Lights, Discs & Doo Dahs

 

There comes a time in the creative process where fatigue strikes, and I’m both numb of bum and brain. This is fleeting and easily dismissed on the road, or trail. Well, assuming of course, I’m not breaking in a traditional leather saddle. The saddle is where I do much of my contemplation of wider dilemmas and escape life’s exhausting noise. Chances are, come a ride's end, whether it be 20 or 50 miles, I’ve mentally drafted a plan of action and just need to transcribe.  

The present political climate, the mobilization of people towards a very dark avenue often creeps into my thoughts. Not on the bike specifically, but my rights to ride, to be, to live and let live aren’t something I take for granted. Fascism doesn’t ignite or become tolerated overnight, rather, it knocks politely and speaks softly. The rhetoric is steadily dialled higher, mobilising people from outrage to organised street violence. Extremist views then become mainstream and normalised.

There’s also a lot of money to be made. Nothing new, we’ve been here before. The same “patriots” engaging in the street violence, intimidation will talk about their grandfathers and great grandfathers' participation in World War II. They will do so with pride, oblivious to the fact these men were battling against precisely the fascism they are buying into and fuelling. These politics of rage are also intertwined with anti-intellectualism and a profound lack of critical thought.

Meandering along the lanes, turning a steady cadence aboard Muffin, engaging the brake lever and feeling the Spyre SLC bite the rotor progressively, it occurred to me. I’ve a tendency to ignore rear brakes much of the time. In addition to double- checking the alignment and piston travel, I needed to go back to basics bedding in Ursula’s rear brake. Get those pads and rotor nice and warm along some sweeping descents, bring the bike progressively to a walking pace. Rinse and repeat until optimised.

I’d also come across a NOS Shimano BR517 at a very tempting price, so indulged as a contingency. It’s a single-piston model and surprisingly compact alongside a Spyre. Yes, my temptation is palpable. However, I’m determined to get an impeccably behaved Spyre. I also decided to get a little more scientific with calliper alignment, courtesy of this tool.    

Progressively cooler weather and falling leaves has seen my sudden switch to 3/4lengths and this Castelli Do Di Ci Jacket  Castelli Do Di Ci Jacket | cycling-not-racing. Temperatures have typically around 9, or 10 degrees when I’ve headed out, creeping up to 13 or 14. At the upper end, arm warmers and a micro jacket should suffice, especially if rest stops aren’t planned but flats or similar sneaky mechanical can flip the script.

I’m still defaulting to mitts, although occasionally it's been cold enough that I’ve reached for these Cycology Life Behind Bars MTB Gloves Cycology Life Behind Bars MTB Gloves | cycling-not-racing  Talking of script flipping, shorter days and longer nights have seen the arrival of these Msagicshine Ray 3000 Endurance Bike Light with ANT+ and Seemee400 ANT+. The Ray 3000 Endurance Bike Light With ANT+ boasts a maximum of 3,000lumens and eight modes, carried across three settings and sequences. Starting with the low beam, which in my view covers most bases of road riding. We have 375lumens (cited as a 22.5-hour run time), two 750lumens (10.5 hours and 13.5 hours) and 1500lumens (4.5 hours). Next comes a hybrid setting comprising of 1500lumens (6.5 hours) and the full 3,000lumens (3hours).

Finally, there are two flashing modes, only accessible via the wireless remote. One of the traditional limitations of integrated battery models are run times, especially in the highest settings. These might be fine for those who primarily ride through the suburbs but want to let loose along the backroads for a few miles. However, the 10000mAh lithium-ion cell employed here promises 4.5 hours from the 1500lumens, which is practical for longer exploratory rides. 3,000lumens is really for trail and gravel duties.

Night flash ranges between 165 and 900lumens. I was initially curious as to whether the remote from other models, including the Hori 1300 Magicshine HORI 1300 Front Light | cycling-not-racing would also engage the Ray3000.  I wasn’t expecting it to, but stranger things have happened.  Staying with the remote, I’ve mounted ours to lever hoods for convenient, mid-ride toggling. Aside from illustrative purposes, I’ve positioned it inboard to prevent potential damage in the event of a spill. It can also be paired with some computer head mounts for further tunability.  

The nicely machined stock mount required two shims to achieve vice-like tenure  on the Genetic Neuron Accessory Bar GENETIC NEURON ACCESSORY BAR | cycling-not-racing  Rather than porting over, I’ve gone with Denise’s stem mount and resurrected the OEM Coospo CS600 Coospo CS600 GPS | cycling-not-racing- I may replace it with another of the Magicshine Allty …

The Seeme 400 is another design producing 400lumens in the braking and daylight flash. There are five modes catering for most riding contexts. Three flashing and two steady.  There’s a third diode poking out from a turret at the base. Referred to as the “Optitracing” light it casts a broad arc at the tarmac, which is really effective. The Seemee 200 V2 was my first introduction to the Optitracing concept, and both these lights seem particularly good choices for trailers, recumbents, tandems and tagalongs. The 1600mAh lithium-ion cell also ensures generous run times.  

