Without wanting to question such luminaries as Norman, but do the gears really need adjusting that often to justify such drastic actions, I could not bring myself to do it, my gear change mechanism has stayed perfectly adjusted for years, granted it did need a second adjustment when I had an electric start fitted by Francois Grosset, but once the exhaust pipes have been fitted and clamped into position they fall on and off easily enough. I know Norman was a racer, and I guess when racing time is not on your side, but on a road bike, if you follow Richardson, which I think is copied from the riders handbook it should be fit and forget for a good few thousand miles, with no need for a hacksaw.