Cold Comfort

Wintry, or should I say seasonally appropriate weather has  swept in almost overnight, so I’m extremely grateful for another batch of climate cheating kit and some more lighting arriving at my door. However, even this did not prevent me contracting a nasty dose of sabre-tooth man-flu.

Until then, thermal training jackets (Especially those bearing the “windstopper” tag) had left me feeling decidedly boiled in the bag given twenty miles at club typical speed. However, said chill beating prowess is a godsend with the mercury barely entering single figures.   

Snowfall in the midlands and elsewhere brought the gritting Lorries out in force and I was surprised by just how quickly my Ilpompino’s transmission was turning into a gloopy, grinding paste-even with a stout, though clean running Teflon fortified prep gracing those stainless steel links. Time for a full-blown exorcism.

This also presented the opportunity to fit a Bontrager rack and Zefal Iron Pack XL. The former is very intelligently designed, primarily for commuting and light touring. Better still, a wealth of similarly well engineered adaptors means it neatly accommodates unusual configurations-including frames without eyelets.

That said; carbon ends are a no-no and it’s a very precise fit, so take the time to measure, check before finally nipping everything tight and pruning arms with a junior hacksaw. Oh and make sure the blade is razor sharp, mine wasn’t leading to a slightly jagged cut that needed filing. Hardly a big deal but extra-faff nonetheless. 

I have also discovered said bike’s Thudbuster seat post can present problems when fitting wedge packs. Often, the Velcro straps aren’t long enough, which ultimately results in premature fatigue. The Zefal is a cavernous and neatly segregated model combining old school reliability and modern design.

Externally it’s made from a rugged 820 denier water repellent fabric with plenty of Scotchlite, weatherproof zips-easily operated in gloved hands. Two litre internal capacity equates to two tubes, two multi tools, tyre levers, patch kit, CO2 cartridges;3 tyre levers, AAA batteries and small bunch of keys.

An EVA foam lining supposedly protects valuables from low level vibration while rigid composites maintain shape. Plenty of long, steady miles in the wet and a hosepipe test should reveal its true potential and maybe a limitation or two.   

Back to the deep clean…

Now, I really appreciate the clip on convenience of chain baths but there’s a lot to be said for the old school brush on technique. 

Simply cut the top from a redundant trade bottle, pour in your favourite ant-lube and dawb on with a cheap, clean brush.  Fenwick’s concentrate worked into the links, hub and sprockets and residual salt dismissed with cold water, I engulfed the bike under a sudsy blanket and went in search of bucket, sponge and hot water. 

Fifteen minutes hence-sparking bike and chain dressed in Fenwick’s Stealth. This lube is one of those super high-tech formulas that needs careful application and ideally, overnight curing but dries to an almost invisible state and stays put. 

Plenty of other lubricants will also shrug at winters’ toxic sludge. In a pinch, that capful of 10w40 or more basic semi synthetics such as 5w30 is seriously long-lasting though remember to wipe the side-plates, rings and derailleur cages weekly to avoid grit and grime doing their worst.

Sophisticated fully synthetic motor oils often contain detergents, which keep contemporary engines ultra clean and are reconstituted within the oil pump. Applied to chains, a few hours hence and those detergents will strip all the lubrication…Everyone has a very different opinion when it comes to winter/workhorses and I’m a subscriber to single ring simplicity.

Note, I didn’t say single-speed. I like fixed for countless reasons but a cross derivative running a 1x8/9/10, or even 11spd cassette has to be an extremely practical option. Lively ride, ample clearance for stout rubber and full length mudguards, two sets of bottle bosses and a more upright configuration also helps.

No front derailleur faff, a sensible spaced block means you can climb, cruise and canter in good proportion. Tiagra grade consumables are plentiful and cheap, so no excuses for running everything into the ground-they don’t look low rent either…

Elsewhere, I’m about to recruit a social media person for “Seven Day Cyclist” and my photographic venture. We’re also bringing another designer on board, having concluded a web based (rather than downloadable mag) format is the preferred layout.

This has also coincided with a fresh temp gig to balance the books and my KA sailed through its MOT inspection with no remedial work required. Impressive for a 13 year old “super-mini” with 148, 250 on its odometer.