On the subject of upgrades, I’ll retire Denise’s Venerable Tektro levers for Dia Compe GC08H come the next cable change. These Genetic Karyotype bottom brackets are earmarked for the Holdsworth and Muffin when their existing units get the grumbles. Muffin will have a 42-tooth Tibia chain ring next time round.

 

Momentum, Spuds & Mounts

 

I knew THAT idea was becoming the ONLY idea...The urge to switch Ursula's bar, stem, and brake levers. However, I wanted to avoid being midway through the transplant only to be thwarted by a spacer, or control cable- I strongly suspected the Jagwire Road Elite Sealed Cable Jagwire Road Elite Sealed Brake Kit | cycling-not-racing outers would be a little short at key points. Happy to take my time but crucially get things bang on first time and as with so many things, forward planning is key. I was also trying to trace some Shimano M505 pedals. These had long been succeeded, some might say eclipsed by the legendary 520 but I was curious as to where mine had vanished to.

Presented a good time to strip and re-grease the legendary original 1990 Spuds and I knew precisely where these were.  Balmy weather had seen me spend several weeks racking up a few hundred miles aboard the Holdsworth, enjoying its minimalist, spirited charms.  Clearly, it didn't appreciate the Garmin light mount, which I discovered ejected to an inaccessible part of the garage. This prompted a switch from the ultra-compact Magicshine Allty 400 to Ravemen LR1000 Ravemen LR 1000 Curved Lens Front Light | cycling-not-racing, which is a similarly compact light with a lot more useable power and thanks to the clever optics, much brighter than numbers alone would suggest.

Same goes for its 500-lumen sibling RAVEMEN LR500S FRONT LIGHT | cycling-not-racing. However, the 1000lumens ensures I can navigate the darker lanes, should I find myself out longer than intended on a summer evening.  Staying with lights, Gaciron got in touch and sent me their recently launched Xiaoman 1000 Multifunctional All-in-One Professional Outdoor Front light.

Aside from being a bike light, it's designed for other outdoor activities, including night fishing and hiking. Thanks to the diffusers, it could double as a reading lamp-it may also prove useful in photographic applications- we'll see. The Xiaoman 1000 will also double as a power bank and features a 5000mAh battery.

The highest 1000 lumen mode is claimed to have an illumination range of 200 metres and 2 hours runtime. I was pleased by the sensible staircasing downwards- 600, 300, 100 lumens catering for most riding contexts-great news for urban riders who like to let their hair down along the backroads, or ride through a variety of environments.

There's also a 300-lumen day flash reckoned good for 35 hours between charges and a "Breathe" mode alternating between 50 and 100lumens. Characteristics that lend it nicely to dynamo companionship. IPX6 for weatherproofing and aluminium construction bodes well for durability. There are three colour options-I've gone for black, but white or pink are the alternatives.

It can be mounted atop, or beneath the bars for a sleek, uncluttered effect, courtesy of the symmetrical optics, which is increasingly standard but welcome, nonetheless. I was very slightly disappointed to note the remote is only offered as an aftermarket option- I'd rather see this thrown in with the package, even if it meant upping the price by a couple of quid. 

Gaciron aren't alone in this omission but it's a niggle of mine.  I’m not endeared to the OEM mount design, which is very similar to that employed by Cat-Eye and prone to slippage. I’m looking into a suitable out-front extension mount. The sort that attaches via the stem face, theoretically eliminating the slippage, especially when paired with this Coospo Real Road CS600 GPS Bike Computer Coospo CS600 GPS | cycling-not-racing

 Having popped the Holdsworth back on its hook, having racked up some proper miles and fully reacquainted myself with Cinelli’s Classic Cork Wrap, Muffin and I have settled to some serious miles with the Genetic H-Grip Handlebar Tape, which is proving grippy and supportive. The 18-tooth sprocket has given some welcome additional torque on the climbs-especially when traffic’s slower, or I’m stuck behind a tractor.

It has also led to contemplating a slightly lower ratio for the Holdsworth, but we are talking the contemplative phase, and I do like the taller ratio when belting along. Presently, we’re turning a 79.1-inch gear, switching to a 17tooth would mean 74.5. I’ll give it further thought and may take this route, should I ned to switch a tyre. The Freedom Thick Slick is a very durable slick with great puncture-repelling qualities, but I’ve noted some very subtle deterioration of the sidewall.

One that’s not setting my Lycra ablaze but will be monitored carefully. A blowout might be amusing for onlookers, but I’ve no intention of being the object of someone else’s ridicule. I’d also toyed with upgrading the bottom bracket for a Genetic Karyotype and indeed, taking that route with Muffin next time (although arguably the Karyotype’s minor weight savings don’t justify the additional cost on a trainer, or working bike). I’ll either go for another UN300, or Genetic Cromozone.

Some folks have commented that the Stronglight track 2000 crankset is “made of cheese” citing stripped threads, specifically. I’ve not had any issues, although it’s worth saying I’m religious when it comes to re/greasing threaded components.  That said, should I ever need to retire it, I’d go for another Genetic Tibia GENETIC TIBIA TRACK CRANKS & RING | cycling-not-racing- in silver and possibly 165mm (they’re available in 165, 170 and 175mm).