A quieter start to 2024 should not be inferred as unproductive. When the dust and celebrations have settled, January can be a very cold, mean and sometimes expensive month. I made time to box and send the Holdsworth’s forks to Lee Cooper, which pleased me. Meant he could work on the steerer, and I could reinstate at my leisure. It may necessitate a longer brake calliper, but I know I have a suitable dual pivot candidate in the spares drawer.
Not that there’s anything obviously wrong with the existing ACOR carbon pair, but I’m very conscious they’re a budget model and over 15 years old now. Pointless hunting down another fork when the original and rather ornate 531 set has been hibernating in a box since the frameset’s original re-spray Road Path to Enlightenment: Primed, Painted and Restored to its Former Glory
A brief conversation suggests adding 6 or 7cm to the existing steerer’s the way forward. I’ve suggested 6cm but Lee’s word is law. Never ask, (or worse still, try and cajole) a frame builder, or similarly skilled person into doing something they feel flawed, or unsuitable.
Relative Christmas and New Year calm allowed me to dedicate some time to a book draft. A work in progress these past eighteen months and though cycling and motorcycling run throughout, they’re very incidental. It’s about a relationship of a very different kind, spanning three decades, starting in London’s East End, during the autumn of 1992.
It’s often said you write the first draft for yourself and refine accordingly. However, doing, not talking is key. Same reason I don’t make New Year’s resolutions.
Switching Ursula to the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) was a prudent move as the lanes had become extremely icy, made worse by the recent flooding. I was also pleased to note the rear XT hub is spinning buttery smooth and silent following December’s repacking and bearing upgrade. There’s a lot to be said for the humble cup and cone hub.
Having checked the chain, while out on another daylight meander, I was pleased to discover Ursula’s KMC still had some useful life. Decided I’d switch to the Weldtite Ceramic Lube WELDTITE CERAMIC LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) given the conditions are typically wintry. Though there’s a lot to like about the Silca Special Formula Chain Lube, it’s not designed for flooded roads and similar extremes and in my experience, that goes for wax-type formulas per se.
A deep drivetrain clean, coupled with the arrival of some invisiFRAME Protective Coating presented the ideal opportunity to give the old girl some sudsy bucket TLC. Same went for the fixed gear winter/trainer- I’d managed to sneak the odd ride in, where weather permitted.
According to the blurb, the invisiFRAME Protective Coating was developed in partnership with Fenwick’s and designed to make framesets and components resistant to contaminants such as energy drinks, gels, mud, dirt, and grime. Reckoned good for gloss, matt, and carbon they suggest 15 applications from the 100ml (about 3.38 oz) bottle and up to six months per treatment. I’ve gone this route with a matt blue Bell Avenue MIPS Road Helmet and of course, the fixed gear winter/trainer.
Similar MO to the Rapid Ceramic Shield. Apply to clean, dry bikes. Give the bottle a shake spray in short, light bursts and work into surfaces using a clean micro fibre cloth. Leave thirty seconds or so for a formative curing, then buff with a fresh clean cloth and leave “overnight” to cure properly. Less involved than some multi-stage automotive detailers, it will be interesting to see how well it holds up against the elements and compares to Weldtite Ceramic Shield Weldtite Rapid Ceramic Shield | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)
I took this opportunity to fit the Cycology 8 Day Handlebar Tape. Designed for grip and longevity, the tape employs a silicone-derived topcoat that prevents the pattern from wearing with use. I’m really drawn to the pattern, which reminds me of those decorating roads during the Tour De France. It also contrasts nicely with Ursula’s cream and black theme.
The damping comes courtesy of our old friend EVA foam and though shorter than some, 224cm should be sufficient for wider, flared drops. On the flip side, this texture means it's less malleable than some and requires a firmer pressure to achieve a nice, uniform overlap. 125 slippery, mixed terrain miles hence and I’m really warming to grippy, shock-absorbing charms. Right, I’ll round up with Steve’s review of The Sportful Sottozero Base Layer Jersey https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/sportful-sottozero-base-layer-jersey
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