As promised I have swapped to the magnesium bodied keo type Genetic courtesy of pattern cleats with a whopping nine degrees of knee-friendly float. Not the most obvious companions for a tubby tourer perhaps but they're something different for the summer months. On our first late evening saunter I stood mesmerised by this majestic sunset when the screech of brakes and splintering of wood tore through our serenity. A group of kids had over cooked the bend in their ageing Peugeot with the obvious consequences.
Given the occupants' hasty exit and camouflaging of said vehicle(lack of insurance or similar documents being the obvious motivations) calling for assistance was pointless and frankly, I was just glad to be observing from a safe seventy yards. Darkness is now arriving with little warning, so I've been taking this opportunity to put some LED systems through their paces. Arguably a steady evolution but USB rechargeable models pretty much dominate the market, boasting commendable outputs and run times. Ideally suited to desk bound commuters and freelancers like me, dry cell models boasting thirty plus hour run times from single Cr2032 or AA batteries retain the trump card when touring and/or on long haul audax duties but with prices tumbling and technology improving at a comparable rate, who knows what we'll see in the coming twelve months. 
Given the occupants' hasty exit and camouflaging of said vehicle(lack of insurance or similar documents being the obvious motivations) calling for assistance was pointless and frankly, I was just glad to be observing from a safe seventy yards. Darkness is now arriving with little warning, so I've been taking this opportunity to put some LED systems through their paces. Arguably a steady evolution but USB rechargeable models pretty much dominate the market, boasting commendable outputs and run times. Ideally suited to desk bound commuters and freelancers like me, dry cell models boasting thirty plus hour run times from single Cr2032 or AA batteries retain the trump card when touring and/or on long haul audax duties but with prices tumbling and technology improving at a comparable rate, who knows what we'll see in the coming twelve months. Competition, most notably from China has driven quality to the point it's genuinely difficult to find bad models and these Revolution flash silicone LED lights are prime examples. Commanding £9.99 a piece and boasting a prodigious ten lumens (max) at the front; six the rear, build quality rivals, if not shames designer brands. Monocoque construction offers a genuinely superior grasp of oversized bars and seatposts with visibility nearing three hundred and fifty yards on a clear night without being lost in the neon confusion that characterises our urban landscape. Ultimately, finite five hundred charge life cycles might deter some but with run times close to eleven hours in economy settings, they'll still return two years faithful, service.
However, the charge cables are hopelessly short, especially for those of us refuelling at towers, (as opposed to laptop/notebook) but otherwise I'm genuinely smitten.
Some equally fetching computers from Raleigh's RSP brand have fallen into my eager mitts recently, the most notable being this wireless computer/HRM combo complete with crystal clear display and pretty much every function aside from cadence and tea making. Accuracy seems bang on, buttons are user friendly in gloved hands. My one minor gripe concerns the Heath Robinson handlebar mount. Arguably very secure in situ, installation proved fiddly in the first instance and a few spare cable ties would've been welcome too. 
Mother Nature's effortless transition toward autumn sees me washing Gore Tex and similar technical apparel in preparation for the cooler, changeable yet deeply enticing sepia season. Riders seeking to beat the early morning chill without resorting to winter weights training gloves should look no further than these BBB Race shield. Polyamide/Polyurethane mixes are hardly exotic but wash well and keep windchill firmly at bay. Extensive reflectives make all the difference when signalling while the rubberised palm and digits ensure excellent all weather control. Dexterity is sufficient to allow roadside adjustments, pannier rummaging and even unhindered photography.
However, the charge cables are hopelessly short, especially for those of us refuelling at towers, (as opposed to laptop/notebook) but otherwise I'm genuinely smitten.
Some equally fetching computers from Raleigh's RSP brand have fallen into my eager mitts recently, the most notable being this wireless computer/HRM combo complete with crystal clear display and pretty much every function aside from cadence and tea making. Accuracy seems bang on, buttons are user friendly in gloved hands. My one minor gripe concerns the Heath Robinson handlebar mount. Arguably very secure in situ, installation proved fiddly in the first instance and a few spare cable ties would've been welcome too. Mother Nature's effortless transition toward autumn sees me washing Gore Tex and similar technical apparel in preparation for the cooler, changeable yet deeply enticing sepia season. Riders seeking to beat the early morning chill without resorting to winter weights training gloves should look no further than these BBB Race shield. Polyamide/Polyurethane mixes are hardly exotic but wash well and keep windchill firmly at bay. Extensive reflectives make all the difference when signalling while the rubberised palm and digits ensure excellent all weather control. Dexterity is sufficient to allow roadside adjustments, pannier rummaging and even unhindered photography. 
Speaking of fettling, the Feedback sports chain gauge has presented the Univega's hard working Gusset chain with a clean bill of health. A mere .2mm wear in twelve hundred unforgiving miles is testament to their build quality, although good transmission hygiene shouldn't be overlooked. Predominantly fed on a diet of wax lubes, I'm confident of reaching 2,500 before .8mm signals retirement, although 0.06 will hail the ordering of a successor to keep the drivetrain healthy.
So then to our fetching Klein road frameset. I had hoped to bring you a full photo love-story makeover but alas, the edited highlights will have to suffice. Given a thorough vapour blasting, the owner elected an equally enticing blue, complete with sparkle lacquer topcoat. Since the star fangled nut remained lodged in the steerer, it was feared the intense curing temperatures would cause havoc, thus calling for two-pac. However, closer inspection revealed it was metal and so a false alarm. Aluminium isn't the easiest of materials to re/paint since the non ferrous tubes can generate imperfections in the final curing stage but this jewel-like effect is genuinely flawless.
Another customer opted for "Kawasaki" green with sparkle topcoat, both finishes illustrating the quantum leaps in powder coating since the early days of basic primary colours.
