moustache bars, Kashimax FiveGold top tube protector, Wheel Shimano XT Hubs Sapin spokes and DT Rims, (made to last by Harry Rowlands the master hoopster!)

My piece de resistance was a Chris King Titanium fit and forget head set. (why spend £60 pounds when you can save about 10 gms in weight and spend £230!). When this was sent to fit, it transpired that the head tube has worn and stretched slightly and the head set was loose in the tube, I was gutted!!! The solution has been found, finally, the bike is to be sent back to Argos and silver solder fills out the head tube, there may be some paint discolouring this can be able to be disguised (we hope) The headset should fit perfectly. Final update after Christmas.