Resilience & Roadax

 Resilience, the ability to keep going, regardless of what’s hurled our way, is one of those attributes that cycle, and motorcycle touring/racing nurtures. By the bucket load.

Battling an epic storm, lashing a busted rack back together, or remounting following a nasty spill. All part of the ride, develops character, coping mechanisms and self-knowledge. 

I don’t meditate in the commonly accepted sense, but as the miles and asphalt whizzes past, so ideas are explored, and solutions arrived at.

With the right kit, winter can be a very engaging, or miserable experience, depending on your chosen attire and bike prep. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/winter-wonderland-2-destination-spr  

420 miles in, my Univega’s chain still sports a decent layer of 5w/40.Aside from a gungy beard, cultivated during the first fortnight, it’s attracted surprisingly little contaminant.

I’m still bargaining on another 100 miles, before replenishment’s called for. At which point, I will switch over to the chainsaw oil. Unless of course, something bike-specific lands on our test bench.

Gritting lorries have been spotted, these past few nights, a clear indicator that winter means business. Take this opportunity to treat painted, plated and polished surfaces to a hard paste waxing.

Pressed for time?

Car Wash n’ wax shampoos will clean and impart a waxy barrier (remember to rinse salt spattered bikes with fresh, cold water first). Pro Green MX after shine 101 can also be used on a damp, freshly washed bike. Simply spray a light film and leave to cure. No buffing, or polishing required. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-green-mx-triple-pack   

My elderly feline is also beginning to nuzzle these Schwalbe Winter but we’ll see… https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/schwalbe-winter-spiked-tyre     

With SP PD8 hub https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-rim-and-shutter-dynohub-disc-b  receiving expert care, from their UK distributors, Ison Distribution www.ison-distribution.com I’ve popped the Halo SL9 https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-evura-shutter-precision-sl9-dy  in its place and putting the Passport Galvanised chain though its paces.

Unsurprisingly, given its half the KMC X1’s asking price, the Passport lacks the same level of refinement. However, this is only apparent when under load. Climbing out of the saddle, with my full 70 kilos dancing on the pedals, or accelerating hard. Crucially, it feels solid, during this, or transmission braking. 350 miles, or so, before I reach any solid, tangible conclusions, though.

Staying with wet wintry stuff, Steve has been putting Silkolene Premium Cycle Lube Wet  through its paces https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/silkolene-premium-cycle-lube-wet   

Winter and working bikes are a big draw for me. Machines built to be ridden, day in, day out, rain or shine. The sort of working bikes that you love but don’t induce palpitations, when locking up in the street.

Reynolds 520 frame tubing might not hold the wow factor of 853, or similar tubesets. However, its blend of performance, price and durability lends it perfectly to the design brief.

Up front, there’s a carbon fork (with alloy steerer) continuing the lightweight, compliant theme. Although, on steel framesets, a bent derailleur hanger is easily coaxed back into line with an alignment tool, Jeff has gone for a replaceable hanger. Another sensible move, given the design brief.  

Clearances for 700x42c tyres, cyclo cross/gravel bike genre geometry, braze-ons for four-point carriers, full length guards… Hydraulic discs, capable of stopping rider (and trailer/tagalong), on the proverbial sixpence. Oh, and a decent spread of gears to ensure you can winch up hill, bomb down dale and cruise with similar ease.

I think Jeff Rutland has cracked this design brief with the Goldhawk Roadax.   

I met Jeff in Spitalfields, a London district I once knew very well. I still retain a strong attachment to the East End, and its side streets. Superficially, these have been gentrified beyond all recognition. Three minutes away and things felt reassuringly familiar. Environments where the Roadax thrives. However, the versatility of its design also bodes well, far from the maddening crowd.

In a nutshell, I can’t wait to swing a leg over its top tube, and do some serious mileage.

Safe As Houses....

Seven Day Cyclist (www.sevendaycyclist.co.uk) continues to attract the desired demographic along with increasingly disparate contributors. Fancy a freebie?

Simply like our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine?ref=aymt_homepage_panel) to be in with a chance of bagging this Carbon Pro sports travel kit comprising of their dri shine, chain cleaner, heavy duty lube, med lube and microfibre towel.

The battle of the bike washes intensifies with some interesting twists too. Supposedly safe on carbon, lacquered, plated, painted and polished surfaces; all tackle the usual mucky suspects capably but a couple have proved disarmingly efficient, though seemingly gentle degreasers too…

This signalled a timely end to the Teenage Dream’s seasonal hibernation. I had planned to upgrade the groupset to something contemporary of the Sun Race or Microshift flavour but frankly, I can’t bear to be parted from the quaint, though likeable a ’la carte mix of 80s, 90s and early noughties Campagnolo.

Outclassed in sporting terms (along with the “Low rent” 531competition tubeset) said machine still behaves in excellent proportions and the framesets' makeover still pleases me greatly.  

I’ve also bagged a temporary facilities management gig to balance the books. This week has been one of imploding ceilings, surly contractors, tenants locking themselves out while inebriated and then purging their colonic demons noisily (and messily) in communal toilets.

Back on bikes, we’ve been playing musical tyres. After 200miles the 35mm section Vittoria Voyager hyper and MK2 Ilpompino rear triangle proved breathtakingly close, hence I reverted to the front 32mm Kenda Kwicker. Alternating between front and rear tyres was once widely advocated but is incredibly dangerous practice.

However, scrapping a worn rear, popping brand spanking new rubber up front and having the old one follow behind remains acceptable. Similar problems arose with the Univega and Kenda small block 8 pairing but I’m keen to retain its go-anywhere persona, so resurrected these 1.75 section Vittoria Randonneur trail. As its chain and cassette sneak into that twilight before retirement, I found myself toying with the idea of cutting the tubby one down a ring and introducing 11-30 cassette.

A few minutes virtual rummaging later I’d found a nickel plated HG50 for £10 and this similarly worthy KMC has just arrived from chicken cycles. Substitution will strike once I’ve reached another 250miles and can say something concrete about the Muc Off hydrodynamic lube. This will also prove a convenient moment for investigating and hopefully purging that phantom squeak. Some Genetic bar wrap promising phenomenal purchase and damping properties has just arrived and will mummify its muzzies when I get a moment.  

Elsewhere, I’ve been indulging in some graffiti porn and a recent spate of thefts has given cause to revise my own security systems. It’s widely accepted that good locks are only to keep honest people out and to deter others. Most thieves are looking for something that can pilfer discretely within a minute but nothing is invulnerable.

Using two different (Sold secure) types certainly helps but assumes organised criminals don’t arrive in well-equipped vans. Brute force is their default and techniques are common knowledge. This particular group of “professional” is also extremely mobile, quashing any notion of “safe” areas.  

Yes, the probability of falling victim in a well healed semi-rural community is less than slum inner city neighbourhoods but criminals are only too willing to exploit this, often targeting several locations each night before disappearing on the motorway network.  Obviously, strong locks are only part of the equation.

Those living in private rented accommodation have fewer options when it comes to installing wall-anchors and other high security measures. However, aside from robust physical security, think carefully about your online activity. I’m astounded by the number of people who post photos of their pride and joy in a way that leaves them sitting ducks.