Flatulent tyre Ahoy…More Leverage Please!!!

After several weeks, I’m still coughing like a chain smoking beagle. This hasn’t stopped me from getting the miles in and various sets of tyres on, mind. 

Issue 5 of Seven Day Cyclist has just hit the digital newsstands and includes an interview with Dani Foffa, CEO of Foffa bikes and grass roots tours of Ireland and Cheshire. http://www.pocketmags.com/viewmagazine.aspx?catid=1038&category=Sport&subcatid=234&subcategory=Cycling&title=Seven+Day+Cyclist&titleid=2582

The more miles I do on those Vittoria Voyager hyper and street runner tyres, the more endeared I become-sporty casings combine magic carpet ride with low rolling resistance and a surprising turn of speed. Despite a road centric cassette, the Univega now feels a little under-geared; or rather I’m running the big ring and catching traditional roadies unawares more often.

While quicker, lighter and supposedly better protected from malevolent sharps, they swept me back to the mid-late 90s spent belting along London’s commercial road on Nokian City Runners. I favoured 1.5 sections, which seemed an ideal compromise-sufficiently generous that they’d iron out minor imperfections and rider error, yet adequate for 20mph cruising and swift getaways when the lights changed. 

Road bikes were decidedly out of favour at this time, to the point where many of us were popping drops on our cross country workhorses. I liked the all-terrain concept but it also helped ensure otherwise nick-able bikes stayed under thieves’ radars.  

Triples were also completely unnecessary-even with a trailer, hence another trend for running a single 42/46/48 (Purple anyone?) ring and 7/8spd block, Ritchey copy VP pedals… Lightweight, low maintenance and fast; for inner-city tarmac terrorism at least.

Good times from a relatively dark and difficult era. Fast forward two decades and I was surprised at how stubborn the street runner’s final section was on two separate occasions, the most recent being serenaded by that familiar heart-sinking hiss along a lonely lane.

Now is the point where we regret not doing a full trunk bag inventory-thankfully I had a spare thorn resistant “builders hose” type tube, three tyre levers, including Crank Brothers speedier lever and this Revolution midi pump. Personally, I loathe mini pumps-fine for those who run Co2 cartridges as roadside staples and infinitely better than no pump for dire emergencies but otherwise impractical.

This Revolution resembles a track pump put through a matter shrinking device but will genuinely achieve moderate to high pressures extremely efficiently, so 75psi barely raised a flicker.  

Strangely enough I found myself equally frustrated by the realisation I’d forgotten my compact camera and the opportunity to document the events frame by frame! Having returned home it prompted a long overdue make do n’ mend tube re-commissioning- you know the drill; repair once, more than two patches-chuck, or reinvent as chainstay protectors.

Generally speaking, the speedier is a marked improvement over the old speed lever, which, for the uninitiated was a retractable ladder design that slid onto the quick release skewer, while the head either scooped the bead off or pushed it back on with a hooked claw and only moderate force. 

Alas, the composites were a little willowy and prone to fatigue-I snapped two in under ten swaps, which was disappointing. Obviously, these are roadside assistants, not workshop staples but I’ll reserve proper judgement until we’re at least eight or ten tyre swaps of various genres down the line.   

Talking of resurrection (well, we are hurtling towards Easter afterall), I substituted the Univega’s BBB Fuel tank cage for standard Boardman and Burls carbon models.

This wasn’t a weight saving exercise and those PET types are super convenient for touring but they do consume considerable amounts of main triangle, especially on a small, compact geometry mtb frameset.

I’ll be keeping it handy though since the Fuel Tank XL is definitely one of the most rugged and a fair bit cheaper too.

Right then; I’m going to see how this Carbon Pro heavy duty cleaner deals with two filthy workhorses and organise some newbie friendly step-in pedal systems for a group test. Hmm, time the KA’s sill received a sixth coat of high build grey primer too…   

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.