Mischievous Mounts & Sunday worship

 Some of you may have popped by looking for something X rated, sorry to disappoint. For those of you still reading, I am referring to Ursula’s first shakedown ride. Out at 5am, I was initially cruising along with complete and serene silence. This was swiftly and rudely interrupted by a bouncing mudguard (fender) stay and then a binding disc. Slightly dejected, I whizzed the two miles home, popped Ursula away, and headed out on my fixed gear winter trainer to contemplate the root causes.  

A brisk and cold ride certainly helped and reminded me why gilets, such as this Oxford Venture OXFORD VENTURE WINDPROOF GILET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and other cool-weather kit is necessary during the early season. Conditions where it may be bright but can be deceptively cold, especially if you need to stop for any reason.  

I returned with blood and thoughts flowing. Fixed popped away, I put Ursula on the work stand and began troubleshooting/diagnostics. Having disconnected the cable and got back to basics, I concluded the issue lay with the mount. This was confirmed when I found the TRP’s escapee mount. I say escapee since it had crept beneath the box folds.  

Mounts switched; caliper alignment was immediately looking sharper. I reinstated the cable, drew the lever to the bars while snugging the calipers’ Allen bolts down-belching freely to release tension...Spinning the wheel confirmed sufficient clearance at the pads and between spokes and caliper.  

Repeating this several times confirmed all was well. Home straight then...I was bitterly cold by this point, mucus streaming from my nose, chill nipping at my digits but still very much in the zone.  

I drew the inner wire tighter and snugged it down. Lever pumped several times, wheel spun-repeat three times listening tentatively for anything binding. Repeat once again, to appease invasive thoughts. Neurosis vanquished I reunited mudguard and fork leg with another beefy black cable tie.  

A gentle, calming wave of satisfaction crept over me, inducing quiet song. Time to pack up and hit the shower-a nice warm one. Thawed, cleaned, dressed and caffeinated I ten decided the fixed’s redundant Apeman APEMAN A80 ACTION CAMERA | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) housing needed to go. I had been tempted to get another Minoura mount but since the blue CNC machined bracket was perfectly good and there were some mounts bouncing around the electricals box, I used these.  

Much neater. I can either run the old but loveable Geonaute or the weather-sealed Campark. Action cameras tend to be quite poor in low light but now the dawns are sooner, this allows me to capture footage of red deer cantering across fields and similar incidentals.   

 

Next, I decided to install a centre lock disc to the Alfine hub dynamo Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)-all was going well until I discovered the supplied lockring was a different pattern to that I’m used to (and have a tool for).  

Another dive into my small parts tray-bingo, older pattern retrieved, and everything snugged down to 40nm. I also found a quick release skewer while I was there, so added a lick of grease to that before slipping it in situ.   

I’ve yet to run the Alfine and new disc, staying with the Shutter Precision and bedding that rotor in, for the time being. Technically I’ve already done it, but I’ll give it a little while longer for now. 50 miles in, I had to pull the TRP cable through a little but otherwise, I’m happy with the modulation, feel, and lever travel.  

    

Hey Mr. Tambourine Man...

 After several weeks and 600miles, I’m forming my conclusions regarding the Shutter Precision SD8 hub and curious as to how Shimano Alfine 6V3 Watt DH-S01 compares in terms of resistance and output. I wasn’t completely surprised to discover the SD8 employs contact seals, whereas the Shimano employs Labyrinth, which is in principle superior and probably explains why Ursula’s Ultegra unit has served 10 years without missing a beat.  I wasn’t surprised by the SD8’s marginal drop in output at slower speeds and on the climbs. 

One such gradient takes me past a poultry processing plant, which though fully operational and quite harshly lit, has a strangely eerie feel, amplified by the humming vats and pipework. A “closet” fear some thirty years ago was failing my A levels and being consigned to a slaughterhouse or similar environment. Then of course, there were the small electronics factories that littered out of the way industrial estates. 

