Longs & Silent Killers

 

Aside from the wet, slimy roads, harvest and diminishing daylight, temperatures have bucked those typical of autumn, with 15-17 degrees not uncommon through October and early November. Back in the 90s, I was reaching for longs- thin pile, fleece-lined tights, jerseys and gloves by the third week in October. Sure, fabrics and general technology have come a long way since, even at the budget end of the market, meaning a more temperate experience in changeable conditions.

 Less chance of uncomfortably clamminess around the pits, chest, lower back and hands.  I’ve been defaulting to a Gore Tex jacket and long sleeve Merino blend, or Castelli Do Di Ci jerseys. Gloves, it’s been a choice between the now discontinued Altura All Road and Q36.5 Amphib Waterproof Winter Rain Gloves. Both are relatively thin pile knitted designs with waterproof, breathable membranes, similar to those employed in waterproof socks.

Talking of which, I’m sticking with middleweight Merino blends, with the exceptions of very wet rides where there’s plenty of standing water and maybe I’m not feeling winter booties. The Sidi Algor, despite being a cold weather design, have proved surprisingly comfortable when temperatures have remained around 15 degrees.

The TPU upper’s glossy finish also seems very low maintenance- a quick shot of bike wash and soft brush dipped in warm water is enough to shift grotty stuff. We’ll see whether the cocktail of slush, slurry and possibly salty wintry roads have any impact on this, especially if it’s been allowed to cake on for a week, or so. I look after my kit, but there’s a reality that during winter, available light is more limited.

During salty spells, I will rinse the bike down with cold water after every ride, but weekly, when it comes to shoes, luggage etc. Good quality kit should withstand this. Some folks are more pedantic, others can virtually run stuff into the ground without batting an eyelid, ignorance, more money than sense, who knows.

Circus, monkeys spring to mind. Who am I to judge or pass comment.  Staying with surfaces, roads and lanes resembling Paris-Roubaix have given plenty of smiles and though more subtle than the beefy silicones, I’ve been impressed by the subtle, yet very effective Ergon Orthocell Handlebar tape.  

Wet weather grip and tactility doesn’t rival the former, but closer than I was expecting and 3mm thickness provides reassuringly good damping without aesthetic bulk.  Thus far, it’s also proving surprisingly straightforward to keep clean and generally care for.  The more nuanced qualities and possible weaknesses will take a good few hundred miles to assess convincingly. As for longs, those with a DWR (durable water repelling) coating at selected points- fronts leg panels being the most obvious, buys additional time and comfort, so a good feature. 

More significant for me than a deeper pile fleece lining, since this can become soggy and take considerable time to dry convincingly.  Saddleback has sent me these Castelli Competizone, which employs three different fabrics, although forgoes the DWR component I was referring to. These are apparently designed for “cool days to below freezing”, which could mean they cater for most conditions and a genuine go-to, or “Jack of all trades, master of none”. Too early to tell.  As for those three different fabrics, the front from waist to knee employs Castelli’s Core Due, which is a tightly knit heavier polyester/nylon mix designed to block wind.

The polyester sitting against the skin is for wicking, hollow core yarns supposedly resulting in improved insulation. Round the back- thighs and butt specifically, they employ a high stretch fleece for improved fit.   A single seam inside of the leg promised to eliminate rubbing around the knee.

A flat, raw cut ankle opening and flat knit bib straps. Pads are another crucial component. The Kis Air 2 also featured in the brands’ Entrata Thermal Bib Knickers I tested back in winter ’23 Castelli Entrata Thermal Bib Knickers | cycling-not-racing reckoned good for five hours riding.  Enough for most winter training duties.  I got along with it just fine, but as I’m always saying, contact points are very personal things-we’re all unique. I tend to form strong bonds, not only with two wheeled vehicles, but also four primarily since I run them long term.  

After almost 180,000 miles, my MK1 Ford KA failed its MOT- corrosion around the suspension mounts had resulted in pronounced structural weakness, despite my religious applications of Waxoyl- it had also hit the sills. I’ve made peace with its passing and having owned three over the past twenty years, would be wary of having another, even a last of the line 2009 model with low mileage that had been babied and garage stored.

