Bags & Bright Sides

 

The arrival of this Craft Cadence Handlebar Bag brought a bit contemplation-Ursula, or fixed gear winter/trainer... The good news is this 3.5 litre model would sit nicely between the Soma Condor 2SOMA CONDOR 2 SHALLOW DROP BARS | (sevendaycyclist.com) bars, with a healthy amount of clearance between bag and mudguard. (Fenders for US/Canadian readers). However, it would require a more comprehensive re-jigging of the cockpit. Hence, I plumped for the fixed’s Genetic D Riser 4 GENETIC DRISER 4 HANDLEBARS | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I still needed to slide the Genetic Neuron Accessory BarGENETIC NEURON ACCESSORY BAR | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) along, and switch the ORP Smart hornTESTED: ORP SMART HORN (sevendaycyclist.com) and action camera mount/housing. Another blessing in disguise by my reckoning, neater still. Bag in situ, I’ve decided to remove the Apidura Racing Bolt-On Top Tube Pack for a cleaner, less cluttered aesthetic.  

Talking of which, I prefer my handlebar bags to be less prescriptive, dare I say, less orderly. The big open plan compartment has a mesh pocket to capture valuables such as phones, wallets etc in a central, easily accessible place. Otherwise, there’s plenty of scope for bunging in spare tubes, micro jackets/gilets, gloves, arm/leg warmers, caps, tools, food, and compact camera.  

The straps are more like a belt buckle, and rather interesting, in the most positive sense. Less prescriptive than those featuring the otherwise very likeable and reliable Klick Fix type and offering greater stability than Velcro. The stem strap IS Velcro and stable, although, as with bike packing luggage, I would place some “helicopter tape” where it makes contact with paintwork, to avoid “tan lines” and other, easily avoidable calling cards.  

Made from micro welded Tarpaulin, the main bag meets IPX5, which isn’t waterproof in the submersible sense but coupled with the clam type closure is very reassuring. (I’ve had no issues to date, in some unexpected and intense showers.) That being said (and it’s not a reflection of the Craft Cadence) I would be inclined to line with a dry sack, if carrying cameras, or similarly sensitive electrical goodies.  

All good, in the main. Save that is, for a fatigued seat collar, resulting in a very pedestrian sinking of the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST G4. These small components eventually fail and worst-case scenario, a new collar and bolt are easy and relatively cheap to replace. I bought a couple of Selcoff units, complete for £1.99 apiece. Obviously, I had a good route around the small spares' trays first for a suitable alternative. Nothing doing and splaying smaller clamps is asking for trouble.  

Components are designed to be a precise fit and work to very tight tolerances. Hung safely back in the garage, I found myself fettling Ursula again. It started innocently enough, dialing some stiffness into the Kinekt 2.1 seatpost KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Then (almost predictably) I thought I’d check the shifting...For some reason, it was out of step. Not wildly so but merited investigation.  

After 15 minutes, I had a eureka moment, whipped off the Sun Race SP570 Rear Derailleur Hanger Extender SUNRACE REAR DERAILLEUR EXTENDER | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and threaded the NRX derailleur straight into the frame’s hanger (adding a quick lick of Peaty’s Assembly Grease PEATY'S BICYCLE ASSEMBLY GREASE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  while I was there. Minor cable tensioning later and it moved sequentially, without hesitation across the block. I repeated this six times before satisfied all was well and that the derailleur wasn’t going too far in either direction.  

I completed the session by fitting this freshly charged Brightside Side Light to the downtube. Designed here in the UK, it’s a tertiary form of lighting intended to improve peripheral presence, say at roundabouts and junctions.  

Build quality is reassuringly good and waterproofing similarly impressive. It can also be mounted to other tubes, including the head tube (although this may not be practical, say with some bar bags). This, coupled with its topside (helmet-mounted front and rear combo light) counterpart look particularly effective, for boosting the presence of riders towing trailers and tagalongs.   

