It Pours.
It was hardly drizzling rain this morning when I rode to work, and it was an outright deluge as I rode home. I just picked up a free pair of rain pants, so now all I need are some longer fenders and rain-boots to complete my bicycle scuba suit. With the right kit, riding in the rain can be perversely fun.
Steve and I were the only ones at the shop today, and I left early when it became apparent that there was nothing worth doing. I think we might have had a dozen customers come in, and less than half of them bought anything or left bikes to repair. We killed a few hours between us polishing and repacking some Campy hubs from the 1970’s to be built up with some old stock Rigida clincher rims Steve picked up.
As always, I learned a few things. For example, though the modern standard of nine 1/4” ball bearings will fit in a Campagnolo rear hub, they’re supposed to be packed with ten 7/32” bearings, preferably the original ones that came matched to the hub. I tore up the inner bearing surface on one of my own vintage Campy hubs earlier this year, and it dawns on me now that I probably packed it wrong. This was also before I learned to adjust loose-bearing hubs slightly loose, in order to avoid undue pressure when the quick-release skewer is closed. Combine both of these human errors with some heavy Portland rain and you’ve got one dead hub. Only need to make that mistake once.
Tomorrow, after voting the hell out of some poor machine, I’m going to start working part time for Paul again. Very excited to play with big noisy machines. I’m also looking forward to putting some variety into my work week, switching every other day or so between Pullins and Paul’s shop.
Bikety bike bike bike bike bike. BIKE.