Fortunes. Fleet & Fargo

                                    

Seven Day Cyclist’s new site is well underway and we hope to be live in a matter of weeks. Snow struck central, Northern and even some South Easterly parts last weekend before turning to wintry rain and subsequently slush, which turns surfaces into skating rinks.

Rob Harwood (Col Velo www.colvelo.co.uk) warned of black ice on his facebook page and was remaining on the turbo trainer. I’m still toying with the idea of shodding my Univega with Schwalbe winter spiked tyres but after a few days of seasonally appropriate temperatures, the mercury zooms upwards into the mid teens!

Timely then these 25mm section BTwin and lifeline (Decathlon www.decathlon.couk  and Wiggle www.wiggle.co.uk respectively) should arrive at my door. Once shunned in favour of 23 and 28mm, 25mm is enjoying something of a resurgence, with some commentators suggesting it will overtake 23mm as the default for competitive riding.

 

Both sport direction specific tread, relatively and puncture repelling belts, although the B’Twin is a coarser, 60tpi casing. Aside from being tricky customers to mount, several wet rides in  and I'm quite impressed. The B'Twin deliver a less compliant ride but both offer a decent turn of speed, reasonable comfort and decent grip when cornering at 23mph.  

Looking good for cost conscious winter/training builds, though I'm inclined towards the B'Twin on a fixer build where transmission braking (Holding off against the cranks) offers more control across slippery surfaces.
 

Generally speaking, tyre casings are puncture resistant by degrees  (rather than proof) and this tends to be determined by belt material and coverage. Some only defend the centre strip, which still offers useful protection but leaves the shoulders vulnerable to sharps. Similarly, some riders are more prone to puncturing than others. 

Goo filled tubes are another concept that has been with us for a very long time.

 

The idea is the sealant sloshes around in the tube and seals tiny holes as you ride, with nominal loss of pressure-hence their appeal among commuters. I’ve found them quite useful as compliments to stout tyres with aramid casings. Some brands work better than others and the slimy stuff eventually goes off-sometimes spurting from the valve head (splodges on rims and flooring alike are tell-tale signs).

In my experience the sealant is most mobile and therefore, effective in milder weather. A really viscous sharp can rupture them irreparably-thankfully rare but seriously messy and never tempt fate by leaving spare tubes at home..

Riders with bikes on strict calorie controlled diets should also note there is a minor weight penalty to be paid. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to see how these compare with some household names.
 

Talking of which, my Ilpompino’s Acor sealed cartridge bearing bottom bracket has unexpectedly got the grumbles less than 4,000miles in, which is disappointing but I’ve decided to plump for a UN55, which should run closer to 10,000. It also forced the issue of sorting the Univega’s front brake and other generic, mid-winter servicing.

A hole in the rear mudguard has been successfully plugged with this AA fuelled single (steady) mode “Torch” guard specific LED cum reflector and aside from giving everything a seriously thorough clean, we’ve lost the rack mounted bag and Axiom lowriders in favour of the brands capacious H20 wedge pack.

Then we have these exotic looking Rock lube Rock n’ Roll chain lubricants-gold, extreme and absolute dry. Colour aside, these are a potent petrochemical family that differ from traditional chain lubes, most notably in terms of application.

Firstly, the solvent properties seem such that (a) to stripping chains of pre-existing lube beforehand isn’t strictly necessary (although I’d still recommend doing so, especially if you’ve been running a grime-enticing wet blend). Secondly, you don’t drizzle them into the links in the traditional way but apply it atop the chain from the cassette end.

Directions suggest they cure best I warm conditions-so I’ve applied the gold and extreme outside and then brought Ilpompino and Univega inside (room temperature) for twenty minutes. Despite their viscosity, wastage has been fairly nominal, although wiping the links afterward is imperative. Either way, I’m expecting something very special given they command £20 apiece.   

Elsewhere, I popped down to Coventry’s fargo village to see what had changed-quite a bit and not just the menu at Urban Coffee Company. Expansion has brought new traders, while others have grown into larger premises. Dashing blades is a slightly unusual but very enticing barbers offering a blend of traditional and modern scissor skill. My significant other had been enthusiastic about the proprietor’s distinctive and well-groomed style.

