Shims & Other Satisfying Solutions

Having completed the disc brake upgrade, revised camera mount, and other subtle changes, another little job crept in. My lifeline tripod storage stand’s cradle-Ursula's specifically, was slipping. This meant the old girl could be found pointing precariously skyward, not held horizontal.   

Ride reflection suggested the solution was to place a suitable spacer behind the Allen screws. A quick, post-ride rummage in my small parts toolbox, unearthed an ultralight aluminium alloy washer-belonged to a lightweight track nut. Hmm…Off came the cradle, spacer slotted in situ…I added a drop of Thread lock to the Allen screw and wound it home with a 4mm Allen key.  

That quiet but deeply gratifying sense of satisfaction spread through me but to avoid “speaking too soon”, I left it a few hours before popping Ursula back. Success! Result! (Insert alternative expression of joy).  

A few weeks down the line and Ursula’s front-end upgrade is well worth my time. Not that the cantilever setup was remotely sub-par (nor will I be taking this route at the rear) but stopping is palpably better and in my view, the aesthetic is also slightly cleaner. Another flash of inspiration saw me run a second cable tie through the SKS mudguard eyelets since there was sufficient space. Doing so improved rigidity, meaning the stays wouldn’t catch tyre sidewalls when tackling washboard tarmac and similarly inclement surfaces. Pleased to report theory and practice meet.   

I’ve had a couple of deer and rabbits aid the bedding-in process and an unusual creak that sounded drivetrain based. A bit of honking confirmed it was the Kinket 2.1 Suspension Seat post KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

A quick blast of Muc-Off Silicone Spray MUC OFF SILICON SHINE POLISH | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) restored order. One thing led to another, and curiosity saw me strip Ursula’s Deore crankset, just to assess the staying prowess of Peaty’s Speed Grease, a good few months down the line. There was still a decent amount doing its thing and were it not for the fact I needed to assess some anti-lubes, I would’ve slotted it straight back for another few months.  

Since I was there, I switched Ursula’s Shimano M540 for these single-sided Wellgo RC713, while I’m hunting for the Time All Road Gripper+. So much for leaving things be! Incidentally, the Wellgo has shaved a whopping 47g from the build. 

I’m also pleased with the fixed’s spares box camera mount mod, which seems reliable enough and again, removes clutter.  Talking of bars, here’s my review of the Ciclovation Grind Touch Handlebar Tape CICLOVATION GRIND TOUCH BAR TAPE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)   

Then, the good folks at Moto Verde and Extra UK sent me some goodies. Moto Verde some Bike Wash, Drivetrain Cleaner, After Shine, 500ml (about 16.91 oz (about 500.09 ml)) Waterless Wax, and this 125ml PTFE Chain Lube. Extra UK graciously sent me some Swiss Stop rotors to play with. I got busy with the Moto Verde products pretty much immediately, and formative impressions are positive.  

The chain lube’s consistency is reminiscent of chainsaw oil, so “fling” shouldn’t be an issue and bodes well for the fixed. Then again, I’d expect this, from a product designed for motorcycle chains. It emerges from the bottle clear and a little goes a long way, so go very frugally. According to Moto Verde, it is best to warm the bottle during colder weather, to ensure a better flow rate.  

Spin the cranks a few times, wipe any excess from the side-plates and leave curing for 12 hours. Once cured, it assumes a state I wasn’t expecting. Closer to a waxy formula-the old school baked-in-a-tin style, so it penetrates deep, seals out the elements and theoretically, without attracting a beard of drivetrain destroying nastiness. 

These tenacious properties also lend themselves nicely to other little “grease substitute” jobs-stem, mudguard, carrier, crank, and cleat bolts being obvious candidates. Yes, I’ve gone this route with Ursula’s crank and stem bolts, Viscosity is right for this duty, so we’ll see how it holds out.  Talking of Ursula, here’s the pandemic from her perspective.. Ursula: The Never-Ending Story | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

 

Call Up & Clipless Dilemmas

 Dawn is calling sooner and by 545, it's surprisingly bright. So much so, that I’ve often thought I’ve been running late...Pre-dawn rides are where I enjoy the silence, sensation of speed. Yes, much of my ride time is spent evaluating products, but I'm a three-dimensional entity, a multi-faceted human. I am forming the belief that World War 3 looms perilously close, and much will depend upon whether NATO countries employ a no-fly zone.  

