Misty Mornings

 

Navigating the backroads at 5am is like riding through pea soup and can play all sorts of tricks on an active imagination. Mercifully, the closest I’ve come to demonic hounds, or werewolves are speeding muntjac, deer but ideal conditions for evaluating lighting-and my reflexes!  

While it has some definite quirks, the Ravemen TR50 USB Rechargeable rear light is surprisingly potent, especially in the highest, 50 lumen flashing mode.  

This has sufficient bite to burn through dense coastal mist and doubles as a decent daytime running light. True, it doesn’t match the Knog Cobber Mid Rear Lights’ https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/knog-cobber-mid-rear-light knockout punch. High flash and pulsing produce 150lumens apiece and are relatively frugal-especially in the flashing mode.  

The Cobber’s curved optics, not to mention 192 diodes also mean its peripheral reach is considerably better.  Nonetheless, it needs four hours charge time and is almost twice the TR50’s asking price.   

The highest setting has exceeded cited run time by a few minutes, although the auto kickdown to fast flashing doesn’t last long (around 15 minutes) before shutting down. A consideration, rather than a deal-breaker but I’m always inclined to run a backup light, regardless.  

Flash flooding and thunderstorms have tempered the recent heatwave, hence my lube switches.150 miles in, formative impressions of the Muc-Off –50 lubricant are also very favourable. Not dissimilar to the Weldtite TF2 All Weather Lubricant https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-performance-all-weathe in terms of lubrication and cleanliness. I have high hopes for its corrosion resisting properties, too.  

Similar viscosity also lends itself to cleat/mechanisms and even cables, although a dry wax such Weldite Ultra Dry Chain Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/weldtite-tf2-ultra-dry-chain-wax is, my preferred option for cable inners. In this context, there’s no need to observe the long curing period, although it will last a good while longer if you can.  

Half link chains, like a lot of things, divide opinion. Personally, I’m a fan. They were a popular way of addressing chain tension issues, especially on fixed gear conversions with vertical frame ends. Much less of a challenge on a purpose build frameset using track ends.  

During a quiet moment, I chose to substitute my fixed gear winter/trainer’s Sram PC1 for this KMC HL1 Wide. As the imaginative moniker suggests, it’s a hefty, nickel-plated ½ link, direction specific model. Easily cut and joined using this trusty Topeak All Speeds Chain Toolhttps://www.sevendaycyclist.com/topeak-all-speeds-chain-tool.  

 

Refined and super smooth, I’m wondering how the HL1 will compare with my all-time favourite, the KMC Z1x https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/kmc-inox-chain (save for the tendency for lube to migrate from the rollers to the outer plates). Talking of which, I’m going to leave it dressed in the factory lube for the time being, since it's there, although being quite contrary in these matters, I might well change my mind.  

Talking of electroplating, while on a mission of mercy, I exhumed this seven-year old, 20 function BBB Microfold XXL from the recesses of my car boot tidy. I always some tooling there in case I need to fettle a friend’s bike while visiting, or in case someone is stuck by the roadside. 

Now out of production, said tool is anything but obsolete and has some nice touches. Curious? OK, T25 Torx, spoke wrenches (3.2, 3.3 3.5mm), tyre lever, chain hook, chain tool, chain pin tool, 2, 2.5, 5, 4, 5, 6, 8mm Allen keys, 8, 9, 10mm Box wrenches, Phillips and straight blade screwdrivers. By the look of things, I may have lost the 8mm cap but otherwise, it’ll cater for most eventualities and is surprisingly pleasant to use, thanks to the rubberised coating.  

I was somewhat stunned to discover the plated tooling had cultivated some unsightly, barnacle-like tarnish. This presented the ideal opportunity to test the cutting prowess of this M16 Ride & Shine. The chemical abrasives did a decent job of removing the lions’ share within 20minutes, albeit with a little help from a flat-file. Apparently, the Ride & Shine leaves a protective barrier behind, so we’ll see how effective that is... 

