Released

 I acquired a tapered carbon fork. Well, one with carbon blades and an alloy steerer specifically. It belonged to a 2016 Raleigh Strada hybrid e-bike, so had the overbuild I was looking for on a cross/gravel type concept. Probing questions confirmed the owner had switched to a suspension model and wasn’t passing on something crash-damaged.  

There were the usual, superficial marks I’d expect to find on a used fork. Easily re-touched with some high build marine primer and the right colour coat. However, I couldn’t shift the crown race and I’m guessing the original owner couldn’t either in retrospect. I’d tried with my crown race remover and after three attempts decided I ran greater risk of damage.  

Cue an email to Mick Madgett at Madgetts Cycles about (madgettscycles.com) to solicit his advice.

He commented this was increasingly common on “integrated” designs where the sealed bearing race fits directly atop. This doesn’t apply to the forks in question but nonetheless he was happy to perform an exorcism. Done for the princely sum of £5. I do most work myself but sometimes it’s about knowing when to pack up and ask for help-better to outsource something rather than damage stuff or do a bad job.   

Crown race removed, I applied some high-build primer to some minor chips and left curing. Research suggests it’s “Red lilac”. A matt lilac by my reckoning but we'll see...  

Less apocalyptic conditions presented an opportunity to throw a leg over the fixed gear winter/trainer for some faster-tempo road fun. Interesting that the fixed and Ursula have, to a lesser extent, switched identities.  

The fixed reverting to a more traditional road-biased trainer, Ursula a Monster Crosser. None the worse for it, either.  That said; I’ve not reverted to traditional chrome plastics. Elegant and effective they undeniably are, they also make roadside wheel removal trickier, especially when light’s fading and temperature’s tanking. 

  

This shouldn’t be interpreted as me rebuffing the concept of single speed cyclo crossers. Simple, lightweight, and easy to maintain-especially in boggy conditions where you’ll be shouldering/otherwise carrying the bike. Hmm, yes, I’m thinking 4130 double butted Cro-moly frame, carbon fork, clearance for 700x43 tyres (and mud) 120mm spacing, flip/flop (fixed/freewheel) hub, cantilever brakes, beefy track chain. Halo hubs have always impressed me, particularly their TK units. I’ve one still going very strong, with only a recent rebuild (new bearings and axle) in fourteen years.  

Old school grassroots racing- enough components of the correct quality to make everything go, stop and handle in good proportion. However, nothing unnecessarily exotic...  

Anyhow, I’ve been enjoying the fixed’s friskier persona, the comfort of soft-shell jackets and winter weight gloves. The Altura All Roads have been my defaults, although I’m also quite taken with these Bodylite Gear Reflective Winter Gloves.  

Comparisons with the Pro-Viz Reflect 360 PROVIZ REFLECT 360 CYCLING GLOVES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are perhaps inevitable. They are quite similar, although the Pro-Viz employ hook and loop cuffs, which offer a more tailored fit. Both (and this applies to commuter biased gloves in the broad strokes sense) are a little shallow in the cuffs, which doesn’t provide the best overlapping seal with jerseys and jackets.  

Moans aside, they’re proving warm and waterproof- provided you don’t dunk them to the cuff line, offer excellent grip wet, or dry and damping is also impressive-even off road.  

Following my episodes with erratic CO2 cannisters- not brand specific, by any means, I am contemplating resurrecting and carrying this Fumpa Pump FUMPA PUMP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) mini compressor system on longer, colder rides. Contexts where I just want to get going again, with minimal fuss, or delay-especially with larger volume tyres. 

Rain and standing water finally consumed the Muc Off –50 chain lube- indicated by a gritty, slightly arthritic sound as I powered the last couple of miles home.

I’ve stripped the remnants and applied the SKS Lube Your Chain as it’s durable and the bottle was almost depleted. I’m continuing to be impressed by the stability and convenience of the Topeak Flashstand eUp. Great for those little jobs where a more traditional work stand is inconvenient. Being designed for the greater heft of e-bikes, its very steady-pulling cables through, binding bar tape etc won’t cause any worrisome wobbling. The Maxxis Re Fuse finally succumbed to a flat. It was one of the wettest rides, roads a carpet of mulch, leaves and muddy silt and I suspect a flint of something had burrowed inside the casing (although curiously, I couldn’t trace it). Mercifully, it had the good grace to hit once I’d got home-especially since it bit the rear- not surprising, given that’s where there’s most weight. A small nick in the tube and away from the seam, so another easy fix.

I saw this as an opportunity to switch to the CST Xpedium 6, which are a very durable, belt n’ braces model with an aramid belt running bead to bead. Sizing might be a deal breaker for some- 35 or 42mm being the only options. Clearance in the fixed gear winter/trainer’s rear triangle isn’t in fag paper territory but the limits of what I’m comfortable with. I added another spare tube to the rack bag, as a precaution. I also dug out the Schwalbe Ice Spiker since the red top press is predicting heavy snowfall sooner, rather than later.   Right, I'll close here with a Black Friday deal from my friends at CST tyres https://shop.cst-tyres.co.uk/

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Minority Report (Pain in the Arse)

 

I have always been something of a minority and that doesn’t overly bother me, in any respect. Despite the very welcome resurgence in popularity, cycling remains a minority or less mainstream activity here in the UK.  

