Wax, Wheels, Caps & Brexit Bite

Easter’s bitterness has given way to fluctuating temperatures, so I’ve switched the wardrobe around a bit. ¾ lengths and shorts have been making appearances and I’ve switched to summer-weight caps, socks and gloves. Models such as this Buff Pack BUFF PACK BIKE CAP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) wick faster, which is also helpful when conditions turn showery.  

A decent peak will also protect the eyes and face from the sun, blustery winds, and airborne particles. April’s changeable nature means I’ve been sticking with photochromic eyewear, which adjusts to different light progressively and accurately. This eliminates any need to switch lenses should strong sunlight give way to dull and overcast conditions. Liner-type gloves are another useful bridge between seasons, although look for those with some form of palm padding. I’m still very fond of these Specialized, which sport nice ulnar defending detailing.

 

The Bat wax is also notable for its cleanliness and staying prowess. Admittedly, I've not encountered monsoon rains (but few people would go the wax route, knowing this was forecast). However, it seems temperature stable. I was surprised to learn 'it's a synthetic wax employing a water-based carrier. The synthetic particles are apparently more tunable, hence it’s a thinner layer, which attracts less dirt, whereas old school formulas tend to trap the grit in the top layer and eventually flake away, leaving a thin lubricant layer behind.   

Clean drivetrains are good practice full stop. Essential when switching between lubricants, especially those of different genres. Wax formulas ae particularly sensitive to any pre-existing lubricant, especially petrochemicals. My fixed gear winter/trainer’s drivetrain being a case in point.  

I had treated it to a good, but not meticulous clean, hence why the Univega’s transmission remains pristine, and it quickly assumed a superficially scuzzy state. Deep cleans are essential when fitting fresh chains, especially if you are opting for something water/emulsion-based.  

Otherwise, the pre-existing layer will simply float the wax away. Having established this was just unsightly and wasn’t impairing performance, I removed the drive side cranks and treated the ring and chain to a liberal helping of degreaser. In this instance, I reached for Squirt Bike Cleaner Concentrate SQUIRT BIKE CLEANER CONCENTRATE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and chased any residual with Pure Bike Degreaser PURE BIKE DEGREASER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I was surprised by the glaze of impacted, matted ceramic and wax formulas clinging to the Genetic Tibia ring GENETIC TIBIA TRACK CRANKS & RING | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) but this combination stripped it bare, with some gentle agitation and a liberal, warm water rinse.  Steve has been quite impressed with Muc-Off Bio Degreaser MUC-OFF BIO DEGREASER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Dried, refitted and tension tweaked, I applied another helping of Bat Wax and left curing for seven hours, before popping out for an evening blast. I’d passed the 250mile mark on Ursula before things turned a bit filmy, so just added another light coat, put the old girl away and then left the Bat Wax curing for another 24 hours. Drizzled a couple of drops on the cleat mechanisms and the Kinekt 2.1 Seatpost’s moving components KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), since I was there, and the post was emitting a very subtle squeak.  

Decided it was also time to do some refurbishment of the Teenage dream’s wheelset. Nothing major, since they are basically true (although would benefit from a wheel builder’s touch) and have seldom seen wet roads these past 30 years. 

 

However, I’d need to whip the freewheel and I may as well strip and regrease the Athena hub, while I’m there. The freewheel was caked in a waxy glaze, which was useful enough protection in storage but looked scuzzy, so dismissed and I treated the freewheel to liberal helpings of heavy-duty PTFE lube, while I wait for the Park Tool FR4 freewheel removal tool to show up.  

Thanks to the combination of Covid 19 and Brexit, stocks are low, and the original, proposed supplier was talking in terms of 5-6 weeks lead time. Another says two weeks, so I’ve gone that route. These long lead times are also affecting other industries- replacement car components being one of them. Particularly (although not exclusively) those for European marques. Then, of course, there are additional tariffs, likely arising from the UK’s hard Brexit- an unwelcome double whammy.  

