I’ve been settling to some little jobs before Holdsworth, and Teenage Dream enter seasonal hibernation. I’ve decided to revise the Holdsworth’s stem spacer height and replace the budget expander wedge. I’ve also decided to switch the Teenage Dream’s rear tyre. While I love the Vee Tire Co Rain Runner infinity’s speed, they seem slightly susceptible to punctures, so I had a rummage in the rafters, hoping to find these Schwalbe Lugano TESTED: SHWALBE LUGANO ROAD CYCLING TYRES (sevendaycyclist.com)
A little portlier and erring more towards commuting and winter training, but given my preference for dawn blasts, some additional reliability is welcome. Instead, I found a solitary 25mm Freedom Thick Slick (which the Holdsworth is shod with), so popped that on the rear. I would’ve preferred a matching set but aesthetic pedantry aside, some would argue this is another example of personalisation and for now, I’ll stick with that!
I’m still researching potential replacement(s) for the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Dual Defense, which have done 7,000miles and still going strong, although starting to show some formative signs of wear. There is a school of thought recommending alternating front and rear tyres for longevity.
I can see the merits on paper. In practice this is a dubious practice-whipping a partially worn rear up front is inviting a very nasty face-plant on a wet, greasy ride. I will often switch the part worn front to the rear, to get my money’s worth, but then, a brand spanking new tyre goes up front!
No sooner had I switched Ursula’s chain to the Peaty’s Link Lube Dry PEATYS LINK LUBE DRY CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) this Muc Off Ludicrous AF arrived in the post. Claimed to be the world fastest lube brewed for road, mtb and triathletes, it promises to perform in temperatures as low as minus 20, and extend chain life, so it will be interesting to see how the next few months pan out. Typical of high-end lubes, chains need to be surgically clean before applying and Muc-Off recommends leaving it a full 24hours curing.
One thing led to another (as it invariably does, with me) and before you know it, I’d whipped Ursula on the work stand, out came the rear wheel. Shifting had been slightly off again and I suspected this was down to the cassette's lockring working slightly loose. Snugged tight with trusty cassette tool, I also suspected, the microshift bar con needed to be dialed fractionally tighter- a slight, clockwise turn of my 4mm Allen key-sorted. Out came the sudsy bucket and sponge and the old girl was gleaming again.
Chain, ring and cassette exorcised with solvent, I drizzled Muc-Off Ludicrus AF into the links. The Teenage Dream’s drivetrain received identical treatment, coinciding with the tyre swap and a review of the wedge pack. Dead CO2 cartridge was consigned to the bin and given the Uk’s present shortage of said gas, it might be a while before I acquire some more... I’ve also been witnessing extensive panic buying of fuel.
Traffic backed up along the streets, reminiscent of the last fuel shortage, during the summer of 2000. In the corner of London where I was living, some people were actively trying to scale the tankers. On one occasion, I had two 20 litre MOD jerry cans full of leaded fuel for motorcycles (older Japanese machines, though designed for unleaded, had no problems with the more toxic blend).
People were begging me to sell them it (some more aggressively than others). Leaded petrol is ruinous to catalytic converters, as several hapless people discovered, having filled their late-model Toyotas. Whether the UK will assume a state of compulsory rationing, last experienced in the early 1970s remains to be seen.
Back on two wheels, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the Sigma Infinity Rear LED Light SIGMA INFINITY REAR LED LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) it’s compact, bright and simple, with favourable run and charge times. Those looking for a super potent rechargeable front light may like to take a look at The Ravemen PR2400 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/ravemen-pr2400-front-light
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