Cue a reworking of my generous thatch, which was beginning to look straggly, rather than styled. Given Rob has long curly hair, I automatically felt at ease and Sharon noted our obvious rapport. Fifteen minutes later, ten pounds changed hands and I left, pleased with his service and happy to return....   

 

Light in a Dark Month

 

 

Met with Steve Dyster and discussed our quarterly plan for Seven Day Cyclist-exciting times, so watch this space...www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk
 

More blinkies and commuter lights continue to arrive and I’ve also acquired a portable strobe for those situations including wedding/parties where use of traditional static lighting is impractical.  I plumped for a decent quality grey import following chance conversation with the photographer covering Anju & Deepak’s wedding.

However, reservations aired by skilled electrical engineers re OEM cell quality prompted me to feed this and high power (1000lumen plus) bike lights on aftermarket, EU compliant batteries and chargers.

Thankfully, I’ve never had any combust but there is always the risk an insurer could refuse to honour a claim where a faulty unit caused fire damage, or worse. 

Generally speaking I am a night owl, swooping through unlit lanes. However, while more expensive models allow sensible stair-casing for sub/urban riding; a new generation of torch type commuter models often prove better options for sub/urban riding.

Dependant upon lens, reflector and diode quality, 300lumens can produce sufficient prowess for short, semi rural sections at 18mph or so-often with consistent output right until the end. However, unless these employ replaceable li-on/polymer cells, reserves are usually spent within 2hrs and need 4 hours mains charging.

Most default to a steady “standard” typically translating as 150 lumens for 4-5 hours. A decent balance between performance and economy, though a low 80 lumen mode is surprisingly useful round town, super frugal and better quality light than provided by budget dynamo lamps. Some can also be helmet mounted-not for trail duties obviously but useful companions to master-blasters on long hauls.   

Flashing and strobe settings are thriftier still and arguably the most extrovert option in the concrete jungle, or dull overcast afternoon where remaining conspicuous takes priority. USB rechargeable blinkies are also becoming increasingly practical for dusk-till dawn all-nighters and even touring.

Nite Rider Solas is a prime example (returning nigh on 15hours in flashing) although it has been around a few seasons’ now. An increasing number of cheaper lights are coming close in terms of runtimes and daylight modes are also growing in popularity but the Solas has phenomenal presence in its favour.

 In a wider, seasonal context, light has long been recognised as being a key player in our sense of well-being and until recently, the barrage of wild, windy and overcast conditions had been having a pronounced effect upon my own sense of morale, kept in check with a mix of long, steady rides and fast blasts on the fixer.

Damp, mild weather is being eroded by colder airs and with snow forecast to migrate from the north, though in reality; this isn’t anything more extreme than the UK would usually expect from January. Simply put, unless things change radically, I won’t be substituting the Univega’s Vittoria Randonneur trail (Long term test issue 7 SDC-downloadable from the site) in favour of spikes.

Forecasting has become increasingly accurate but fear of litigation encourages worst case scenario reportage, although I’m often tempted to invest in some narrow section (35mm) Kenda Klondike for my pure bread ‘cross bike and its derivatives.

These are favourably priced compared with some popular European brands, albeit not officially imported here and would need to be discounted since I’m unlikely to use them longer than 14 days in every 12months.

Winter tyres, designed specifically for snow and ice should feature beefy sidewalls and a tread pattern that scoops away snow and slush, while the spikes bite into the ice beneath, providing traction. Weight commonly brings people out in hives and yes, this rotational weight is quite noticeable when things thaw out.

Ah, but the ability to bowl along at a steady 15-17mph along otherwise treacherous roads and lanes and sporting a big grin is infinitely preferable to spinning away on the indoor trainer, Hamster stylee.

Talking of harsh, I snapped this disc braked beast of burden in Coventry city centre. Bin liners and supermarket bags suggested homelessness, rather than over ambitious utility riding. Lifestyle choice, tragic twist of fate, who knows. Ending on a high note, Lee Cooper is indeed back and trading as a bespoke builder. Hopefully, I’ll be along to capture him at work very soon.

