Inflated Egos & Lowered Expectations

 

If there’s someone you know who loves you but is taking it all for granted, they may lose you someday... Bread’s “Everything I Own” (Covered by Boy George and others) reworked -a song resonated very strongly with me for a good 35 years. The years have taught resilience and self-reliance. Sometimes very brutally. A few have come to my rescue in ways I cannot begin to repay-at least not like-for-like but otherwise, I have a fiercely independent, survival streak. One that serves me very well, thank you.  

Given last week’s “ordeal” I was rather touched to discover Extra UK Extra UK had sent me this Topeak Road Master Blaster model, a traditional frame fit reckoned capable of an eye-watering, bicep-busting 160psi. It also mounts nicely along the top tube, sheltered from the silt, water and generic ruinous nastiness.  

They also sent me the Topeak Nanomaster Duo Fixer CO2 cartridge kit, which will hopefully help with the rapid get up n’ go following those hopefully infrequent flats. Most reading this will undoubtedly be quick to point out Co2 escapes butyl faster, so there’s a good chance the tyre will be pancake flat come the next day. Don’t panic, whip out the track pump (or bike-mounted inflator, if you’re mid-tour/bike packing escape.) and inflate to taste.   

Talking tyres, I’m looking forward to exploring some of the more technical forest trails, bridlepaths and unmade roads with the Maxxis Ikon, when they arrive. Not to mention seeing how well the Mud Hugger Evo and budget rear guard perform in these contexts.  

Both have met my expectations thus far and the former’s low-slung aesthetic belies decent mud clearance and I’m not expecting any clogging hassles. The wallet-friendly rear hasn’t turned to blancmange either but then, given its price, I had lower expectations.  Closer inspection revealed the Axiom Oceanwave City+ Seat Bag AXIOM OCEANWAVE CITY+ SEAT BAG | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) had been aligned slightly downward, rather than being level, so took this opportunity to correct. An easy job, thanks to the Rixen Kaul  

I’m also keen to try the 700x32c Maxxis Re-Fuse-on my fixed gear winter/trainer. Allegedly they “refuse to puncture”. Specification promises good wear and puncture resistance.  

The 60tpi single compound casings employ the brands’ silk-shield technology (used in the Overdrive Excel) runs bead to bead and is boosted by an aramid layer.  

Will be interesting to see how they compare alongside old favourites such as the Kenda  Kwick Journey KS Plus Tyres KENDA KWICK JOURNEY TYRES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com).  the Kenda is cheaper and “only” feature a 5mm (about 0.2 in) puncture repelling belt along the centre strip, but I only succumbed once in several thousand miles. 

1200 miles down the line, I’ve hit my third puncture with the Maxxis Overdrive Excel Maxxis Overdrive Excel Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) in fairness, the two were on the same occasions and caused by very sharp flints that had pierced front and rear casings. I pulled these free and superglued the cuts. Replaced the tubes with fresh and repaired the wounded, consigning them to spares.  

When it comes to winter, working and competition bikes, reliability is paramount- Sunny days playthings and other “best” bikes are a little more nuanced perhaps. Talking of which, I’m hoping the weather and infrastructure are going to improve, so I can get some miles in with the Teenage Dream and the recently mounted CST Cito. It’s still rather soggy, changeable at best.  

I’d crossed the 480-mile mark with the Zefal, before replenishment called (which is around 200 miles more than the Muc-off Wet lube in comparable contexts). Now it shouldn’t be inferred that the Muc-Off is a poor lube-it's not, rather it serves to illustrate the difference between a most conditions, year-round “every person” wet formula and a hell n’ high water blend.  

This coincided with the two flats, and I took this opportunity to give Ursula a good clean and strip the residual Zefal in favour of the Motoverde  PTFE Chain Lube Motoverde PTFE Chain Lube | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  However, headed off-road, I’d shy away from river crossings and waterways, since PTFE and similar forever chemicals are very harmful to aquatic life and the ecosystem generally. Talking of bike cleaning, here’s my review of the Finish Line Easy Pro Five Brush Set Finish Line Easy Pro Five Brush Set | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Bob Elliot & Co have sent me these FLR F70 PRO MTB 250 and appropriate, given the mtb theme Safety Labs E-Bahn 2.0 'MIPS' Urban Inmold Helmet in Black. It will be interesting to see how this compares to the Lazer Chameleon Lazer Chameleon Helmet | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com)  

Forced Hand AKA the Chain Again...

