The past week or so has been so wet that local roads are closer to what I’d expect at cyclo cross meets. Lanes carpeted in bovine and pig dung, developers have added their fair share of greasy slippery gloop, which has put the spice in slide on 4am blasts.
These often hold thorny hedge clippings. Two pierced Ursula’s rear Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre Vittoria Evolution Road Bike Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), inducing a slow flat and meant I was once again, running the final two miles home. Sure, I had a spare tube and other kit but being tight on time, running seemed the best bet. Also confirmed the Shimano RX6 soles have sufficient give for running-It felt like I was tackling a moderately mucky cyclo cross course, not metalled road.
I’ve left the Ryde Andra 40/ Shutter Precision wheel SHUTTER PRECISION SD8 HUB DYNAMO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) with Mick Madgett for some judicious tweaking and switched to the Ryde Andra/Alfine Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) I’ve also gone for the Landcruiser Plus at the rear, standard Land Cruiser up front. Ursula was filthy. Undersides of the guards were caked with slimy stuff, ditto the chain, so since I was replacing tyres, tubes etc, I whipped the rear wheel out for a deep purge.
Cassette and chain got similar treatment; the latter treated to some more Weldtite Ceramic WELDTITE CERAMIC LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) A quick shot of PTFE infused maintenance spray to the brake and gear cables to drive any stiction inducing moisture...Some quick tweaks to the rear pads and air to the tyres we were clean and ready once more.
That was of course, until we succumbed to yet another, rear flat. I switched to the basic, clean Land Cruiser at the rear and ditched the wafer-thin ITS tube for one of two middle weights holidaying in Ursula’s Axiom Ocean wave City+ AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) then ordered a stock of three, just in case.
I’d had to consign two spares, including a Schwalbe to the bin-patched three times-a fourth would be silly. A decent tube with three patches, I will carry as an emergency spare but not my go-to. I was pleasantly surprised to find the ITS repairable-a tiny pinprick well away from the seam.
However, very much “a get you home” for the wedge pack, not a default. Patch quality is also pivotal to a realistic repair. Rema Tip Top are pretty much the best there are. Weldtite and Cure C Cure have also proven themselves over the years. 1800 odd miles along, Ursula’s KMC chain still has a decent amount of life left. However, I’m down to my last, so added another to stock, while I could acquire once at the right price.
Predominantly pitch-black, sometimes misty conditions mean I’ve dug out the Sigma Sport Buster HL 2000 SIGMA SPORT BUSTER HL 2000 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and popped that atop the Kask helmet. I’ve a better sweep of the lanes and whisper it, stand a sporting chance of spotting holes and tending mechanicals. See Sense See.Sense BEAM & BEAM+ (seesense.cc) have sent me their Beam+ Front light. 1500lumens but with a downloadable app, so the light can detect and choose to intensify, or indeed, reduce output at key points.
For example, pumping out more light when at roundabouts/entering the flow of traffic, dipping when you’re grinding along a climb. This genuinely seems to work and moreover, reliably, bringing a big smile to my otherwise stern face.
The app also includes ride stats, crash alerts (advising of an accident) and theft. Otherwise, there are four modes. Three steady (High-1500 lumens, Med 450lumens, low-250) and an adaptive flash, reckoned good for 30 hours. I’m presently running it “stock” while I develop familiarity and will explore the app, dare I say the light’s true potential in the coming weeks. Right, snow’s forecast, signalling a switch to spikes...