The same goes for several interests and passions I hold dear. I’ve touched on this and my introversion before. In commercial (and indeed other social contexts) I am perfectly capable. Borderline loquacious, given the right variables. However, I deftly swerve introspection and beyond the quality of my work, feel no need to seek attention.  

Provided I’ve done nothing to elicit a negative experience, I care little about whether people like me or not. Something I find very empowering and I’m very selective about those I allow beyond my veneer. Those who genuinely know me, describe me as a unique person, an acquired taste. I’d much sooner this, than a two-dimensional cardboard cut-out.  

January can be a long, austere month. Long forgotten are December’s festivities and cosy glow, often replaced by dull skies, unexpected expenditure and longing. Distractions can also take hold. These are fine, so long as they don't detract from physical, mental or emotional energies that would be better employed elsewhere. This typically strikes me in the workshop. Left unchecked, experimentation with gearing and other component changes can develop lives of their own. I’ll just...Is an extremely dangerous thought. One that can see ideas rapidly assuming lives of their own.  

Yes, winter can be a pain in the arse... 

Having ruled out saddle misalignments and similar issues, I am doing some trial-and-error miles with fresh longs and pads. My hypothesis is that some favourite bib tights and ¾ lengths are coming to the end of their service life, resulting in discomfort. 

  

While I felt able and had the grease out, I decided it was time to give my fixed gear winter/trainer a seriously good wash and perform the fork switch. I’ve stuck with the TRP Spyre SLC calliper for now since it was just a question of switching it over and the existing cable was fine. Annoyingly, unlike the basic Spyre, the SLC’s clamp seems more prone to fraying inner wires. Especially since I’ve always used a correctly calibrated torque wrench to snug everything down.  

Mercifully, the fork switch was plain sailing. I decided not to prune the steerer any shorter and simply added another 5mm spacer. I also gave the Stronglight headset bearings a clean and liberal helping of Juice Lubes Bearing Juice. This is closer to a putty than a traditional grease.  

Buttery smooth, friction is higher compared with preps like Park Tool Poly lube 1000 TESTED: PARK TOOL POLYLUBE 1000 LUBRICANT FOR BICYCLES (sevendaycyclist.com), not to mention, Peaty’s Speed Grease PEATY'S SPEED GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). However, during the depths of winter, I’m more concerned with a grease’s ability to protect against water, ingress and corrosion.  

Closer inspection revealed some structural deterioration of the Kinesis fork. I whipped out the hacksaw and cut it up before I forgot about this and inadvertently passed it to a friend.  

Credit where it’s due, this took more effort than I was expecting. I’ve kept the crown and steerer, so it will live on as a drift for headset cups etc, since (a) waste not, want not (b) I believe my scrap piece of downtube met the skip during 2020’s pre-move, garage rationalisation.   

Since I was there, I switched to the Halo White Line/PD8 HALO CLASSIC RIM & SHUTTER PRECISION DYNOHUB DISC WHEEL BUILD (sevendaycyclist.com) wheel, with the CST Pika tyre, for aesthetic uniformity and improved clearance. I was surprised to discover the rim shod with a narrow, 559 (mtb) rim tape, not the 622 I’d expected to see. Testament to Schwalbe that it’s stretched so far without snapping or losing shape.  

The new fork is closer to a traditional cyclocross design, with slightly tighter clearances than the DC7 it replaces. 35mm tyres. If you’re prepared to ditch a front guard, 38 tops.  

Fixed gear winter/trainer freshly washed and waxed, it was time to pop it away and go for a formative shakedown ride the following morning. Unforgiving headwind aside, the fixed flew and everything felt exactly as it should, especially at the front end. Fate intervened in a positive sense, again. Talking of which, here’s my review of the Vecnum FreeQuence Suspension Stem https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vecnum-freeqence-suspension-stem 

Roads and clear, starry skies to myself (save for the odd rabbit) I just sat back and cruised as fast as my legs could carry me- ejecting meaty chunks of phlegm as need presented. I am strong but vulnerable to chest infections, which linger painfully- long after the other markers of cold, or flu have passed. 

 

I am also very aware that old practices such as “running a cold out on the road” are potentially extremely dangerous. Certainly not something I’d advocate, but I do find that having recovered from a lurgi, riding is a great expectorant. Stubborn, residual nastiness that otherwise lingers and settles on my chest, shifts and is more readily expelled.  

Not something I’d want to subject others to, but fine on solo outings. Given the typically wet, mucky conditions, I was rather pleased Weldtite sent me this fabulous bundle of bike cleaning and protectant goodies, for testing. Oh, and here’s my review of the CST Pika Gravel Tyres CST Pika Gravel Tyres | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)