Lights, Transmission, Traction...

 

Small fasteners don’t tend to receive much thought, until/unless we drop one and it vanishes under the fridge, or pings off along a dark and lonely road, never to be seen again. Essentially, it’s good to keep a check on them and where possible, hold a few spares, just in case. I had a reminder this week, when the K-Lite Bike Packer Pro’s K LITE BIKEPACKER ULTRA DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) mount screw made a bid for freedom, along a deserted backroad.  

My complacency, NOT a fault with Kerry’s design. Thankfully, I had a Zip Tie handy, so whipped the lamp back in situ and continued. Always good practice to carry a couple, just in case.  

Back at the garage, I had a quick forage in my little fasteners stash and thankfully, found a couple of compatible screws. A timely reminder to buy some more thread lock, too.  My fixed gear winter/trainer’s K-Lite Bikepacker ProV2 Front light K LITE BIKEPACKER PRO V2 FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) had been flickering a little and a diode wasn’t firing on all cylinders.  

Chatting with Kerry State designer and owner suggested some water had possibly found its way inside the box component, damaging the PCB. Hopefully, I’ll acquire a replacement soon, but that might be a bit tricky, given the present combined chaos of COVID and Brexit. I was also gripped by the urge to give the bike a deep clean, switching back to the Halo Fix G Track hub, while the opportunity presented. HALO FIX G TRACK HUB | Seven Day Cyclist Tourin Tests Commuting 

Roads have once again become rivers but thankfully, the Zefal Extra Wet Nano Ceramic Chain lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is doing its thing, ditto the SKS Bluemels Shiny Mudguards ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Raw Prismatic Reflective Mudflap RAW PRISMATIC REFLECTIVE MUDFLAPS | cycling, but not usually racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

For a little while, I’d been reflecting on a new, suitable rear mudguard for my fixed gear winter/trainer. Over the last 15 years of ownership, I’ve run some very good, full-length chrome plastics. These offered excellent protection, but the machine has evolved from a road, to gravel configuration.  

Rear clip-ons offer decent rider protection while making wheel removal a touch easier and permitting me to run 35mm tyres in the rear triangle. I've successfully affixed Crud guards to the mono-stay too, using a big rubberised shim- a good setup, for the most part, hence it stayed for a few years.  

I’ve concluded, I wanted something lower-slung, with no risk of fouling bigger luggage-bike packing types being cases in point. A wide section, lower-slung design should subvert wet saddles and buttocks better. I’ll contemplate that while putting the Zefal Adventure R11 Waterproof Saddlebag through its paces-an an ideal opportunity to evaluate just how waterproof it is.  

Big brother to the R5, it features the same single compartment design and semi rigid construction but with some detailing, I really liked about the Passport Cycles Bike packing seatpack PASSPORT CYCLES BIKEPACKING SEAT PACK | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) including the ladder strap LED mounts and cargo net. Both have proved compatible with the Kinkekt2.1 Suspension Seatpost KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and the Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Seatpost REDSHIFT SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION SEATPOST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which is good news, given the increasing popularity of suspension posts on gravel/adventure bikes.  

 

Big Chill AKA the Spikes Stay!

No, I’m not predicting a boiler breakdown, which like many other mechanicals, usually strikes at the least convenient moment. I’m referring to the crashing temperatures and “white-outs” (a seasonal obsession with some sections of the UK’s mainstream media, presumably to distract from the consequences of Brexit. I’m starting to notice shortages of fresh produce in supermarkets and suspect this will become more apparent since fresh fruit and vegetable produce cannot be stockpiled.).  

Until Wednesday, local lanes have been predominantly cold, wet and greasy but nothing a big section slick, such as the Schwalbe Kojak couldn’t take in their stride.  

Nonetheless, I knew Murphey’s law would see temperature plummet the moment I switched the spikes in favour of slicks. A sharp reminder came when navigating the serenely silent stretches. Starry skies, glistening asphalt cluing me in and sure enough, around the bend- black ice.  

A momentary loss of traction was quickly reclaimed by the Marathon Plus’ Tungsten carbide spikes. Seeing the depth of the shimmering ice looming ahead (and clinging to the bodies of solitary passing vehicles), urged caution. I have also chosen to resurrect the ORP Smart Horn TESTED: ORP SMART HORN (sevendaycyclist.com) to alert pedestrians/dogwalkers of my presence. For the most part, friendly “Good morning/Afternoon/Evening” works fine. However, cold weather and winds can impair this, so a friendly upward prod of the “Whale tail” should sort this.   

Sticking with the Univega means sodden backsides are a distant memory, thanks to its full-length chrome plastic mudguards. These also keep the bike markedly cleaner, thus extending maintenance intervals. I was surprised to discover some superficial brown taint on the nickel-plated areas of Ursula’s Shimano M540 pedals. Especially since I didn’t notice any salting beyond the main roads. Nothing a quick shot of GT85 GT85 ALL PURPOSE LUBRICANT (sevendaycyclist.com) couldn’t smother.  

Nonetheless, a weekly wash down is advisable to remove any salts/similar corrosives and while stodgy wet lubes are an obvious choice, give a chain’s side plates, derailleur jockey wheels, and cage(s) a clean rag cat-lick. Purging this unsightly excess evolving into a gritty grinding paste.  

Really impacted stuff is best blitzed with a solvent-based degreaser, and fresh lubricant applied. Chill and shorter days mean convenience is sometimes king. Strong solvent degreasers, including Weldtite Jet Blast WELDTITE JET BLAST DEGREASER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) make this a more time-efficient process, when the temperature’s tanking. Those looking for a more frugal lube stripper might find Muc-Off Drivetrain Cleaner MUC-OFF DRIVE TRAIN CLEANER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) .  

For really deep cleans, I’m fond of Green Oil Agent Apple Extreme Immersion Degreaser TESTED: GREE OIL AGENT APPLE EXTREME IMMERSION DEGREASER (sevendaycyclist.com) . Don’t be fooled into thinking vegetable-based solvents are mild and friendly though. These can be just as, or more flammable than their petrochemical counterparts.  

Testing aside, I’ve never felt the need to remove and immerse the cassette (although this is certainly an option and something I’d be inclined to do, with chains-if only to protect the frame’s finish from accidental spatter). However, I do whip the wheel out before basting the product on, angling the cassette toward the tarmac, so solvent runs away from the hub and therefore, rubberised components, such as seals.   

     

I’ve also purchased another UN300 bottom bracket, to subvert potential supply problems nearer the time, when its existing UN55 starts grumbling. I occasionally toy with the idea of taking the Hollowtech route, probably reaching for the Shimano Zee crankset, since that’s “in stock”. However, I have the ratios right and it makes sense to run the existing setup, while its practical and economic to do so. I was going to order a few gear inner wires but found four, while rooting around my storage boxes.  

Cursory inspection, using this Kranx Chain Wear Indicator KRANX CHAIN WEAR INDICATOR | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) suggests the chain’s still in pretty good health, reckon I’ve got another three, maybe four hundred miles before substitution’s needed. Little n’ often maintenance is the way to swerving most problems.  

However, the COVID19 pandemic continues to rampage through the country. It has reached the point where the capital’s firefighters and police officers are now driving ambulances. I knew the relaxing of conditions for Christmas day would induce another pronounced spike in infection rates and envisaged the army’s engagement. However, I hadn’t envisaged the present chaos, which is both surreal and unsettling.