Changeable Season Selections

 

Mild, wet, and filthy conditions continued, and lanes continue the ‘cross meet narrative, meaning I was treating Denise to Sudsy bucket washes every four rides or, so, since we were filthy following every outing. Temperatures wandered between 8 and 11 degrees, the Lomo Winter Cycling Gloves Lomo Winter Cycling Gloves | cycling-not-racing continuing to impress with their comfort, dexterity, and moisture management. Not forgetting their wallet-friendly price.  

 

The Peaty’s Link Lube All Weather was doing its best to keep the chain lubed and silent without attracting too much grot but has still called for reapplication every 100 miles or so. I’d also noted some tainted links on Ursula’s new chain, which I’d treated to Peaty’s Link Lube Dry PEATYS LINK LUBE DRY CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing  

 

Then along came this Motorex Chain Wax. I'm told this is a blend of biodegradable oils trafficked by water. Pretty typical of wax formulas per se, as is the need for a surgically clean drivetrain first time round. Literally anything damp, or oily will prevent it adhering to the chain's rollers and inner sanctum-hence why its introduction coincided with Denise's deep clean.  

 

I'm curious to see whether it's a middle of the road fair weather blend, or whether it will stay put during less clement conditions. Thus far, it has poured nicely from the spout-I've given the bottle an enthused 60 second shake to mix everything and in temperatures around 6 degrees, the viscosity has been very controllable, notably less watery than several I've tested long term over the years. Not so much as a splash on the concrete. Controllable enough that I'd be tempted to use it on cables and metal on metal parts to keep them slick, though clean.  

 

For some folks, lube choice is less nuanced. Dry and waxy formulas are for dry and potentially dusty contexts, wet lubes are for wet, wintry conditions. I can see the logic to this but I'm not the only rider who prefers something a little less stodgy, dare we say gooey. Immersion waxes that work in a similar fashion to old school motorcycle blends are increasingly finding favour, given their cleanliness and in some instances, performance gains. Of the dropper bottle waxes, I've found Momum MIC the fastest curing and surprisingly durable.  

 

Waxes also work on the science of capturing grit and other contaminant within the top layer, scabbing away as you ride, leaving a light lubricant layer protecting the chain. Providing you're not introducing waxes of different chemical compositions; this can be topped up- no need to scrub clean beforehand. However, apart from the Momum MIC and a couple of others, most need several hours (ideally overnight) curing, which isn't necessarily a deal breaker, so long as you replenish before it's completely exhausted.  

 

This might not be the most convenient on an unexpectedly wet commute, or mid tour. That aside, formative impressions were quite positive. Having stripped the chain, cassette, jockey wheels and ring of any residual lube/gunk using the tag team of neat Fenwicks degreaser and Silca Gear Wipes. I wasn't in a rush, but I had 25 minutes all told to deep clean and lightly lube before popping the bike away and tackling other stuff.  I was also tempted to switch Ursula from the spikes, but the weather forecast predicted some freezing conditions and given the standing water and general gloop, going rubber up was the last thing I needed.  

 

¾ length bib knickers are a bit Marmite but I'm firmly in the love camp, which was brought home to me when I discovered I only had a pair of Funkier and the Castelli Entrata Castelli Entrata Thermal Bib Knickers | cycling-not-racing left, having worn through a set of Van Rysel, my favourite Primal Dawn TEST & REVIEW: PRIMAL DAWN MEN'S BIB KNICKERS and some bargain basement Ozzo. The latter having served me well for many years.  For me, they provide fabulous overlap between the seasons, most obviously Autumn to Winter and the early season to spring.  Conditions where tights are too toasty and shorts uncomfortably chill. My knees certainly appreciate the coverage and insulation. 

 

Waterproof luggage is a definite plus in all contexts but especially touring or commuting. The Lomo Waterproof panniers are certainly impressing me with their belt and braces weatherproofing. Mounting hardware is also very versatile, meaning they adjust to a wealth of different rack tubing diameters.  

 

The factory fitted internal sleeves have proven compatible with the Topeak Uni Super Tourist 2.0 Non-Disc Rack Topeak Uni SuperTourist 2.0 NonDisc Rack | cycling-not-racing   and its disc ready cousin mounted to my fixed gear winter/trainer. This opens and locks onto the rack by pulling the webbed nylon handle- convenient for quick getaways, although took me a few goes before it became intuitive. 

 

Smiling Through The Slush

 

Winter had returned with a white blizzard. The air temperature had been around 2-3 degrees but windchill meant it felt closer to minus 2 and visibility was also dropping. Something that sprung to mind while I was out on Denise. I'd donned the Castelli Espresso JerseyCastelli Espresso Air Jacket | cycling-not-racing and Bib TightsCastelli Espresso Bib Tights | cycling-not-racing, Waterproof jacket, waterproof socks, Shimano MW7Shimano MW7 (MW702) Gore Tex MTB Shoes | cycling-not-racing, traditional polyester/cotton cap and the Lomo waterproof gloves. Toasty enough to focus on the conditions. Thankfully, it hadn't frozen overnight, so the roads and lanes were just soft and slushy under tyre.  

