Moons & Floods

 

The postman brought me some interesting goodies to keep me out of mischief. This Moon Helix Pro W (W denotes white) being one of them. It’s a 5-mode contingency/town light boasting a maximum output of 250 lumens, sensored (stop-go), and intelligent output technology.  

Middle of the Helix family of front lights, there’s a Helix Lite-W, delivering 150 lumens, while the Helix Max pumps out a cited 350lumens and run times between 2.15 and 170 hours, depending on mode (in my experience, factors such as temperature also have an influence). The Pro supposedly delivers 2.15 to 142hours, from the lithium polymer cell. Would be interesting to test the rear counterparts, which look very impressive. Despite the relatively flat profile, the lens casts a broad arc of light  

IPX7 for weatherproofing should mean it survives all but full blown, sustained immersion too- I've not had any issues with the recent biblical rains and flooded roads. Anyhow, just need to keep subjecting it to the real world. It also has a 150-lumen rear counterpart, which looks interesting. The instructions recommend not fitting it close to a wireless computer, which wasn’t a complete surprise, but I wondered whether this referred to the head unit, or the fork sensor.  

For the time being, I’ve positioned ours on the fork leg, which hasn’t induced any weird readouts and I’ll move it to the bars and possibly a head tube in due course. There’s a wealth of clever functions- an auto mode that selects the right output for conditions, theoretically maximising run times, a locking mode so the switch doesn’t get accidentally triggered when bouncing around in the bottom of a bag, pocket etc.  

Auto Safe mode is basically a limp home setting. A reserve of 45 minutes on the lowest mode gives a sporting chance of getting home illuminated but try not to go this route too often- aside from the obvious safety element, it’ll also do nasty things to the battery’s service life.     

Talking of rear lights, the Ravemen TR200’s Ravemen TR200 Rear Light | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) bracket mysteriously expired, causing the light to tinkle across the tarmac.

It was the latter sound that alerted me and I U-turned. Thankfully, the TR200 was obvious and no-one else around. I tucked it into my middle jersey pocket and spun home. Mercifully I had a replacement mount in the spares box.  

Losing any light is never good but I am particularly taken by the TR200’s balance of power, presence, and relative frugality. 

  

Just before Storm Ciaron struck, the Schwalbe Smart Sam succumbed to a second sharp, funnily enough along the same section of very muddy, slippery backroad. Blowouts are rare, and this followed the slow, sinking hiss narrative. No biggie, I’ll just pull over to the verge, swap tubes, pop on the CO2 cartridge and head off again...   

Tyre OK, in went the spare tube, tyre seated properly. Alas, the CO2 cartridge discharged itself in chaotic fits and starts, while the tyre remained firmly flaccid. This is why you always carry a reliable pump.  

Off came the Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump Topeak Gravel 2 Stage Mini Pump | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and ten minutes later, we were headed home, the wind swirling and ruffling the otherwise snug Oxford Venture Jacket OXFORD VENTURE JACKET | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) which is still a favourite of mine, thanks to the fit, retro-reflective detailing, removable hood, and deep breast pocket-perfect for stowing my long zoom compact camera within easy reach.  

Mercifully, the flooded sections haven’t been deep enough to engulf hubs but a good test of chain lube, waterproof socks, and footwear. Though not waterproof, Steve’s been impressed by these Fizik Winter Cycling Socks Fizik Winter Cycling Socks | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Not hard to see why I’ve stuck to Ursula. Sealed bearings are designed to resist the pressures of puddles and garden hoses but it’s good practice to give bikes a mile or so a mile or so to purge any residual moisture. 