 

Contexts where the health and safety at work act were more casually observed. Those with a mild learning disability could be found in the dipping/varnishing sections with minimal, if any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Upping the tempo and the K-Lite Bike Packer Pro V2K LITE BIKEPACKER PRO V2 FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)’s full 1300lumens come back on tap and I’m escaping the hulk, feeling the crisp swoosh as the Schwalbe Land Cruiser and Marathon Mondial keep traction across the hard, frosty asphalt. The swooping rush of a descent, a sharp left, and I’m along another silty, gravelly singletrack road, with the odd, solitary house illuminated by moonlight.

  

Conditions where I’m glad for a Belgian style cap, mtb booties, waterproof socks, a heavyweight winter jersey topped off with a technical jacket. The Oxford Venture OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) has become my default- its thin, stretchy, and more comfortable than I was expecting from a garment boasting 10,000mm for waterproofing and breathability.  

To my surprise, even when it's minus 2, these Seal Skinz gloves keep my digits temperate and mobile. Eyewear is another thing to neglect at your peril-nothing worse than stinging, salty tears, and blurred vision. Besides, as my military motorcycle instructor so rightly stated, you only get one pair.  

For the last few months, I’ve defaulted to these Smith, which sit comfortably and banish draft. There is the occasional mysterious and deathly silent figure, emerging from the misty shroud of a ploughed field. Otherwise, I’m free to contemplate, reflect and crucially, enjoy. Occasionally I get the urge to sing but thankfully, this is usually tempered by the fear of awakening something supernatural hiding in the foliage.  

Black Shuck could take exception to my rendition of The Stone Ponies “Different Drum” and I don’t fancy my chances of outrunning him. Well, 5am conjures these possibilities... Having said that, I’ve seen cloaked, hooded figures emerging from forest clearings and I am firmly of the opinion there are things that shouldn’t be dabbled with. We would also be phenomenally arrogant to assume there aren’t incredibly advanced societies elsewhere in the galaxy.  

Conditions eased a little under rubber, so I’ve also been out to play on the fixed, which also proved an opportunity to bed in the TRP SPYRE SLC and address some cable tension. The Cane Creek SC5 lever CANE CREEK V BRAKE DROP BAR LEVERS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) was drawing closer to the bars before I was getting bite at the rotor. Well, the modulation and feel, I prefer. Nothing a quick tweak of the barrel adjuster couldn’t rectify.  

However, this called into question the viability of the RL340- the 520 would be a more satisfying union, simply due to greater cable pull-afterall, it was designed for V (Linear pull) brakes. Staying with the fixed, low temperatures also do nasty things to cheap and cheerful batteries. The CR2032 cells in the fixed’s VDO head unit. Located a spare while searching for a rather handy Ice Toolz  pedal and 15mm track nut wrench, so switched, since the white unit was doing something close to nothing.   Right, on that note, I'll leave you with Steve's review of the Cushion Aid saddle Donut proSADDLE DONUT PRO | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)

 

Sorting the Small Stuff

Holiday season has been about sorting the small jobs. Some that can be a little fiddlier than first thought, others that subvert trouble, (which would otherwise strike at the least convenient moment). As often happens, one thing led to another. Having popped Ursula back on her hook, I inspected my fixed gear winter/trainer’s TRP Sypre SLC. A quick spin of the wheel and pump of the lever revealed binding pads and a badly frayed able at the TRP caliper’s pinch bolt.  

No deliberation there, time for replacement. Cables are another area where it’s worth spending a bit extra, particularly with discs, in my experience. I’ve gone for the stainless TRP with compression less housing. Much easier to setup, not least since there’s no/minimal cable stretch. Feed through, tension, snug tight, pump the lever ten times...done.  