Knowing The Score

Returning from some mixed terrain escapes on Ursula, I took the opportunity to check the fleet’s tyre pressures and other little “while I’m here” once-overs. Spinning my fixed gear winter/trainer’s front wheel revealed a warped disc rotor. It was also showing some tell-tale signs of scoring, resultant from unchecked pad wear. Wet, gritty conditions can chomp through seemingly serviceable pads with ruthless efficiency. Keep a spare set handy and re-order when you switch to those.    

Thankfully, I had a replacement rotor in stock. Laying both flat on the workbench confirmed the old Clarkes Rotor was showing some small but definite warping. I switched the two and instantly, the issue resolved. The old rotor was consigned to the recycling. I also confirmed that I had a replacement set of pads waiting in the wings.  

Tyre pressures checked and wheel(s) repatriated, I turned my attention to Ursula’s drivetrain, which was looking decidedly scuzzy, given a couple of weeks spent navigating wet, singletrack lanes and bridle path. Perfect for testing some more degreaser sprays. Waxy-type lubes, rather like other waxy products can become quite congealed, thus unexpectedly tenacious.  

Aside from the chain’s side plates, it usually collects around the front ring(s) derailleur cages and jockey wheels. This is where cassette claws (and similarly invasive scrubbers) come in handy- combing out the lion’s share of gunk, so your chosen de-greaser strips with greatest efficiency. Blends such as this Motorex, Muc-Off, and Weldtite Jet Blast Degreaser will all induce rapid melting and are time savers but won’t shift this in a single hit. 

Elsewhere, my fixed gear winter/trainer’s cockpit reshuffle has proven a winner all round for me. Time well spent, although I had to stop and snug the Campark V40 waterproof housing hardware down Facebook. I’ve also decided to switch lamps over i.e., the Bikepacker Ultra to Ursula and its new, low drag counterpart over to my fixed gear winter/trainer.  

A couple of weeks down the line, the K-Lite low drag dynamo has proven this latter quality and I want to see just how much difference, the benefits and indeed, any limitations of this version. Not that drag has ever been an issue with the K-Lite family and I’ve lived with them for many thousands of miles. However, this drop in resistance seems to result in even greater, palpable reward. Over a familiar 12-mile loop, I’ve maintained 20mph, as distinct from a very respectable 18.6 with the sibling units switched on.    

While switching things around, I decided to look more closely at the new K-lite mounts and I plumped for a Go-Pro pattern for Ursula’s Velo Orange Handlebar Accessory Mount VELO ORANGE HANDLEBAR ACCESSORY MOUNT | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and once again, re-thought my fixed gear winter trainer’s set up. This time, I’ve moved the switch to the Genetic accessory mount, besides the VDO computer-checking to ensure it didn’t interfere with the wireless signal. No issues so out came the cable ties, and everything was tethered firmly in situ.  

I’d toyed (and investigated) mounting the switch atop the Redshift Sports Shockstop Suspension Stem TEST & REVIEW REDSHIFT SPORTS SHOCKSTOP SUSPENSION STEM (sevendaycyclist.com) but the flat profile precluded pleasing effect. The idea to switch to another stem was extinguished, just as soon as it arrived. Anyhow, said brain fart aside, I’m pleased with the result and will resume testing.  Now the weather has finally become aligned with early summer, I’ve been enjoying the Teenage Dream’s charms, in the Sunday best sense1991 ROAD BIKE REVAMP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com). Ursula and fixed gear winter/trainer are still doing the daily driver mileage. I’m still running the Bat Wax Lube on the fixed but when it comes to Ursula, can’t seem to settle on a wet, dry, or wax type, given the still changeable weather.    

 

North of November

November is literally vanishing before they eyes. Darker, wetter days have been the norm. Trees have shed their leaves almost unnoticed, and these have interwoven with dung, coating rural roads in interesting, impacted mulch. One that harbours hedge clippings, flints and other sharps, that infiltrate tyre casings as we ride.

