Logistical Redemption & Festive Threesomes

Hmm, perhaps someone in the logistics industry was reading my last post-those Tenn gloves and overshoes have just arrived-along with this Stronglight Aheadset.

Made from neatly machined 7075 aluminium, it boasts annular (as distinct from ball, or needle roller) bearings. Arguably, the latter are equally suited to touring, tandem, trike and similarly high stress applications thanks to broad surface areas.

Will be interesting to see what (if any) difference these make, especially at the lower race. I have previously employed the French marques’ justly popular and similarly priced threaded A9 model with more traditional touring builds.

Trouble free for many thousands of miles; I’m hoping this unit will follow in its footsteps. Lip seals promise similar defence against moisture/ingress but other factors; including correctly reamed and faced head tubes, sympathetic installation using stiff greases is equally significant.  Fitting’s earmarked for that quietly industrious, contemplative corridor between Christmas and New Year.

According to folklore, things run in threes. Freehub was first, headset second and this week, its otherwise dependable Dia Compe rear stoppers got the sulks and couldn’t be cajoled back to civility.

Regular readers will recall my predisposition toward front braking, reasoning that 80% of our weight moves forward. However, legalities aside; I’m firmly of the mindset that if something’s fitted, it must be functional and preferably finely honed.

Often a judicious blast of PTFE based spray while repeatedly pumping the lever cures matters. No joy…Closer inspection confirmed the frame’s pivot points were clean and completely free of corrosion. In fact, they still sported a protective layer of ceramic grease, comparably spotless springs too. Yet the left wouldn’t return for love, money or kind words… 

While having a thorough clean, sweep and tidy of the garage (as stipulated by one’s maternal figurehead during her most recent weapon’s inspection), I happened upon these wide arm units that once adorned the Ilpompino’s seat stay bosses.

Mechanical efficiency is greatly superior to low profile designs, although more extreme versions can present compatibility issues on smaller frames, especially when large panniers and generous feet enter the equation.  

Fresh cable, a lick of lube and ten minutes light fettling later they were pride of place. Reliable service resumed with discernibly superior modulation and feel-huzzah!

Talking of braking, I’ve always been a fan of the much maligned U brake. Sure, its low slung location had dire consequences for mountain bikers venturing beyond arid, dusty trails but I was impressed with their power and believed it had much wider horizons.

Decathlon would appear of similar opinion judging by their Alur 700. An unusual move since discs have stolen the show on road biased builds these past few seasons. However, this configuration was chosen to improve clearances, thus entertaining 28mm tyre sections, which can deliver a more compliant, sure-footed passage over wet, greasy winter roads. 

Suspect said stopper will require more frequent cleaning/inspection given its likely to be blasted with that slimy, sludgy and sometimes salty cocktail, mind.

Right, well my extra powerful 1700watt vacuum cleaner has just this minute expired-the fourth thing in a row (!) Best pack bags, head off to the midlands, watch some grass roots ‘cross racing and spend Christmas with very special people.

Bother, Bother, Bother That Brake!

"Father did not riot, he loaded his pannier full with DSLR, lenses, spare batteries, hopped on the Univega and went in search of politicians in compromising positions. After a particularly long and arduous descent, the V brakes rebelled and he replaced them with cantilevers".

This is a shameless and deliberate play on Norman Tebbit's infamous speech made in response to civil unrest instigated by harsh socio-economic conditions in the early 1980s. Quotes frequently morph or are bastardised with time and a publication's political colours but Tebbit is widely believed to have said " I grew up in the 30's with an unemployed father. He didn't riot, he got on his bike and looked for work and he kept looking 'till he found it". Before embarking on our tale of woe, I've caught some very candid shots of local government figures partaking in midday massages and moonlight meanderings. Several meadows close to Dorking town centre reputedly bore witness to the latter but this could've been small talk and unfounded rumor amplified by poor journalism.