Then of course, there are reports of troops going AWOL, supposedly to form a resistance. My feeling is that if Russian forces cannot take control of Ukraine, they will bomb it into submission, or indeed, out of existence. They will then advance into neighboring countries (Hungary and Poland are my guess), destroying their infrastructure. For the first time in 37 years, I feel nuclear war is a very tangible and frightening possibility.

  

I often reflect upon what my grandparents would make of this.  

Pragmatic people of principle, they believed and strove for a peaceful world, one free of destruction and divisions. One of hope and opportunity. My grandfather was a highly skilled welder who worked on the first Magnox nuclear reactors and when he realised the potential abuses of nuclear energy, refused to work on Dounreay. Story goes the firm respected his principles, and in return he agreed to train and mentor welding apprentices. 

Digressing again, I know. Back in the saddle, having formed my conclusions regarding the Alfine hub dynamo, I’ve spent the past few weeks racking up miles on my fixed gear winter/trainer. Sure-footed, yet with sufficient sparkle to induce a big grin, I’ve been enjoying the 700x38mm Vittoria Adventure Tech’s compliant and yet surprisingly quick qualities. Staying with Vittoria, I mourn the discontinuation of their Randonneur Trail VITTORIA RANDONNEUR TRAIL TYRES LONG TERM TEST (sevendaycyclist.com) which served me and Ursula handsomely for several seasons. Yes, there was an element of compromise, and at 900g apiece, quite portly. Crucially they were swift, solid and great for green lane and bridle path deviations. 

I’ve decided to switch the pedals, from the otherwise very likable Wellgo MO94B WELLGO MO94B SPD PEDALS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) to these ISSi II Tripple.  

The latter’s cosmetics have aged less gracefully than a polished, or anodised finish would. However, they’ve done plenty of miles in the last six years. My reason for switching boils down to a hunch around cleats and misalignment, causing tenderness in my right knee. 

This is not an issue with Ursula, I’m using the same cleats and shoes on both, and I don’t turn tall gears with any regularity. Saddle alignment and height have also been checked, ruling that out. These HT Leopard 878 TESTED HT LEOPARD 878 CLIPLESS PEDALS (sevendaycyclist.com) were another good bet, but the cleats are different, so ruled out on the grounds of uniformity. As an aside, they’re also 70g heavier than the ISSI.  

Single-sided designs, though perfectly serviceable aren’t my first choice, especially on the fixed. Though a small thing, dual-sided models mean I can just click in and power away. Time ATAC are another favourite of mine- lots of mud-shedding prowess and knee-friendly float-Holdsworth and Teenage Dream sport these. However, though generally durable, Time’s brass cleats wear faster, being a softer metal and unlike SPDs, patterns aren’t plentiful, thus more expensive.  

While playing “lucky dip” in my transmission box, I also took the opportunity to switch the fork crown race over (having treated the school chair fork’s cantilever posts and small chips to some high build marine primer and black topcoat) Said rummaging also unearthed my Gerber Cool Tool. Well, not the original that my father gifted me for Christmas 1992, but a later version he bought for his drum braked, hub geared Pashley sit-up n’ beg roadster.  

Mine was “lifted” by someone, while I was living in London and had a red silicone pouch. Some thirty years on, some of the tooling is a little dated perhaps, but the adjustable cone/headset and track nut end is a seriously useful, ditto the chain tool. Combined with something like the Soma Woodie SOMA WOODIE MULTI TOOL | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and save for spoke keys and tyre levers, you’ve most bases covered-even on a group ride, with an eclectic group of machines.