The rains came and with a vengeance, but this was a refreshing contrast to the heat of recent weeks. It also presented an ideal opportunity to assess The Schwalbe Smart Sam’s wet weather competence.
Swooshing through the standing water and slippery mud, I was reassured by their sure-footedness, simultaneously annoyed that I’d decided against waterproof socks but thankful I’d donned the lightweight but effective Madison Road Race Super Light Men’s Waterproof Softshell Jacket Madison Road Race Jacket | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) before heading out. A few hundred miles down the line, I’m forming the opinion that the Smart Sam are very capable “all-terrain” tyres that are surprisingly swift over metalled roads, while still delivering over unmade roads and hardpack.
Their performance reminds me of WTB Allterrainasaurus (now the “All Terrain”)- I ran a set of 26x1.5 on my drop bar cyclo cross/mtb Frankenbike some twenty odd years back. Relatively quick and surprisingly compliant for a 30tpi casing, they were perfect for my commute through inner city London with genuine off-road potential- hard pack, dirt road, canal path etc.
The Smart Sam’s 60tpi casings predictably give a plusher ride and are better off road, provided things don’t get boggy. I'd be looking towards something more aggressive for British trails in mid-winter and they’re a competition tyre but sporty enough without being ponderous, or noisy on the road.
Until this point, puncture resistance had been reassuringly good. Cue a slimy, slippery lane at 530am and a very audible “Pop!” coupled with a similarly aggressive loss of pressure. Pulling over, a rogue hedge clipping proved the culprit.
Of course, rains joined the gloom, but thankfully I had the Ravemen PR1200 Dual Lens Front Light to work by RAVEMEN PR 1200 DUAL LENS FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and of course, spare tube and Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) to spare me the seven mile walk home.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Topeak. Products are decent quality but over the years, it's their innovative design that has captured my imagination. Back home, I took the opportunity to give Ursula a good sudsy bucket wash and once-over.
Replenished the spare tube, added a Co2 inflator/cartridges and patched the wounded butyl. I was a little shocked by how deeply the clipping had cut into the tyre’s shoulder. Not deep enough for a boot but a liberal helping of superglue, which of course, I had run out of. I reverted to the Maxxis Ikon Maxxis Ikon Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)
Timely too that some interesting products from Topeak have just arrived for testing. I don’t obsess about “wasted” space on a bike but I’m fond of making clever use of it. Take Hollowtech II cranks for example.
The hollow section is an excellent host for water and other dodgy stuff, but it also presents a useful stash point for a multitool. I am still quite taken with this Torque Covert TORQUE COVERT 7 CRANK MULTI TOOL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) although the magnet could be stronger and while the electroplated tooling is decent quality, it tended to show signs of the dreaded taint through a wet winter.
Against this backdrop, I was pleased to receive this Topeak Hide N’ Tool. Another 7-function model, at £57.99 it's a good bit dearer than the Torque so it’ll be interesting to see how they compare and whether the Topeak’s on-paper refinements make a difference in practice.
Portable quick tune-up stands are another useful addition to the workshop. Static models can be had for as little as £10. Or indeed, you could make one from scrap metal, a MIG welder and leftover paint. Either way, I’ve had a couple of cheapies and found them great for tuning derailleurs and other little jobs where you need the rear wheel held off the ground.
They also double as useful storage stands. Cheaper models tend to be less stable, which can be annoying/frustrating. Enter another Topeak solution, the Topeak Flashstand e Up. Designed to handle e-bikes up to 30 kilos, it bodes well for other, heavier solos or specialist builds. It also folds, which is another nice feature.
There’s talk of another “Beast from The East” promising months of snowfall, which will mean a switch to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) . 140,000 miles together, Ursula is close to a cherished, though certainly not pampered pet. So many memories crafted together through hell and high water. Trailer lugging, hauling Joshua on his tagalong.
A broad spread of gears for grinding, cruising and bombing, huge tyre clearances (and choice of tyres), dynamo lighting... It’s not difficult to see why I’ve defaulted to her as my daily driver/working bike, especially through winter’s worst. John Moss has taken the decision, after much soul searching to part with his Sinner Mango Tour Velomobile. Genuinely interested parties should contact me in the first instance.
