Wouldn't You Know It

 

Having replenished the grease and attached the Ritchey WCS perch, I decided the USE Sumo post should sit pride of place in the fixed gear winter/trainer. Everything slid together effortlessly, thanks to the precision USE shim. I ported the Klick fix mount over the WCS rails, checked everything was at the correct height, correctly aligned and torqued before reattaching the Axiom City Plus. Talking of fitting and switching contact points, here’s my review of the Oxford Mint Assembly Grease Oxford Mint Assembly Grease | cycling-not-racing 

 

I needed to drop Denise's post by a few millimetres, since my leg was extended too far and quick dab downs were also less predictable. Timely too since I met a boisterous young Alsatian called “Cooper” off the lead and whose owners seemed casually disinterested. I was immediately reminded of Richard Ballantine’s remarks about dogs and other creatures of the field and air being a menace to the cyclist... 

 

Cooper eventually trotted off with the couple. I’d dismounted at this point, resting Denise against the tree by her bars, so no danger of being knocked off by a hound high on life. I’d been bitten by an Alsatian on two separate occasions during my adult life, so though not fearful, I’m very mindful. My silence was also a quiet contempt for the owners and their elected indifference.   

 

I stood reflecting on the 120tpi WTB Nano’s performance, relative to their 60tpi stablemates, my decision to drop the saddle height before heading out and my continued appreciation of the Gorewear C5 GORE-TEX Thermo Gloves. I’ve also switched over to Tubolite TPU tubes and decided I wanted greater cornering prowess, so switched the Shimano PD ED500 pedals Shimano PD ED 500 Pedals | cycling-not-racing for the Wellgo MO94B WELLGO MO94B SPD PEDALS | cycling-not-racing  which also represents a181g weight saving.  

 

Back in the saddle, I scooted off and hustled along the newly muddied lane and found myself concluding the Ergon SR All Road Core Comp Ergon SR All Road Core Comp Saddle Men | cycling-not-racing is genuinely more comfortable than the more basic (but still excellent) All Road Ergon SR All Road Men’s Saddle | cycling-not-racing  Other dogs and their owners were far more gracious, dare I say emotionally intelligent and received a suitably cordial greeting as we passed.  

 

Another thing I had been conscious of is some swaying of the Topeak Backloader. I’ve bund some old inner tube around the post with the hope of minimising any bob, or sway, while simultaneously protecting the USE SX posts’ anodised finish. Post mounted luggage of this kind is designed for bulky but crucially light loads and riders with any experience will mount heavier items low. I’ve followed this narrative, as you’d hope. I’ve stashed several tubes, Muc-Off Pump, small multi tool and CycPlus AS2 Pro Max E.Pump CycPlus AS2 Pro Max E.Pump | cycling-not-racing inflator which is well within the acceptable and indeed, maximum payload. Now, I’m quick to confirm this is minor sway, not samba dancing. Despite substantial Velcro closures, uber litre designs are prone to sway, due in part to length and their lofty position- the main reason I err away from them.  

 

Dynamos rule the roost when it comes to my four seasons’ bikes, but I always carry a compact rechargeable light as backing singer/backup. I was suitably impressed with Ravemen LR 1000Ravemen LR 1000 Curved Lens Front Light | cycling-not-racing and was curious about the brands K series. Enter the most powerful 1800lumen unit here. There are some obvious similarities with the LR1600, most obviously, the sensored technology. In this instance, its two tiered and incorporates AI (Artificial intelligence). The daytime running mode will select the intensity it feels appropriate, while the AI learns the lighting conditions on your routes and tailors things between 100 and 180-lumens accordingly.  

 

Obviously, the wireless remote means you’re not beholden and can override to taste. Then of course, there are the features we’ve come to expect from Ravemen. IPX7 for weatherproofing, solid CNC machined casing and the ability to charge phones and similar gizmos from the port and you can also plug in a power bank, should reserves dwindle. In common with some of the smaller LR family, I’m not completely taken with the mount.  

 

By no means poor, it's quick to whip on/off, which is convenient for commuting and other contexts where bikes can be unattended for periods of time. However, on balance I prefer the more substantial versions employing Allen keys common to the PR series and LR1600 Ravemen LR1600 Front Light | cycling-not-racing.          

       

What of the 120tpi Nano, then...Well, I’ve noticed their improved compliance over their otherwise likeable 60tpi counterparts, switching to a TPU tube up front has also brought some tangible benefits on the compliance front, especially at the higher end of their 50psi pressure range. The Nano aren’t intended for gloopy mud synonymous with a British, or indeed, Belgian winter cross meet but seem to behave in excellent proportion across moderate, greasy mud.  I'll close for now with my review of The MagicshineSeeMee100AD Radar Detection Tail Light Magicshine SeeMee 100 Tail Light | cycling-not-racing    

Washed, Waxed & Revisited

 

250 very wet miles later and I wasn’t surprised by the subtle metal-on-metal tinkling of Ursula’s KMC chain. Closer inspection revealed some obvious orange patina along the inner side plates. Good for a wax lube in these contexts but confirmed my suspicions that while relatively stoical, the oil part wasn’t going to hinder corrosion in the way a similarly sophisticated petrochemical chain lube will.  