Few can escape the continued focus and speculation around the economy and the extensive rationing of public spending-especially here in the UK. Cycling England which served to promote cycling in all its genres and contexts has become the latest casualty. Cynically one might suggest this was predictable given cycling seemingly rates on par with welly-wanging in the public consciousness (although the British track team's recent successes certainly improved matters). However, responsibility for the coordination of related projects/developments has been returned to local authority control which isn't particularly good news, not least as the present administration seem determined to wield power centrally, thus local governments will become little more than paper tigers. Paraphrasing a line from Jaws "We're gonna need a bigger boat" to keep the momentum going at grass root and national level.

So to matters braking. Dia Compe 988 might seem a curious choice, necessitating new levers, cables and bar wrap but there's a method in my madness. First and foremost, their slender profiles improve pannier and heel clearance compared with their wider and more powerful brethren but secondly, cantilevers cope better than linear pulls in wet, muddy conditions. This is very significant seeing as Joshua loves riding but the tight, narrow roads are heavily trafficked and unsuitable for children his age-ergo much of our time is spent riding, wet muddy farm and forest tracks/trails. Such reconfigurations present the ideal opportunity for more comprehensive annual overhaul before the winter miles set in, although the 988 mounting kit was instantly upgraded and the pads will follow suit so as to bring modulation and feel on par with higher end models. That said, even as stock they're not to be sneezed at-especially for winter/cross builds.

Well-dressed riders and machines form the basis of winter survival and it's been the first week that 3/4 length knickers have been shunned in favour of tights. Hands and feet are the first extremities to suffer in the cold so with this in mind, its timely we take a quick peek at these weatherproof gloves from Altura and Protective.

Both are competitively priced, completely waterproof to the cuffs, offer good insulation from road and trail shock and feature the ubiquitous Ulnar padding. The Altura features a series of hefty gel tablets dotted around the palms whereas Protective have opted for a less pronoun ed and very compliant single cushion. There's no magic bullet when it comes to comfort-we're anatomically unique with different riding styles and so one wo/mans padding is another's pressure point. The first few hundred miles suggests the Protective provide a more sculpted anatomic fit-especially after two hours continuous riding.

Altura's mid-weight night vision technical winter jersey addresses the issue of beating winter chill without incurring increased bulk. Polyester based it's heavily impregnated with Scotchlite detailing-the sort that reflects back when graced by vehicle headlamps, street lighting etc. Three large pockets capture keys, phones, cameras, change and other assorted nick knacks and the middle will even swallow a 750ml trade bottle. Paired with a decent base layer it beats early season chill hands down and resists light showers and moisture management's pretty good-about twenty five minutes following a light shower or machine wash. Another lovely touch is the fibre optic strip that attaches to the garment courtesy of a large Velcro bed. This completes the really neat, integrated appearance and could spell the slow but steady extinction of the traditional LED tab. If only all lighting systems were this simple....

Charging the assorted nimh, li-on and Lead acid systems has proven somewhat more demanding with some losing charge before we'd reached the end of the drive and others just refusing to replenish full-stop. Seven hours-the lion's share of a working day (or night) brings this old school but likable Electron unit to life for a couple of hour's return-not the most convenient for a quick twenty mile chase around the block. No longer made and showing it's age beside this simple, compact Li-on fuelled units such as this from One23; the Electron slips into the bottle cage and alternates between settings via two handlebar mounted switches.

Fine for commuting and winter training, the beams deliver a bright but yellow hue that isn't so effective off road or tackling pitch black rural lanes...Let's take a closer look at the One23 extra bright. This unit is the perfect illustration of why watts are a very outmoded and slightly misleading measure of power/output. The super bright LEDs knock old fashioned ten watt lead acid systems for six, projecting a really pure white beam good enough to belt along the back roads at 20+ mph in the highest setting.

Low isn't radically better in terms of economy but more than adequate for sub/urban runs while flashing saves the day when battery life and visibility to other traffic preside over outright visual clarity. Run times are around three hours in top, four in low and six in flashing. Fully charging the lithium battery will cost a couple of hours at the mains while the helmet mount option and very modest weight opens horizons to nocturnal singletrack and forest fun when accompanied by a handlebar system.