Front Ends & Fargo Revisited

After all the drama associated with procuring forks, callipers, wheels, rotors and hoops, I headed north to the midlands and to Coventry’s arty fargo district for some photographic inspiration. Plenty to see and further units are being built to accommodate its steady expansion. Back down south, I awoke early and decided it was time to prepare the Kinesis fork and gen up on Avid BB7’s.

The Kinesis steerer proved shorter than many I’ve come across given its racing credentials, so having double checked the measurements against the Ilpompino’s existing ITM Vista, I introduced my Cyclo cutting guide and pruned it to 23cm. Worst case scenario, I could always loose a spacer and adopt a slightly racier stance but there’s no excuse for sloppiness…

For this very reason and given my present workload, I wanted to complete this job in carefully executed stages, so tiredness didn’t lead to mistakes and/or frustration.  I was fairly confident the existing Tektro lever would pull sufficient cable, though a quick rummage through the spares draw unearthed its black, V brake cousin-which proved surplus to requirements.

On a roll, I introduced the crown race before putting the project to one-side, earmarking that evening for transplant surgery.

Everything came together without too much fuss and persuading the Avid’s to play nicely proved easier than I’d expected…After some initial cartwheeling, the state of euphoria bombed when the headset bearings proved baggier than MC Hammers’ trousers.

A new set of caged balls basted generously in white lightning crystal grease, musical spacers and a Gusset “headlock” clamping system dialled things in perfectly. For the time being I’m going to enjoy the new set up sans front mudguard, since the stays were a little short and fouling the calliper’s torque arm-causing pads to drag on the disc.

Axiom probably has a gizmo or two, which will solve this small but irritating puzzle. Failing that I’ll have to seek out something aesthetically compatible with a single stay…

Elsewhere, we’ve decided to offer Seven Day Cyclist as a free downloadable publication-starting with number 8. Back issues are also available simply by clicking on the appropriate tab: www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk

Laid Up with a Lurgi ?

Just crossed the three hundred mile marker on the Croix de fer 2.0 when Joshua’s viral infection decided I was its next host. While a less catastrophic assimilation than those depicted in John Carpenter’s seminal 1982 shocker “The Thing”; nonetheless I spent two days and a further three nights in a feverish and convincingly comatose state, moving only to expel gallons of phlegm into the dog’s previously empty water bowl…

Reverting to more appetising propositions, these past few weeks with the Genesis have awakened a strange and irrational yearning to equipping the Ilpompino with a disc-braked front end. 

By my own admission, such urges belong firmly buried in the “want” vault since we’re talking new fork, wheel build, calliper, cables and related disc components. Then of course, a single, well-honed cantilever is more than adequate for stopping a speeding fixer and 70odd kilo pilot.

We’ll blame it on the fever for a moment since these usually induce a strange, contemplative state of euphoria somewhere in their gestation. Is Northern Soul simply an excuse for wearing big trousers and recreational use of amphetamines? Why does the scriptwriting process for certain “flagship” TV soaps apparently employ so little hard research? Has mainstream politics lost its legitimacy?

Joking aside, those TRP HYRD fitted to the Croix de fer, were the real catalysts for this proposed upgrade. For the uninitiated, they’re a hybrid design employing an open hydraulic calliper-with all the obvious benefits yet commanded by a high quality cable, thus maintenance/repair are pretty straightforward and they’re fully compatible with standard road/brifters.

Costs for this sort of specification aren’t outlandish by any stretch of the imagination but too exotic for said fixie. A quick wander round the web suggests something Deore flavoured with corresponding front hub and a shop branded carbon composite fork/aluminium alloy steerer is a more cost effective and therefore, realistic proposition. Not a priority, rather one to seize should a suitable ensemble come under my radar and moreover, at the right price.

Maybe it’s just another illustration of the “Confirmation bias” in full flow-the notion that “When men wish to construct or support a theory, how they torture facts into their service! (Mackay, 1852/ 1932, p. 552)” However, further trials of driver-less vehicles add fuel to my particular belief that Public Service Vehicles (Buses, Trams etc) along with Heavy Goods Vehicles will become fully automated within ten years.