 

The MW07 had also become as filthy as they were before I'd deep cleaned them only the day before. Much the same story with Denise, mucky spatter clinging to the down, seat tube and rear triangle. I’d decided to give her a good sudsy bucket wash every four rides, mitigating the risk that winter might take a bite from anodising and pretty paintwork, although decent quality waxes and an absence of gritting lorries along the lanes and B roads certainly helped.  

 

During this phase, I was beginning to question my enthusiasm for lighter weight lubes, but decided I'd stay with them, for the time being. Better more regular application, than a grinding paste. There was plenty of waxy gunk falling away from the jockey wheels during the latest deep clean.  

 

While combing through the cassette, the tool literally disintegrated. Not totally unexpected-I’d had it years and, in my experience, the witches brew of old lube and solvents usually dissolve them. Bin fodder, but I’d enjoyed the satisfying process of coaxing lumps of congealed, waxy stuff from the jockey wheels and derailleur cage. According to the chain gauge, there was plenty of life left in the KMC chain, which was another welcome find, so I stripped the side-plates of residual lube and scuzzy stuff, then reapplied some of the Peaty’s Link Lube All Weather.   

 

We're quite fond of Blub's range of lubricants, although they seem a little quirky. For example, the ceramic Blub Ceramic Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing and dry Blub Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing blends will need reapplying if bike(s) are left standing longer than 48 hours between rides, which might be a moot point on a commuter, or daily driver, but not ideal for sunny day's playthings. Talking of which, Steve's been long-term testing their P Wet lube Blub Wet Lube | cycling-not-racing 

 

 

I’ve decided I’ll switch the Deore crankset’s plastic bearing pre-load cap for a CNC machined aluminium alloy unit, designed to be adjusted using a 10mm Allen key. These are heaps more convenient-especially if I need to snug the bearing preload mid ride. This induced some foraging in the spares boxes- I knew I had one somewhere...Sure, I could buy another for £6 or so on the auction sites but knowing I already had one doing nothing irked me.  

 

Thankfully, I’d located one within twenty minutes, inducing a loud cheer. There are models designed for 8mm Allen keys, which would be easier still, given they’re a common feature on contemporary multi tools. However, with the Oxford Torque R10 Mini Ratchet runs a ¼ inch adaptor, thus widely compatible with other bits, so you can build a custom kit for the road. In many respects, this suits me down to the ground.  

 

However, there’s a lot to be said in favour of the pocket workshop types with chain tools-they can be popped in your chosen luggage and will cater for most situations. Indeed, I’d probably steer those starting out to one of the pocket workshops. Lifeline LIFELINE 18IN1 MULTITOOL | cycling-not-racing   or Passport CDW PASSPORT CDW MULTITOOL | cycling-not-racing  have impressed us. Muc Off 17 in 1 Multi Tool Muc-Off 17 in 1 Multi Tool | cycling-not-racing  is another solid option, if you were seeking a very compact model. 

 

I’d been a little conscious that Denise’s carrier and mudguard eyelet threads were exposed.  

I’d put a drop of winter weight chain lube on them as a preventative measure, but recent wet and muddy outings convinced me it was time to blank them off. A rummage in my fasteners draw unearthed four suitable candidates. Dipping the threaded ends in some Oxford Mint Assembly Grease Oxford Mint Assembly Grease | cycling-not-racing, I sped them home with a 4mm Allen key. 2nm is reckoned the best torque setting for these, and similar fasteners, but I literally just wound them to the bare minimum. A small, but strangely satisfying tweak while I was waiting for the tumble drier to do its thing.  

 

Alternatively, you could go for some Zits. No, not the sort you punished the mirror with during your teens, I’m referring to these Portland design Works (PDW) Zit Bitz PDW Zit Bitz | cycling-not-racing which are designed to blank off unused threaded bosses on your frame, or fork. They’re not intended to take any loading i.e. hold a rack, mudguards (fenders). Aside from adding some colour, dare I say “bling” to your bike(s) they prevent rain and other ingress sneaking inside and creating mischief- rust-stained bottle bosses, no thanks!   

         

 

Temperatures continued to tank over the coming nights, prompting a switch to Ursula and the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro. However, in practice, the roads remained thawed, and slushy come sun rise, so I stuck with Denise.  I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well the Continental Pure Contact Tyres have coped, cutting through and shedding churned gloop much better than I was expecting. That being said, knobblies can rapidly become slicks in these conditions. 35mm cyclo cross designs are an obvious alternative to gravel specific rubber. Hmm, watch this space..