Adapt & Survive

I’m not one for meaningless marketing speak but sometimes less is genuinely more-especially when it comes to computers. Models that pretty much make the tea are a joy to play with and really effective training tools when used properly but there’s a lot to be said for simplicity. Urban has become the buzzword for minimalist chic and RSP CX3.0 seems to embody this perfectly. Including wireless, sleep and two bike functions (allowing it to be swapped from best bike to winter workhorse) amongst the nine is perhaps gilding the lily but the super clear display and “telling you straight” accuracy complete with motivational pacer arrows means its great for everyday riding and training duties.

Playing devil’s advocate, many brands offer seventeen function wireless types for the same money but having survived repeated September downpour and an unintentional trip through the washing machine; suggesting build quality is a notch higher than most. Simple rubberised rings hold the mounting plate securely to even these WTB and are so vastly superior to low-rent cable-tie affairs, it’s difficult to grasp why this method of attachment hasn’t become universally popular. Mode and set buttons are well conceived too, easily operated in gloved hands without being overly sensitive to accidental knocks. Night owls such as myself will mourn the omission of a backlight and on a wider note; I’m disappointed by the distinct lack of models without a cadence function…wired or otherwise. Debatable around town and on short haul time trails, maintaining a steady cadence is remains pivotal to efficient cycling. Seem to recall managing 188rpm turning an eighty-one inched fixed on a mile long descent several years back.

Maybe I’m showing my age but once upon a time there was a game for the Commodore 64 called “BC’s quest for tires”. The central character was a uni-cycling caveman who had to ride his way through various canyons collecting tyres and avoiding hazards en route. I’m thinking of producing a sequel for the modern age, imaginatively entitled “ Michael’s quest for (big) tyres. Why? Because I’m relentlessly searching for the ultimate go-anywhere, minimum compromise semi slick capable of bombing along asphalt and through forest alike. 1.75 inches wide, 85psi maximum pressures for asphalt duties with a stout puncture preventative belt being my design brief.

To date, Vittoria Randonneur trail are the closest I’ve come to this particular Nirvana. Several thousand miles later, ours still look as fresh as the proverbial daisy, which is all the more impressive at £20 a pair. Rolling resistance is noticeable alongside a slick on smoothly paved roads but the tread doesn’t turn skittish through bridle path and forest trails at moderate speeds. Really sharp flints can cause mischief, although three flats hardly constitute a blot on their copybook. More than can be said for a small-scale publisher doing everything they possibly can to avoid paying me…Then we have the problem of undercutters, those so desperate to enter the creative professions, they will literally work for free (or nigh on) without a thought as to the consequences for these extremely skilled vocations or their sustainability. This certainly isn’t limited to photography or to a lesser extent, journalism. Some fifteen years ago, Universities were able to draw upon a wealth of students who “Loved to teach” sans recognised professional qualification or tangible experience. This reserve army of labour was happy to accept short-term contracts for £10,000 less per annum, pro rata with the obvious decline in standards.

During last weeks’ production line laundering of technical garments, I resurrected these Scott sport-touring shoes. Classic road looks met with old school sneaker pattern sole and SPD drillings for an unusually practical hybrid on and off the bike. Acres of mesh aren’t ideal for the darker and undoubtedly wetter months but from memory they’ll entertain overshoes so I’ll let serendipity and pedal choice guide me. This might only be a week or so away given the relatively rapid wear rate of these otherwise amiable Keo copy cleats. Speaking of weather, the fall is a busy time for winter hacks, prepped and preened with new bar wrap, cables and other precautionary upgrades. Having completely exhausted my supply of clean lube, select and coordinated rummaging in the garage unearthed a 75%full bottle of nytralube slick caramel- a thin lightweight PTFE derived racing blend. Other options included White Lightning’s epic ride and finish line’s one-stop degreaser and chain prep aerosol but the nytralube will remain my weapon of choice until I get the opportunity to play with the amusingly monikered but widely revered Squirt brand.

Peugeot framesets managed to market themselves on a successful pro pedigree during the 1980s but the production bikes were never particularly special. Some sported nice Reynolds and Columbus tubesets (I always had a secret yearning for the Perthus Pro) but were plagued by poor quality control-fork steerer failures and badly scored seatposts weren’t uncommon during this era. At the other end of the market is this old HLE/Carbolite 103 model. Basically a high tensile steel tolerant of the marques distinctive welding technique, it’s the stuff of winter hacks and a popular choice for first fixer conversions too. Arriving in a very sorry state, a gloss black powder coat not only gives this one a new lease of life but an intriguing air. Right then, I’ll totter off, figure out how to lash a Mont Blanc carrier to my much loved, mile munching Ka and brew some more corrosion inhibitor from the garage.