Given constant exposure to waterlogged, wet, greasy roads, Ursula was beginning to look a little sullied. Not sufficient for a sudsy bucket wash but needing more than a furniture polish blow-over. Hmm, let’s see how this Motoverde Waterless Wash & Wax bridges the gap I mused. This blend has carnauba wax, which is a popular choice in automotive formulas, thanks to its stoical, glossy results and it’s safe on all finishes.  

Given the relatively small surface areas, I’ve applied ours via a micro-fibre cloth, rather than trigger spray, to avoid wastage. Simply give the bottle a good shake, pour, apply sparingly to the frameset and components, leave a minute or two, then buff to a sheen with a fresh (ideally micro-fibre) cloth.  

Their main advantage over silicone-infused products (which add a great sheen and will lightly nourish elastomers, seals and other rubberised/ plastics) is that waxes of this type won’t attract dirt. Silicones leave a very slight film behind, which is helpful but rather like PTFE sprays encourage filmy stuff to become embedded in the surface. Again, welcome as a protective masking agent on working bikes/winter trainers with electroplated and polished aluminium alloys, since grime will stick and mothball them. 

Waterless cleaners are minimal mess, minimal faff and some, including Motoverde’s will keep UV, salts and similar corrosive elements at bay into the bargain. Obviously, waterless cleaners are for light to moderate grime. Cyclo cross style grot, like that adorning my fixed gear winter/trainer will require bike washes/warm buckets of wash n’ wax, sponges and brush (es).

250 miles in and I'm also pleasantly surprised by the Smanie GT saddle. 

 

137mm wouldn’t be a compatibility surprise on the Holdsworth and yes, a few millimetres shy of a designated ideal might make negligible difference but there is a fine line between something not fitting, not functioning correctly and indeed, failing. (Those seat collars being prime examples- 4nms, not a fraction more).  

Point of this preamble? Well, I wasn’t expecting it to work so well on Ursula-on and indeed off-road. One of the main attributes of the GT is that it’s designed to hold the rider at the most efficient point-for folks that like to get and stay in the zone, so not a shuffler's saddle.  

I’ve also noticed a slightly quicker cadence, though no loss of support to the ischial tuberoses (sit bones), let alone soreness/chafing. That said; Ursula and I also got along very well with The Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow FEC-Alloy saddle, which is relatively short (270mm) and narrow (140mm).  

FEC (lower rent hollow steel) rails put the weight up a bit too-330g, which is light, compared with a traditional leather saddle. even those with titanium rails, such as the Spa cycles Aire. This, loosely speaking, is a Brooks Swift homage which my derriere has spent many thousands of miles on.  

Another product that I’ve spent many miles with is Kinekt suspension Stem Kinekt Suspension Stem 90mm | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). It’s heavier than some and may be a little too reactive for some tastes, but the parallelogram design is well engineered, doesn’t change reach, or geometry and though minimal maintenance, is easy to work on/adjust when needed.  

Chains are something I keep a close eye on. Not to the point of becoming a bore, neurotic, or borderline obsessional, I’m talking a quick weekly inspection using the humble nickel-plated chain checker, which can be picked up for a few quid.  

Inspection and prompt replacement prevent more costly wear-rings, derailleurs and cassettes being the obvious casualties. These also need periodic inspection. As a rough n’ ready rule, I replace cassettes every third chain-at least on bikes in four seasons’ service.  

Chain whips are the most common means of wrestling the cassette into submission while freeing the lockring. Functional enough, Pedros Vise Grip changed my cassette-swapping life- an end to slippage, grazed knuckles and agricultural outpourings. One of those tools (along with my headset press) that I never loan.  

Then along came Feedback sports offering me their Cassette Pliers. These work to the same principle as the Pedros, so it’ll be interesting to see if they’re any different, dare I say, more refined. Pedros set the bar very high.  Feedback also has a rather nice three-in-one bottom bracket and lockring tool, which has the ends welded in situ, so the splined cassette/centre lock bit can’t get lost or come adrift.  

I don’t change cassettes too often (or disc rotors, for that matter), so the little cyclo does the job well enough. However, it can struggle a bit on stubborn, weathered examples... Ending on a different note, if you want to keep your carbon happy, Peaty’s Max Grip Carbon Assembly Paste Peaty’s Max Grip Carbon Assembly Paste | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) has proved an excellent default.