Brighter Days & Lighter Lubes

There’s nothing like testing chain lubes to encourage big mileages. I’d gone way past the 800-mile mark with Motoverde PTFE chain lube, when these two arrived from One Ride Cycling. Stripping the remaining lube from Ursula’s chain and cassette required a generous blast of Motorex Drivetrain Cleaner and some tenacious scrubbing, suggesting it could go another week or two-250 miles, from the original application.

My fixed gear winter/trainer has exceeded 900 road miles mark. I digress... There’s the Momum Mic Wax Chain Lube, a blended formula using microcrystalline wax and ceramic particles for maximum, possibly optimal penetration of host chains.  

It's reckoned stoical enough to withstand wet weather, which isn’t territory synonymous with waxes per se. The Momum Mic Oil is a synthetic oil that uses ceramic particles for similar effect. What better excuse for deep cleaning Ursula and the Teenage Dream’s drivetrains... Both bikes were deserving of a good wash n’ waxing. I also needed to use up the last, useful dregs of some degreasers, so they weren’t taking up unnecessary space.

  

Given we’re creeping toward summer; I’ve treated both to the wax.  Modern chain lubes, (waxes in particular) require pristine hosts, so get recipients really clean-rings, jockey wheels, cages too before giving the bottle a vigorous shake and apply to every link. Keep a rag hovering beneath to collect any overspill.

Unusually for a wax blend, Momum suggest 15-minute curing times. This may be so, say on a very warm morning- I tend to leave lubes curing overnight per se in any case but I wasn’t surprised to find it anywhere near set, after 15 minutes, at 8 degrees.     

Mornings, though much lighter, have still been suitably crisp, meaning for the most part I’ve been donning a mid-season long sleeve jersey (primarily since I’m reviewing it) and middleweight, full finger gloves. However, I’ve also put this Funkier Ixara Gents Elite Jersey through its paces and am suitably impressed Funkier Ixara Gents Elite Jersey | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

The Seal Skinz Leather Road Cycle Gloves are a particularly good pairing with the Ergon Gravel Bar Tape, although others, with silicone detailing including these Specialized Grail Long Finger Gloves are proving a very agreeable union.  

Aside from being a great bridge option, they also double as effective liner gloves during winter. They will also slip beneath some classic, looser fitting mitts too, including these Passport Crochet Back Cycling Mitts TEST & REVIEW: PASSPORT CROCHET BACK CYCLING MITTS (sevendaycyclist.com) are still going strong, several seasons down the line.  

The palms aren’t on par with pricier models and the leather benefits from a lick of hide food to keep it supple and the elements out. About lighting, I could get away with switching the dynamos off and stick with blinkies, since it's a matter of remaining conspicuous, rather than needing to navigate.  

I’ve gone for the Ravemen LR500s and of course, the loyal ½ watt AAA powered rear. Now, watts are a rate of consumption, not of output, but often assumed to be. The 500, as its name would suggest, delivers 500lumens but the arc of light means its more useable than many along darker roads.  

However, given those light mornings, I’ve been banging on about, the 200lumen rapid flash is my mode of choice and will go near 15 hours from a full charge. However, keeping the lithium-ion cell charged (or at least, not falling below 70% too readily) is the best way of optimising run times and prolonging battery life.   

The Holdsworth is still sporting the Magicshine Ray 2600 Smart Remote Bike Light and has Moon Sheild clinging on to the seat pack's tab and Tern Vizy adorning the seat post. Overkill some might say but I like the security of two-just in case. Ursula’s default is Ravemen TR30 rear light RAVEMEN TR30M REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) (Although I switch between that and its CLO5 cousin RAVEMEN CL05 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com))

Flanked by The Cat Eye Viz150 (which boasts a daylight running mode) and Topeak Tail lux 30 rear light. The fixed gear winter/trainer’s seat post is hosting The Lelumia The Beast LELUMIA THE BEAST REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which also sports an 150lumen daylight mode.  

There have been many times during my life where I haven’t been where I’d hoped-professionally and personally. Conversely, I’m pleased with my achievements and my ability to adapt to unpredictability, but a little bit is missing dunno where it’s gone...wonder when, or indeed, if it will return.