These are a wire bead model,
adding some significant grams over the folding Pure Contact but they roll
surprisingly well for a big tyre and are seriously dependable when it comes to
cuts and ultimately, punctures. Flats happen and will claim even the most
dependable pneumatic rubber at some points, but I’d sooner not be tending one
on a cold, dark, wet night.
Interestingly, the Contact Plus
are much easier to mount and remove and seem to offer a bit more room at the
rear triangle- when both are inflated to 70psi. Anyhow, that’s all academic,
the Contact Plus are staying, at least for winter.
The Muc Off C3 All Weather seems
a little slicker than its base counterpart Muc-Off
All Weather Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing and indeed, Weldtite All
Weather Lube Weldtite
All Weather Lube | cycling-not-racing , although that’s less surprising,
given the price differential. Mot much between them on the cleanliness front,
if a diet of muddy, greasy lanes is any gauge.
The Weldite is drizzle on, wipe
and go, whereas the Muc-Off require four hours to cure. I’ve tended to leave it
overnight but as you’d hope, have also tested the four-hour claims. Seems so in temperatures between 11 and 14
degrees, although tanking temperatures may sing a different tune.
Storm Claudia gave ample opportunity to assess
its staying prowess, not to mention that of the Sidi Algor. Thus far, both are
holding out against the waterlogged lanes and driving rains, which is very
welcome. However, I’ll need some sustained cold to assess the latter properly-afterall,
Algor literally translates as “cold”. An
unintentional ejection of the Gaciron Cetus Gaciron
Cetus 1700 Underneath Bike Light | cycling-not-racing front light, into a
deep puddle suggests weather sealing is very good. True, it’s not full-on
submersion but still impressive and there’s been no lasting effect, or damage.
Wetter periods are also leading
me to conclude the Ergon bar tape is understated on the grip front and
reassuringly easy to get along with-no slipping, no white-knuckle rides and,
unlike some, surprisingly straightforward to keep clean.
A quick shot of bikewash,
lathered up with a medium stiff brush will shift mucky, ingrained spatter with
nominal effort. Plenty of mixed terrain riding suggests the 3mm Orthrocell
padding is very effective over longer distances but without looking unduly
bulky. Less important on a gravel bike perhaps, but great if you were looking
to dress a more traditional road specific winter/trainer, or tourer.
Until recently, temperatures have been mild enough for mitts. This is
significant because it enabled me to assess the texture and purchase against
bare skin. The woven surface texture is slightly reminiscent of cotton tapes,
although without the sogginess when it’s raining dogs.
Having tweaked Denise’s rear mech
tension slightly, curing a modest but annoying shifting glitch midway along the
cassette, I returned from a particularly wet ride, to discover a tiny but
annoying amount of play in Denise's one- inch Stronglight A9 headset.
An easy fix, although less
convenient when you can't locate those large wrenches. I found my BBB Headfix
but then recalled I only had a single 32mm and needed two. Couldn't locate my
cherished Campagnolo but thankfully was able to remove slop and get everything
bang on with a single wrench-seems as if the cable hanger worked as a useful
buffer, preventing the bearing race moving while I snugged the locknut
down.
One of those periodic, rather
than regular tweaks but reminded me how convenient the Aheadset systems are by
comparison. Two Allen keys-4mm for the pinch bolts and a 5/6mm for
adjusting the pre-load. An easy job mid ride, or indeed tour-assuming bearings
and races are otherwise in good health.
Servicing using stout grease and
protecting the lower race from water and ingress. Obviously, mudguards
(fenders) make a huge difference, but this isn't always practical. A boot
made from scrap butyl inner tube is another additional defence, extending their
life and to some extent, service intervals. Especially on gravel and mountain
bikes seeing hard service.
After a very ambient start,
November has awoken and with wet roads and temperatures dipping below zero, I
decided to dust down some 35mm Schwalbe Winter Spikes- I really didn’t want a
repeat of last January, claiming a jersey, tights and Denise’s Tektro RL520
brake lever. Not to mention some pride... The Marathons can be stubborn to fit,
and these are no exception, claiming a composite Park tyre lever and causing a
pinch flat.
Minimum pressure is cited as 35psi, max 85, so
I’ve gone for 65-70, offering a bit more grip but without unduly compromising
rolling resistance. Minus 2 on our first
outing and the bike handled as if it were on rails, the spikes biting into the
ice beneath and providing that beautiful traction. However, caution and sense
are still called for- the elements can catch us out and other road users may
slide, or experience difficulties. Something I was reminded of when a large
Honda overtook, slid and then mis-shifted. No harm done to either party but a reminder
none of us can afford to be complacent.