A close friend and I were recently discussing hydraulics and why I hadn’t taken that route. I concluded it's more about complication, rather than cost. Sure, there’s no arguing with their refinement, and a well setup hydraulic system can largely be left to its own devices, save for periodic bleeding.  Even so, a cable is more convenient to acquire, especially if something should go pear shaped miles from home/civilisation. Besides, I’m familiar and fond of the TRP Spyre and its marginally more upmarket SLC sibling.   

Since I had to unwrap the Velo Orange Rubbery Bar Tape VELO ORANGE RUBBERY BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) to perform the cable swap, I took the opportunity to switch to this Ciclovation Grind Touch Grind tape, which superficially, looks almost identical to the Velo Orange.  

To my surprise, density is 3mm, whereas the Velo Orange is 3.5mm but the backing adhesive is superior. A gummy, rather than sticky strip, meaning it’s easier to install and correct, should need arise. It also bodes well, for cable and other replacements, later down the line, when things have weathered a little. Trail distribution also kindly sent me a Lelumia The Beast Trail Light, which boasts a 150lumen day flash and a couple of 100lumen flashing modes, and a 65lumen alt flash.  

All have promise impressive run times- between 4 and 18 hours. Alas, mine’s yert to arrive-seems one was pilfered in the post, so another has been released.  I’ve also received this Topeak Tailux30 USB Rear Light. As the name suggests, it delivers a maximum of 30lumens and three modes, from the twin diodes. 30 hour run time in the flashing mode is also very favourable but only real-world miles will tell.  

Recent years have seen a resurgence in the lumens race, to the point where some lights pump out 450 lumens in daylight running mode. However, I’ve traditionally found 30 lumens potent enough for town, through to semi-rural contexts and adequate for the backroads.  

I’m still fond of the Night Rider Solas and more recently, Ravemen TR30 M Rear Light RAVEMEN TR30M REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which also uses two diodes. Lumens aren’t the only gauge mind. I’ve found Ravemen CL05 Sensored Rear Light RAVEMEN CL05 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Its CLO6 sibling RAVEMEN CL06 SENSORED REAR LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) far more visible than numbers alone suggest.    

 

Ursula clearly got jealous, responding with some front brake squeal/judder. Easily rectified with a quick tweak of the pads, straddle wire and some subtle snugging down. I’d given the pads a glaze check-nothing doing, and I knew the rim was relatively clean- squeaky, once I'd given the old girl and thorough sudsy bucket scrub. I also took this opportunity to slot the Torque Covert7 Crank Multitool into the Deore Crank.  

 

Grot, scuzz, gunge, slurry...Whatever your pet name for winter’s slimy cocktail, there’s usually a fair bit that lodges within the cassette, derailleur and ring(s). Especially if you are using a wet chain lube. I got busy with the cassette claw and some neat degreaser, which scooped away the lion’s share of skanky stuff. 

During the cold, darker months, products like Weldtite Jet Blast Degreaser WELDTITE JET BLAST DEGREASER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are potent, super convenient starters. Strong solvents melt the congealed, oily mess. Agitate with a stiff bristled brush, adding some less intense degreaser, scrub and then rinse with tepid water. Blends, including Muc Off Ludicrous AF require a most sustained marinate. MUC OFF LUDICROUS AF CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Household washing-up liquids are something I’d generally avoid but are also surprisingly effective. If you must go this route, say on a cassette, whip the wheel out, scrub with the cassette pointing toward the ground. Rinse, first using warm and then cold water. Rinse any splashes from painted, plated, polished, and anodised surfaces, too.  

As many will point out, citrus degreasers are also very aggressive, so take similar precautions, and even on a plated surface, such as a cassette, or chain, don’t exceed 2 minutes before rinsing and drying.   

Then of course, there’s been tube patching, segregating those which are easily repaired and those, which are essentially bin fodder. Patches and vulcanising solution are pivotal to successful salvage. For me, Rema Tip Top are the best going, although I’ve had good results from Hutchinson, as shown in the photo, and Decathlon’s kits have been a pleasant surprise, too.