That aside; nice to see that Park still offers one, since while fond of retro, I’m not paying fancy prices. That goes for cars, motorcycles, cameras too.  I’m very attached to the “Teenage Dream” and it’s still a joy to ride, but quaint by contemporary standards. Ah but while the nostalgic is misguided and arguably unable to embrace the future, the cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing...  

Safe As Houses....

Seven Day Cyclist (www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk) continues to attract the desired demographic along with increasingly disparate contributors. Fancy a freebie?

Simply like our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine?ref=aymt_homepage_panel) to be in with a chance of bagging this Carbon Pro sports travel kit comprising of their dri shine, chain cleaner, heavy duty lube, med lube and microfibre towel.

The battle of the bike washes intensifies with some interesting twists too. Supposedly safe on carbon, lacquered, plated, painted and polished surfaces; all tackle the usual mucky suspects capably but a couple have proved disarmingly efficient, though seemingly gentle degreasers too…

This signalled a timely end to the Teenage Dream’s seasonal hibernation. I had planned to upgrade the groupset to something contemporary of the Sun Race or Microshift flavour but frankly, I can’t bear to be parted from the quaint, though likeable a ’la carte mix of 80s, 90s and early noughties Campagnolo.

Outclassed in sporting terms (along with the “Low rent” 531competition tubeset) said machine still behaves in excellent proportions and the framesets' makeover still pleases me greatly.  

I’ve also bagged a temporary facilities management gig to balance the books. This week has been one of imploding ceilings, surly contractors, tenants locking themselves out while inebriated and then purging their colonic demons noisily (and messily) in communal toilets.

Back on bikes, we’ve been playing musical tyres. After 200miles the 35mm section Vittoria Voyager hyper and MK2 Ilpompino rear triangle proved breathtakingly close, hence I reverted to the front 32mm Kenda Kwicker. Alternating between front and rear tyres was once widely advocated but is incredibly dangerous practice.

However, scrapping a worn rear, popping brand spanking new rubber up front and having the old one follow behind remains acceptable. Similar problems arose with the Univega and Kenda small block 8 pairing but I’m keen to retain its go-anywhere persona, so resurrected these 1.75 section Vittoria Randonneur trail. As its chain and cassette sneak into that twilight before retirement, I found myself toying with the idea of cutting the tubby one down a ring and introducing 11-30 cassette.

A few minutes virtual rummaging later I’d found a nickel plated HG50 for £10 and this similarly worthy KMC has just arrived from chicken cycles. Substitution will strike once I’ve reached another 250miles and can say something concrete about the Muc Off hydrodynamic lube. This will also prove a convenient moment for investigating and hopefully purging that phantom squeak. Some Genetic bar wrap promising phenomenal purchase and damping properties has just arrived and will mummify its muzzies when I get a moment.  

Elsewhere, I’ve been indulging in some graffiti porn and a recent spate of thefts has given cause to revise my own security systems. It’s widely accepted that good locks are only to keep honest people out and to deter others. Most thieves are looking for something that can pilfer discretely within a minute but nothing is invulnerable.

Using two different (Sold secure) types certainly helps but assumes organised criminals don’t arrive in well-equipped vans. Brute force is their default and techniques are common knowledge. This particular group of “professional” is also extremely mobile, quashing any notion of “safe” areas.  

Yes, the probability of falling victim in a well healed semi-rural community is less than slum inner city neighbourhoods but criminals are only too willing to exploit this, often targeting several locations each night before disappearing on the motorway network.  Obviously, strong locks are only part of the equation.

Those living in private rented accommodation have fewer options when it comes to installing wall-anchors and other high security measures. However, aside from robust physical security, think carefully about your online activity. I’m astounded by the number of people who post photos of their pride and joy in a way that leaves them sitting ducks.  

