Thawed n’ Restored

Snowbound riding and indeed, replacement tooth were curtailed by an annoying cold virus and impassable drifts along the local infrastructure. Copious amounts, of home brewed hot lemon drink, a fair bit of you tube and similar social media consumed. Enforced confinement meant I submitted a couple of small, outstanding invoices and similar lingering admin.

By Friday, I had become borderline stir crazy, so headed to the garage for a spares box stock take.  Tubes (goo filled ones, even) were set aside for the Univega. I also unearthed this rather lovely and capacious wedge pack made by Dill Pickle Gear. http://www.dillpicklegear.com/store/index.php?route=common/home  

Timely too, since the otherwise charming Passport frequent flyer wedge pack https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/passport-frequent-flyer-wedge-pack  was beginning to fail at the LED tab. I’d previously repaired this, using storm sure flexible repair adhesive https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/stormsure-flexible-repair-adhesive  but the tear had returned, resulting in the ejection and ultimately, loss of, this Kryptonite COB https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/kryptonite-avenue-r-50-cob-rear-lig  rear light.

Blinkies aren’t cheap, so not something to be encouraged. Luckily, it slipped straight into the beautifully executed, Cordura nylon Dill Pickle.  

Saturday morning came and I headed out along the backroads for a moderately paced meander, as can be seen from the footage, several layers of ice had formed beneath the slow and slush.

These revealed the Schwalbe Active Winter’s limits. While very capable, their 240 spike counterparts would be my default option in these conditions. That said; I covered the twelve miles, or so without incident and Schwalbe UK are sending me an aftermarket spike kit. https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine/videos/vb.877353858962213/1846747668689489/?type=2&theater&notif_t=page_post_reaction&notif_id=1520084629695609

https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-winter-spiked-tyre  

Despite the thaw, they’re staying put-a combination of flooded roads, mist and freezing temperatures, otherwise equates to sheet/black ice and potentially, very nasty spills. Being a perpetual fettler, chopping and changing comes with the territory.

However, save for test kit and consumables, Ursula meets my four-season, hell n’ high water, bike- as- car design brief handsomely. The SKS chain lube has cruised past the 120 mile point. Plenty has transferred to the cassette but the links are covered in a middleweight, filmy dressing.

I will upgrade its Microshift rear mech, for another 9speed model when time comes. I’d just received some Lizard Skins DSP handlebar tape from 2pure www.2pure.co.uk , which is timely given the otherwise sturdy Guee silicone, was starting to weather and tear a bit after 18months.

Monday arrived yet the impacted snow remained plentiful, although the roads were clear enough for my ‘cross inspired fixed. The 38mm Soma Shokiro https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/s  haven’t missed a beat and the ability to relax and tap out a steady tempo, welcomed. Out of curiosity, I’m also going to see what I can squeeze, from the existing helping of Smoove Universal chain lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/smoove-universal-chain-lube  before switching to another blend.

Took the opportunity to strip, inspect and giving cleat hardware a generous lick of grease. Always more convenient and less time consuming than resorting to drilling because they’ve rounded/seized solid. Talking of drilling, my dentist drilled, pinned and instated a temporary crown, which has left me feeling less self-conscious.

The recent postponement of a shoot, was probably a blessing in disguise. The meth addict/hillbilly grin is hardly becoming! Thankfully, remedial works were completed before Thursday’s, very enjoyable shoot with Louise.

All the models I have worked with, in the past 18months have been extremely pleasant and consummately professional. Much of this comes down to pre shoot communications. People who will be difficult/unreliable/unprofessional are pretty easy to spot and I’m not I the business of wasting time. My response is a polite no and correspondence is terminated there.