This has a wealth of implications and contrary to widely held opinion; technology and development is not neutral. It does not exist in a separate sphere but driven by the inventors’ (or corporations) own ideological leanings.

At the moment there are questions of their hazard perception programming/equipment. How will they recognise, or indeed distinguish between cyclists, motorcyclists, horse-riders, pedestrians, children/adults etc? 

When will these calculate is the optimal point/distance for overtaking? Human error is to blame for a great many accidents but at some level, computers are still potentially flawed in exactly the same fashion as they’re programmed and developed by humans.

Because the technology has come on stream, does this mean it will flourish by default? Does it actually toll the bell for commercial drivers as I first thought, or is it a proactive response to a dying trade, aging operatives not being superseded by young blood?

Computers are excellent at fast paced calculations and repetitive tasks but while they can operate within pre-set tolerances, they still cannot determine whether something is correct beyond this coded framework.

I can see the possibility of android operatives, housekeepers, companions and pets a’la Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, though feel humans will not be replaced, or made redundant in the flavour suggested by proponents of de-skilling theory. Public perceptions of photography fuelled by falling prices and point n’ shoot technology implies there is no longer any mastery required…  

Another thing that’s been with us since time in memorial and similarly variable in quality is the humble paint defending patch-kits. You know the sort; they stop cable outers chewing through your head, seat tube but were notorious for peeling come the first hint of a muddy trail, sudsy bucket or lick of solvent. 

Technology filtering through from other industries (“Helicopter tape” being the most obvious example) has forced manufacturers to develop vastly superior versions.

Zefal skin armour large shown here is a comprehensive ready cut set made from 250 microns thick polyurethane, which is supple and extremely stretchy at moderate temperatures. Good, unhurried preparation is pivotal but proved delightful to fit and hasn’t shown any obvious signs of cultivating that fuzzy, filmy outline to date.      

Elsewhere, issue 4 of Seven Day Cyclist hit the digital newsstands this week: 

http://www.pocketmags.com/viewmagazine.aspx?catid=1038&category=Sport&subcatid=234&subcategory=Cycling&title=Seven+Day+Cyclist&titleid=2582


I’ve also been up to the midlands following some leads for my book exploring the lives of ex car workers and capturing some shots of the Fosehill district since opportunity presented.             

Nirvana?

November arrived and once again, I spirited myself off to the midlands. I’ve always been wary of gentrification since intentionally, or otherwise, it can equate to socio-economic cleansing, changing communities forever.

Coventry has experienced decline harder than most-evident in children’s faces. Once hub of the transport industry and home to many household names, you can almost hear the Special’s seminal “Ghost town” playing a soft accompaniment as you pass the former car plants, derelict pubs and empty shops. Far from being disparaging, I am very fond of the city and its rich, colourful history.

On this occasion, we found ourselves in Fargo village, a creative space hosting galleries, studios and independent retailers. Parallels with London’s Spitalfields’ and Brick Lane districts are perhaps inevitable but it’s not trying to emulate my once beloved East-End and I found plenty of photographic inspiration.

Winter is literally around the next bend, although temperatures have been decidedly mild until now. Traditionally harsh, it remains richly rewarding so long as rider and machine(s) are appropriately dressed. 

Clothing needs to keep us dry, yet temperate and while reliability presides, bikes must be suitably inspiring to entice us outside. Indeed some pundits are prophesising harsh weather front originating in Russia will hit the UK around New Year, causing temperatures to plummet to record lows. Looks like spiked tyres will make reappear on the Univega afterall!    

http://www.pocketmags.com/viewmagazine.aspx?titleid=2582&title=Seven+Day+Cyclist

On a brighter note, we’re delighted to announce the arrival of “Seven Day Cyclist”-a new consumer focused magazine with a slightly different perspective. The first issue is available on pocketmags for less than your typical Latte’ and features a thorough road test of this Foffa Urban, these Axiom racks and a fair bit of grass roots touring too.