Upon reflection, Ursula had been trying to tell me something. There had been a periodic click, which I had initially attributed to a cleat not being fully engaged, or the rear mech’s barrel adjuster needing a quick tweak. However, the sudden increased loading on a climb saw it implode irreparably. Not something spare links would solve, so a 7-mile saunter home, which gave plenty of scope for reflection.  

Mercifully, I didn’t have to be anywhere until early afternoon, so that took some immediate pressure off. Upon my return, I nipped in for some warmth and to find one of the spare KMC I’d squirreled away. One transpired not to be what I’d requested but I still had a ready cut (106 links) electroplated model, so on it went- using the Magic Link joining system. Not something I’m a major fan of, but it didn’t give me any hassle on this very chilly morning, so we’ll see how it fares.  

Next thing I knew, A gooey mess was lining and coating some tools and other “to hand” essentials in a storage box, so I brewed up a bath of Citrus degreaser with warm water. Gave everything a good tickling with a medium-stiff brush-including the box itself, before rinsing and drying. This time, I lined the base with a bin bag to subvert another gooey encounter. Maybe fate was intervening with my best interests in mind... 

Staying with cleaning, Madison sent me this Finish Line Brush Set, which looks cracking value for money. Time and lots of seasonal scrubbing will confirm, one way or the other. They also sent me their Road Race Superlight Men’s Waterproof Softshell Jacket. A lightweight water and windproof model that packs super small (to the size of a 500ml (about 16.91 oz) water bottle), yet in theory offers decent protection from the elements. 

Letting imagination and fingers wander, I found myself contemplating long cage mechs and 11-32 cassettes for Ursula.  

Thankfully, the voice of reason and serviceable bank balances piped up. This was not the best use of my resources. Double checking confirmed the short cage Tiagra mech will manage 28 teeth- apparently, that’s with a road double, so according to my addled reasoning, a 32-tooth 1x10 mtb setup should be just fine. Measured in inches, rather than “gain” this will give me 74.9 and 29.4 high/low, respectively. More punch when descending, and more grunt when climbing.  

With this in mind, I found an 11-28 tooth Microshift cassette with an electroplated finish for £10 and would introduce that, once the existing KMC X10.73 needed retiring. One thing led to another, and I found myself reflecting on spare wheels. I had stripped a Deore hub from a dead rim nearly two years previously and reckoned it would “come in handy”. 

 

I’d decided it was time to build a decent spare rear wheel for the old girl- ready for duty when the XT/ Rigida Sputnik build wanted some truing and/or general maintenance. 26-inch (559) hoops are still readily available, but I wanted something suitably durable, but without the heft of its bombproof Andra40 cousin. A 32-hole Ryde Zac 19 came under my radar and less than £20. I’m very fond of Araya and Mavic rims but I’m not prepared to pay fancy prices for them, let alone anything with a “vintage” tag.  

Enter stripping, inspecting, and rebuilding the Deore with new bearings and the Juice Lubes Bearing Juice. 18 ¼ balls are what’s needed here, and I bought genuine Shimano. Given their price, there's absolutely no sense in going for anything lower rent, or indeed, opening the hub and re-using the existing balls.  

Dismantling these cup and cone hubs is remarkably simple and requires a couple of basic tools. In this instance, a 15mm cone wrench and a 17mm for the locknut, some stocky waterproof grease.  

The Deore opened with reassuring ease and the grease was closer to an oily gravy, but still offering some protection/lubrication. No pitting, or corrosion in the balls but as I said; better to replace them. I blitzed any residual grease with Green Oil Agent Apple Extreme Immersion Degreaser TESTED: GREE OIL AGENT APPLE EXTREME IMMERSION DEGREASER (sevendaycyclist.com), then rinsed with fresh water.  

Dried thoroughly, I packed the hubs with Juice Lubes Bearing Juice and then added 9 fresh balls each side. Being a seriously tenacious synthetic, they hold the balls super securely- I was able to switch to the freehub side without fear of them falling out.  

A little extra grease on the bearings (for improved protection) and axle, I slid the latter through the freehub side, adjusted the cones so a tiny amount of play presented before holding the cone secure and winding the locknut home. Satisfyingly smooth once more.  

As tends to happen, no sooner had I done that, then this Halo Spin Doctor arrived. Sealed bearings this time and reckoned to be closer to the Shimano XT, it’s a more obvious choice for a brand new build/ One I’ve left in the extremely capable hands of Mick Madgett.