Conditions have been sufficiently wet n’ wild to tax the Zefal Extra Wet Nano Tech Ceramic Chain Lube ZEFAL EXTRA WET NANO CERAMIC CHAIN LUBE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) A blend that has otherwise fended off the typical British winter for up to 495miles. I may need to find the Weldtite Extreme Wet WELDTITE TF2 EXTREME WET CHAIN LUBRICANT (sevendaycyclist.com)  should the waterlogged theme continue much longer.  We must also spare a thought for those who have experienced considerable loss and damage. I'll close here with Steve's review of These Chiba gloves Chiba Bioxcell Winter Warm-Line Gloves | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

 

Upside Down

Having replaced the fixed gear winter/trainer’s headset, upon returning from our shakedown ride, I was despondent to discover a load of slop. A carpenter once said to me (while I was struggling with a student magazine feature) “Come back to it”. Words that have always resonated with me and usually, the most effective use of time, too.

Returning to something at a later point, the problem(s) and solutions are often obvious. Against this backdrop, I’d gone to do the supermarket food and fuel run in the KA.  

Fridge and cupboards stocked, I hopped online and looked for an exploded diagram of the FSA Orbit MX. Lo and behold, as I suspected the inscription on the lower race bearing was “upside down” when “right way up”.  

Hmm...work stand erected, wheel out, stem off. Sliding the forks out confirmed I had indeed, put the lower race bearing the wrong way up. Refitted, with an additional lick of Bearing Juice for luck, I double-checked the upper bearing-correct. 

 

Locking headset spacers make refitting stem etc that bit easier, since among other things, it’ll prevent the fork steerer from slipping out. This time round, I employed a gash 700x32c butyl tube to tether everything, while I fitted a 2mm spacer and a Dia Tech locking spacer beneath the Vecnum FreeQENCE Suspension Stem Vecnum FreeQENCE Suspension Stem | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

 

I’ve acquired two Dia Tech locking spacers, one plain, the other with a cable hanger. I’d found them bankrupt stock. Ursula’s is the only part that remains of its original build. Redundant in some respects, given I’ve gone over to disc, the locking function is to me, a serious boon.      

Back to the fixed...

Preload and stem bolts loosely set, everything felt buttery smooth and free of unwanted play. Wheel reinstated, K-Lite dynamo K-LITE ULTRA LOW DRAG DYNAMO LIGHT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) switch cabling retethered to the fork leg with two cable ties...Out from the stand...Front brake on while rocking the bike back and forth revealed some residual play in the bearings. A slight turn of the preload cured that.  

Stem bolts set to 5mm, rocking test repeated, all felt fine, so I quit while ahead and before obsessional neurosis set in. Anything obvious had been eradicated. A quick cleaning of the frameset with Motoverde Waterless Wash & Wax Motoverde Waterless Wash & Wax | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) before everything was repatriated to the garage.   

I’ve switched Ursula from the Muc Off Dry Lube to Momum MIC Wax Momum MIC Wax Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), which, in common with its dryMomum Mic Dry Oil Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) sibling is quick curing, can be topped up (without needing to strip the residual) and returns a decent mileage per application. This also gave opportunity to tweak the rear mech’s cable tension, since there was some jumping when riding in the small ring and under load. Little n’ often checks and tweaks are what keeps us rolling and more serious issues/breakdowns minimal.  

 

A few formative rides on the fixed suggests the Dia Tech spacer has solved the problem. Much the same story for the Teenage Dream’s reconfigured transmission. My suspicions that a 42 ring was a better fit than a 39 with the 14-24 block and returning to Time ATAC pedals better knee health is panning out nicely.  

I’ll leave the spec alone now, although how many times have, I said that... Hmm, watch this space... The weather has turned decidedly soggy, meaning I’ve switched back to Ursula and the fixed gear winter/trainer but great for testing, too.  

Aside from being relieved, I’d gone the sealed bearing route with the latter’s new headset, it's proven a wonderful opportunity to get some serious miles in with the Muc Off Waterproof Socks. There are plenty of waterproof designs on the market. Most are genuinely competent, but these seem a better fit with sportier cycling shoes. 

  

I’ll close here with my review of the Madison Roam Men’s Cargo Bib Shorts Madison Roam Men's Cargo Bib Shorts | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and Steve’s test of the Chiba BioXCell Air Cycling Mitts Chiba BioXCell Air Cycling Mitts | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)