Building Themis: The Waiting Game

Y8RD02000.

Spring is upon us, and Themis is sitting half-dressed in a dark basement. Not half-dressed as in ready for the beach – showing too much skin while hiding the most intimate parts – when summer comes, but half-dressed as in completely indecent. Admittedly, the metaphor is a bit difficult to transfer from human to bike, since a half-dressed bike isn’t as much eyecandy as it is a health hazard. Themis, in other words, have no brakes.

And all because of Y8RD02000.

Before I get technical, because there is no way around it, I think we have time for a recap. After all, what’s the rush in a time of a pandemic? We spend most of our days sitting at home as if work-life balance was a concept for suckers.

Building Themis – a slick titanium frame which eventually would be an all-round bike beauty as comfortable as a midnight cruiser as on semi-technical singletracks – was supposed to be thoroughly documented. The process was always going to exist independent of time and – as it turned out – money (that issue should be revisited if I ever get the YPO because when you first start building a bike, things tend to spiral out of control, whether you want it or not). Themis would be ready when spring came, and time was aplenty.

There should have been brake action here by now.

So I was unaffected when there was a four-month wait for the groupset. Any other issue would also be solved with stoic calm while the build would crawl to its completion, piece by piece, just in time for making a majestic debut on spring-cleaned streets.

Well, as is already concluded, spring is upon us, and the project has come to a complete standstill. In technical terms, I’m waiting for the correct flange connection bolt, in Shimano terms part no. Y8RD02000.

It all started when I realized the complete groupset wasn’t so complete after all. It’s actually funny how a store can call a complete groupset complete without including brake hoses. However, since I am approaching this project stoically, these are the kinds of surprises that are solved without raising eyebrows (but raising the budget).

In Shimano speak, I needed an SM-BH90 brake hose. Flange connection bolts, which existential purpose is to connect the hose and the brake lever, are included in the kit. Little did I know, however, that Shimano doesn’t operate with one bolt across all its levers. So when buying the SM-BH90, compatible across all Shimano systems, it includes bolts that are NOT compatibly across all Shimano systems. Shouldn’t that be basic information? I know, stoic approach and all that, but even the most avid Stoic would raise her eyebrows upon this revelation.

While we wait: The few things that can still be done – such as attaching the bottle holder – is savoured like a vintage caramel.

And if you think that the flange connection bolt that I need – the Y8RD02000 – is something found in any bike mechanics workshop drawer, you’re mistaken. In fact, it’s existence still hasn’t been proved; the Y8RD02000 still eludes me and apparently Shimano, too.

So to sum up: When buying what you think is a complete groupset, don’t be surprised if complete means it isn’t. And make sure you have access to the correct flange connection bolts. Otherwise your patience may be dragged to the very limits of any good intentions.

To be continued. Then again, that depends on two tiny bolts.