I’d found myself a little
tentative, following the blowout and subsequent long walk home with Denise.
Rationally, I’d switched the tube, replaced the rim tape- both fresh, so no
reason I’d succumb to a mechanical. I’d also given the cassette and chain a
good clean, stripping the Peaty’s Link Lube All Weather for its dry
counterpart. The chain was worn to .5, so still had some life, maybe three
hundred miles, depending on conditions.
Against this backdrop, I’d
decided the best tactic was to pop out on a shorter evening loop-8 miles,
taking in some gravel and rougher roads, ruling out any tyre, or tube issues
and also getting a better idea of how the big wide, swoopy WTB bars would
improve control in these contexts.
I’m still very fond of the
original Soma Condor TEST: SOMA
CONDOR HANDLEBAR and would recommend them to those seeking a shallow reach
drop, whether it be a cyclo cross, touring, or drop bar mountain bike. However,
the WTB Mountain Road Drop definitely have an edge on the control front off
road. I’d forgotten how good they were and so glad I kept them. On-One’s Midge
were another surprisingly good budget buxom bar and these were also available
in 25.4 and 31.8, catering for old school mountain bike stems and obviously,
more contemporary models.
The larger diameter was less
whippy, giving a more direct feel on the road but without feeling harsh off
road. Aside from the control factor, flared drops open the chest cavity further,
improving climbing prowess on longer ascents, which is something I’ve
traditionally enjoyed on the fixed gear winter trainer.
However, I’ve settled to subtle
riser drops, these Genetic D-Riser 4 GENETIC DRISER 4
HANDLEBARS | cycling-not-racing have struck the best balance for road
duties, their D-Riser 16 GENETIC D RISER 16
BARS | cycling-not-racing arguably win by a nose if gravel, cyclo cross and
possibly trailer tugging duties are your primary duties.
The other advantage the Genetic
offer over the likeable Soma is uniform diameter across the top section,
meaning accessories are easier to fit. More subtle designs such as the Genetic also
have an advantage when riding into headwinds, given the narrower surface area.
Five miles under the tyres,
turning right along a section of disused airfield I began to relax, engaging
with the evening sun and letting rip. Though I hadn’t intended to change the
bars, this proved an inspired choice and sensibly undertaken when the bike was
already awaiting minor work. I’ll switch the Leatt Endurance 6.0 over to Denise
and the M540 back to Muffin.
The Leatt 6.0 have proven very
impressive on the fixed. The Cro-moly axles and 6061 bodies provide a very rigid,
supportive platform, which was particularly apparent when climbing out of the saddle
or otherwise accelerating hard. Obviously, Muffin’s relatively lofty bottom
bracket and 165mm cranks help, but there’s generous clearance, so no fear of
grounding a pedal during enthused cornering. The black anodised finish is also
wearing well with the regular clippings in and out. Bearings are not only
incredibly well sealed but employ needle and ball bearings. It will be interesting to see how they fare
off road.
Staying with off road rubber a
moment, here’s my review of the CST Patrol CST Patrol
Folding EPS Tyres | cycling-not-racing
I’d had Muffin’s Giant Continuum
9 Wireless Computer head unit go rogue. Changing the CR2032 cell seemed the
most obvious solution-the sensor cells can go with little warning, regardless
of whether premium or generic cells are used. I always apply a thin lick of
Vaseline or silicone grease to the contacts, optimising connectivity, while
sealing the elements out.
However, the head unit would not calibrate
correctly, so I decided to salvage what I could- CR2032 cell, fork sensor and
silicone casing, since Ursula and Denise still run them. I’ve had a year’s
service out of it, and some might say my £9 worth. I spotted some NOS Blackburn
computers and went for a pair, just in case another of the Continuum should
fail unexpectedly. I’ll close here with this review of the Velo
Tool Mini Adjustable Torque Wrench Velo
Tool Mini Adjustable Torque Wrench | cycling-not-racing