Purple Haze & Teenage Dreams

Having agreed the graphics, title, marketing strategy and other definitive stuff, our collaboration is hurtling ever closer to fruition. Self-belief, realistic deadlines, effective time management and the ability to juggle competing priorities are fundamental to the success of any venture. Rest and play must also be factored into this equation if one is to avoid flying over the cuckoos’ nest or becoming the proverbial dull boy/girl. 

Sunny skies have roused the Teenage dream from its long winter hibernation for some seriously spirited back road fun. Little remains of its original incarnation but while there are firm, sentimental attachments to its 1982 Campagnolo Victory derailleurs, other components held more negative personal connotations, so were easily upgraded and sold on without remorse.

Once a benchmark, Reynolds 531 has long been superseded in competition terms by more exotic blends, though this was largely influenced by modern volume production methods, which favours fusion welding’s speed over fillet brazing-enter 525 and 631. 

However, not all flavours were resounding successes. The thin wall competition variant still delivers considerable grin inducing zing within those formative pedal strokes. Just resist any seat tube reaming or electroplating urges and have a little corrosion inhibiting preserve sloshing around inside-there’s a reason why it’s 27.0, not 27.2!

Once the Teenage Dream’s Regina screw on freewheel rumbles on up to the great bike shop in the sky, I’ll commence wholesale modernisation with this here Sun Race NRX group. Its OEM external cup bottom bracket will be substituted for something stiffer to compensate for the lugged and brazed frameset’s greater lateral flex but this is my only intentional deviation.     

Obviously such updating will necessitate professional resetting of its rear triangle to130mm-Lee Cooper (http://leecoopercycles.webs.com/) has very kindly offered his services and hence, said evolution will hopefully coincide with mid-winter’s wrath.

Deeply intrigued by and attracted to older framesets, component groups, cameras, motorcycles and even some cars, I’m no purist. Those actively living within a romanticised, rose-tinted view of the past will never move forward. I have comparatively contact with anyone I studied at polytechnic with-there are a few carried forward and held dear, obviously. The same applies to others within my previous professional “lives” but from a strictly personal perspective, yesterday is only significant in terms of what we’ve learned from it since.

Conversely there’s memorabilia retained from this era-a Motorola team jersey bought for my eighteenth birthday-something that immediately spirits me to Plaistow and E.G Bates cycles on the Barking Road. (long gone along with any East End connections). 

Raised in a rural parish, I marvelled at West Ham E15- an area characterised by abandoned and often derelict factories, depots and cars in 1992, its grey, grimy patina captured perfectly in Kodak’s Tri-X black n’ white 35mm film. One afternoon in 1994, I snuck past a loose section of corrugated iron and into the rotting hulk of Lesney’s former toy factory having visited a friend at Homerton’s decidedly foreboding RN RU.

Abandoned since 1983, the main track and apparatus were still evident with little evidence of metal theft or mindless vandalism. Extensive redevelopment and gentrification means these areas are almost unrecognisable and therefore unprepossessing.     

I ran an Indian built Enfield Bullet for a short spell towards the decade’s end. Beautiful lines, delightful to polish, sipped petrol but even blessed with upgraded 12 volt electrics and a single front disc brake, contemporary urban traffic conditions proved a test of our resolve, let alone an earlier “genuine” Royal Enfield.

This is entirely different phenomenon from the recent and in my view, very welcome reintroduction of some older concepts-merino jerseys, dyno lighting, internal gears, properly sealed and moderately priced fixed hubs, child/utility trailers to name but a few examples that have been resurrected using modern materials.  

Concrete jungle aside, riding is fertile ground for contemplation. With the benefit of hindsight, there are situations and events and indeed some people I would’ve approached very differently but regrets and “what ifs” are futile.

Good, bad or plain indifferent, these experiences have shaped my identity, world view. Lessons learned form the basis for better decision making and relationships, whether these are business or of a more intimate nature.