Even the Univega's front Schwalbe Marathon Mondial Double Defence tyre     had succumbed.  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-marathon-mondial-tyres

Another spare tube retrieved and the injured party ear-marked for patching, this presented an ideal opportunity to give the bike, a good wash. 

Juice Lubes Dirt Juice Bike Cleaner, complete with a new, foaming trigger spray was an obvious candidate. Now, there's an argument that says foaming solutions give a very visual impression of dissolving gunk and grime. Whereas, less visually active solutions are more effective, since they sit on the hosts, breaking it down on a molecular level.  Juice Lubes advise the dirt juice is designed to foam up, though cling to the hosts.

Credit where due, left for the full two minutes, the dirt juice did a decent job of dismissing some ingrained organic and petrochemical grot. Nocturnal temperatures have been tumbling close to freezing, which in turn has coaxed the gritting lorries out. 

I may switch to the Schwalbe Marathon Winter, should slippery roads become a prevailing feature. Lanes carpeted in iced bovine dung and compacted leaves, can induce the wrong sort of excitement.

Next, I dialled in the Univega's front brake. Not that the Genetic Cantilevers were anything but crisp. I just wanted fractionally more bite. This also presented opportunity to use the Juice Lubes JL69 maintenance spray to work. Most maintenance sprays promise to be all things, to all folks. 

Perfect for post wash lubing of cables, pivot points, displacing water, while leaving a protective slippery barrier behind. Many claim to loosen rusted parts. Some are better than others. 

Royally stuck stems, seat posts and bottom brackets, call for oceans of Plus Gas/similar high strength freeing oil. Often some liberal deployment of judicious force, too. 

Maintenance sprays tend to fall into two basic camps. Insipid brews, which are fine for post wash duties, or super stocky stuff with lashings of PTFE. The latter tend to be quite effective, in terms of protection and reducing friction. They're also relatively cheap. However, they're not particularly kind to seals and other rubberised components.   

Juice tell me the JL69  contains no PTFE, so nicer all round.  Constant use and exposure to warm sudsy bucket loads tends to strip lubricant from my long serving work stand, making erection and collapse feel slightly arthritic. 

A localised squirt has freed things nicely. I'd be inclined to strip and re grease a binding rear brake, regardless of genre, but a quick shot on the inner wires and pivot points also seems to keep things slick and glitch free. Talking of glitches, logistics firms are recruiting their seasonal army of couriers, primed for Black Friday and pre Christmas blow-outs. 

I've worn that particular hat. 

Bustling back and forth with a Mercedes Sprinter laden to its limit. Sullen and miserable as the day's targets, tracking devices, stressed out, chain-smoking controllers and ignorant members of the public consume reserves at alarming pace. 

Never has " Stop The Cavalry" been more appropriate...Save perhaps, for the school nativity back, in 1981. I'm also confident that £185 per day* is achievable (assuming of course, you can operate three vehicles, headed in wildly different areas, simultaneously).

Empathy waned a bit upon discovering dick heads Ltd couldn't be arsed to deliver some test products, on Monday afternoon. Yes, I was destined to receive them between 16.51 and 1751... Only to discover a cancellation email in my inbox...Thankfully, a regular face turned up, bang on cue the next day. 

Be kind to your courier, make their life easier and generally treat them as you would hope to be.   In this particular stash, I found  Some interesting lights and these Look Geo Trekking pedals. Dual purpose designs employing a resin body and SPD centre-piece. A bit of a deviation for the French marque and seemingly aimed at the E-bike/trekking market. 

In common with their rival, Time, they've devised some quirky models. I'm still have a soft spot for these now discontinued Time All Road Gripper Pedals and of course, these "Lego-Like" Look. The latter I bought for £10, including cleats some 25 years, or so back.Time I was going out to play with these lights. 

Oh but before I go, here's my review of the K-lite Bike Packer Pro V2

https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/k-lite