On the plus side, they are inexpensive to run and will do big mileages with regular servicing and twice yearly Waxoyling. However, they weren’t galvanised, Ford went straight to paint, so corrosion strikes hard. Some early MK1 were scrap within three years and things improved on the later models, but corrosion remained a major, unresolved problem. The MK2 are 80% Fiat Panda and have major issues with suspension failure and I’ve heard plenty of qualified horror stories from experienced independent mechanics regarding cam chain failures and to a lesser extent, corrosion.  

 There is a wider corrosion, not one of frame tubes, or chassis, or suspension mounts but democracy. The first assault upon democracy is lies, not violence.  Hegemony is linked to this and the present attack upon the UK’s BBC by Donald Trump and others is a fairly, dare I say frighteningly obvious example of this, a foreign power interfering with the news media. One that is flawed, yet still accountable. 

Then of course, there are those trying to dissolve the freedoms of ordinary people. The right to a free and fair trial, the subtle efforts to reintroduce the death penalty via the back door. The death penalty does nothing to deter crime, nor does it bring “closure” to families say in the event of murder, or similar atrocities. This is not about facts, or effective policy, its about show, spectacle and control. By eliminating critical thought and evidence and replacing it with simplistic, sweeping statements, spectacle and spoon feeding democracy and agency disappears.   I’ll end on a happier note with my review of the Zefal Pro II grease Zefal Pro II Grease | cycling-not-racing

 

                       

 

Carnage & Cams

I’ll leave the first few shots to your imagination-for legal reasons I cannot reveal anymore at this juncture. Suffice to say, I’m very glad to have walked away unharmed (More than can be said for my beloved Neptune green KA) and a dash cam is now essential equipment for me.

Fearing that I might be tempted to start a sanctuary for unloved Mk1s (Seriously underrated little cars) I hired its successor and went hunting for the low mileage, late model replacement seen here. 

Rare that I have any affinity for the top gear team but after 200 miles found myself agreeing whole heartedly with their summary of the MK2 “Disappointing second-generation version of Ford’s groundbreaking 1990s city car. That model was a classic: this one is just a rehashed Fiat 500. Literally”.

Yes, the Mk2 has plenty of consumer toys, a dashboard that tells the driver they need to change into 5^th at 33mph, leaving the 1.2 Zetec struggling on the flat let alone a modest incline. Another concern is that some drivers are becoming deskilled by this sort of technology, changing up on a sweeping bend when they should’ve held back in preparation for what, or indeed who might present around the corner. Unfortunately, stupidity cannot be legislated against.

Even budget dash-cams can capture decent footage these days, reviewing the casual indifference and downright carelessness of some people on public roads, regardless of vehicle stirs some very strong emotions. Politicians are very keen on law and order rhetoric. The present British administration is talking in terms of doubling fines and endorsement for use of hand-held devices while driving. Sounds good but of little consequence unless robustly enforced.

Public sector funding cuts have stark implications for policing too. Anecdotally, I’ve seen police drive casually by a driver handset welded to their ear and engrossed in conversation! Driving along motorways at 60-65mph, I’ve found myself gaining on vehicles occupying the middle lane at 45mph, relaxed in the seats, chatting away without a care in the world. Life unfortunately is cheap.

Hmm, ah I see, it was an accident...It might be accepted that you may not have intended to kill that person(s) by ploughing into them oblivious but an accident is best defined as something that you could not reasonably expect or predict.

It is more commonly used to mitigate responsibility and therefore, punitive sanctions. Face in a hand-held device when you are operating a ton plus of steel and should be focused on conditions ahead, is not.  

Economic hardship is another popular card, played to avoid loss of a licence. Until driving is seen as a privilege and not a right, with the emphasis placed upon continuously improving standards (throughout the licence holder’s life) then this callous indifference and needless loss of life will continue.     

Then of course, we have the “punishment pass”...Ironically enough, I’d left the Geonaute behind last Wednesday afternoon. Five miles from base, I was bowling along at a smart pace on the Univega. Glancing over my shoulder, a white Citroen van with an LV60 plate was advancing, although not at unreasonable speed.

Twenty seconds later, the driver intentionally swerved into my path screaming expletives before swinging into a right turn sans indicating. Without the complete registration, or camera evidence, reporting this to the police was pointless... Now, if the self proclaimed “People’s Judge” James Pickles were still alive, I’m confident he’d be saying that dressed in figure hugging Lycra tights and astride a Scarlet bicycle, I was “asking for it”.    