 

Spaced Out & Salvaged

Inspired by warmer drier weather, and of course, that Holdsworth Cyclone awaiting refinishing, I’ve plucked my Holdsworth from hibernation and decided to revise the cockpit, again. My love of flared drops seems to know no bounds. This might offend traditionalists, but my bikes are built, and evolve to suit me.

That’s not to say I don’t appreciate some people’s desires to keep a classic bike’s authenticity-right down to fasteners. The Soma Highway1 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-highway-1-handlebars are a fine set of shallow drops, but that oh-so familiar urge for tweaking was calling. Condor’s hybrid design, combining riser and drops https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma  wasn’t the most obvious choice, I’ll admit.

After some reflection, I opted for the MK1, and then decided I also fancied a change of brake lever. A quick rummage in the spares’ drawer, unearthed this solitary, orphaned Tektro R200. Seemingly superseded by the RL340, these are nicely finished Campagnolo patterns, right down to the push button Q/R.

Giving change from £25 (pr) they play nicely with dual pivots, centre pulls and cantilevers. Their RL520 cousins were designed for V brakes and compatible with, cable operated disc callipers, such as these Tektro Spyre. Light springs, decent modulation and feel.

Some folks might be a bit snooty, but both represent fantastic value for money. Oh, and if you’re really that fussed about branding,, the Tektro logo could be stripped, using a cutting compound, such as Crankalicious Mayo Jaune Intensive Frame Cleaner https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/crankalicious-mayo-jaune-intensive-  

At 145g, the solitary lever is 85g heavier than the Acor carbon TT lever, it replaces. However, I felt it a more suitable revision-knew it’d come in handy someday! I described the Soma Condor2 Shallow Drop Bars https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/soma-condor-2-shallow-drop-bars  as   “The bar the original Soma Condor Handlebar should’ve been”.

Generally, I stand by this statement, but the original’s lower slung tops, are a better fit with the Holdsworth. Being able to salvage the silicone handlebar tape, was another definite bonus.  In some respects, The Genetic D-Riser 16 Bars https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/genetic-d-riser-bars  might’ve been better still. However, they’re staying on my fixed gear winter/trainer, thank you.

Holdsworth makeover complete, I tweaked the Woodman Saturn Aheadset bearings, gave it a good sudsy bucket wash, then treated it to this Velo21 Blueberry Glaze wax. Despite some initial scepticism, performance and longevity are quite impressive. Aside from apparent quality, and longevity of sheen, its genuinely compatible with matt, satin and gloss finishes. Yes, including this Torus Titanium Stem https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/torus-titanium-stem

Talking of wax, I had intended to dress the chain in Zefal Pro Dry Chain Lube but picked up Zefal Extra Dry Chain Wax, by mistake. An error that only became apparent when the white emulsion began seeping into the links. Mildly annoying, but there we are. No sense starting again, so I delivered three coats and popped the bike away. Quitting while ahead is a definite virtue.  Talking of chains, I checked the Univega’s FSA using my KMC digital unit. To date, wear is nominal, but I acquired a KMC X973 grey replacement, for when the FSA needs pensioning off.  

Fixed chains don’t require the same degree of introspection, but you’d be foolish not to inspect and where appropriate, adjust tension. This was only necessary a couple of times, during the KMC Z1 X’s  lifetime. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/kmc-inox-chain  By comparison, this is the third time in 1100miles, for the Passport Elements Single Speed Anti Rust Chain https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/passport-elements-single-speed-chai .

Nonetheless, the Passport is a very reliable, relatively smooth and highly corrosion resistant option. The galvanised texture genuinely seems to retain lube better, than traditional polished/electroplated models.

While it copes well with the stresses of a fixed transmission, I’d opt for a heavy-duty track version, if like me, you only run a single, front brake. Perfect for a single speed, or hub geared bike, especially those that see year- round, four seasons; service.