Establishing Connections

Presently organising venue(s) for September’s “everyday beauty” photo shoot-some folks are more helpful than others but a few decent options cropped up and the sands of time remain favourable.

My mother commissioned me to photograph a local landscape, which has been blown up on a 5x4 foot weather proof canvas. Primarily a centrepiece for her carport’s sound, though bland brickwork, it’s also an inexpensive bit of advertising.

I’m continually frustrated by the tsunami of people willing to work for free under the misguided notion they will gain experience and exposure before slipping seamlessly into a salaried career. Creative industries, such as photography and journalism are ravaged by this myopia. At best such behaviours devalue skilled vocations, fuelling a race to the bottom economy. If commercial, profit making entities can acquire goods and services for nothing, they will, sending an industry straight to the morgue. 

Ah but they’re giving me the byline/photo credit, leading to valuable…People look at the visuals, not to see who produced them. Proud mothers may scan the credits of TV shows in search of their freelance offspring but in practice, the viewing public generally flicks channels, nips to the loo, or for a brew.

Frankly, if you’re determined to cut your teeth, or expand port-folios, get in touch with small, grass roots charitable organisations and see what reciprocal deal can be struck. Payment needn’t always be monetary-at least to begin with. I’ve done photo shoots at cost for friends-of friends, which has led to useful, word-of-mouth exposure and subsequent paid commissions.

However, I’ve been implicit in my terms/conditions and most people have repaid me in kind, many times over. Anything used for commercial purposes must be paid for.  Ran over, now to my week on two and four wheels…         

This Jagwire CGX SL “Universal sport” brake cableset also arrived in serendipitous fashion; just in time for a cable group test and the Ilpompino’s RL250/Cane Creek transplant. A penny shy of £20 buys wound steel outers with internal sleeve, stainless steel inners and “slick lube” lining, cable stops, end caps and doughnuts.

Length is pretty generous too-300cm of outer cable while inners measure 135/235cm front and rear respectively. Ours was the black with retro-reflective detailing-brilliant for workhorses and winter bikes, although purple and yellow are the alternatives. The M-Part bar wrap is also fairing up very nicely, despite being unravelled on four separate occasions, although I think any further disruption will be its last. 

This combination has transformed the already fairly potent front stopper, delivering precisely the sort of modulation, feel and stopping prowess I’d been looking for in a disc setup. I’ve always liked firm feedback; something I attribute to early exposure to European components characterised by strong springs. However, their action is very light, which is good news for smaller hands. This preference also applies to other vehicles-car and motorcycle clutches being obvious examples, although perhaps the cable operated VW type were a press too far.

Speaking of cars…. After some trial and error, the Ka’s erratic starting and idling was traced to an expiring Idle Speed Control Valve. Unlike its Endura engine predecessor, this hadn’t missed a beat in over 105,000 miles.

Access is much harder too, so best left to a helpful independent garage unless you’re a competent DIY/mechanic. Given its age, I opted for replacement rather than cleaning, bringing the total bill to £151.12 (including VAT). Reticent starting, unexpected stalling-often when approaching junctions, needing to keep the revs higher in slow moving traffic all point its way.

Most armchair experts are oblivious to the different physical geographies; hence finding credible guidance online requires persistence.

Removal and cleaning of the Endura unit is a twenty minute affair, well within a beginners grasp. You’ll need an old ice cream tub, retired tooth brush, carb cleaner/similar strong solvent and ideally a torque wrench, although in a pinch, 10mm ring/socket spanners will do.

Start by depressing the wire clip and sliding it from the electrical contexts. Next undo the two 10mm bolts and slide away from the inlet manifold. Pop this hardware in a zipped pocket, or ice cream tub/similar receptacle. Place the ICV unit in the bowl and check for a coating of black, sooty deposit.

Deliver the solvent inside, then scrub vigorously with that old toothbrush-repeating the last two stages until the grot’s dissolved. Refit as before, giving fasteners a cursory lick of medium strength threadlock and the cure is complete. The KA club also provide a very informative step-by-step guide on their site http://www.kaklub.co.uk/pwpcontrol.php?pwpID=1898

Shot ICV? £50 from car parts supplier, or you might be able to source a serviceable, second-hand example from a breaker for considerably less...