Reflections & Relentless Rain

 Water, Water Everywhere but Not a Drop to Drink. Flooding has been this winter’s narrative and the lack of flood defences here in the UK would seem to be making matters worse. However, the less extreme ends of this are great for assessing the capabilities (and sometimes shortcomings) of everything.  

From waterproof, breathable clothing to mudguards, waxes, detailing products, bike washes, lubes, and of course, electricals. Leatt has sent me their Endurance 2.0 Jacket, which is aimed at cross-county mtb/gravel audiences but in my experience, makes the transition to general road duties very well.   

The jacket is a “super lightweight” model that packs down very compactly. Leatt reckons inside a jersey pocket, and I’d broadly agree, depending on how large your pocket is. No issues with the old-school, deep terrace type.  It’s a Nylon/Elastane “rip-stop” weave that forgoes a laminate for improved ventilation and features a DWR (Durable water repelling) windproof and stain-resistant outer shell. Knitted panels also feature knitted paneling in the back and panels for improved ventilation. 

The former also features a poacher’s type rear pocket. Me being me, I would’ve preferred a breast pocket too, for a compact camera etc. However, it’s a feathery, racy, close-fitting cut for minimal flutter and this second pocket with cargo would pull, thus impairing the fit etc. That shouldn’t be read as only being suitable for summer weight/long-sleeved jerseys. I’m pleased to report ours is roomy enough for the winter-weight jersey cum jacket genre too.   

I’ve gone for the blue but black and rust are the alternatives. The zipper is also waterproof, although I would’ve preferred a bigger tag, even allowing for my not-so-dextrous dominant index finger. I’ve done my usual, cable tie zipper tag extension, solving said problem.   

Packable garments are arguably the most practical options for changeable conditions, although I’m still a big fan of the 2.5-layer laminate type when it’s predictably wet and indeed cold. Talking of which, I also received some more lubes.  

This time from Blub’s range- a ceramic and a wax, which are cleaner running preps designed for drier weather. Obviously, it's most important to test them in the conditions for which they were designed. However, I am also interested to see how products like lubes behave in wider contexts. After all, conditions can change throughout a ride. How practical is a lube to reapply? Does it wash away, how good are its corrosion-inhibiting properties? How much grime does it attract etc.   

One of the very appealing features of these two is their rapid curing times- allegedly two minutes apiece for both, which is on paper as practical as you’re likely to find. Seems a little longer in practice. That said; I’ve been applying in 2/3 degrees. Yes, I know there are still pour-and-go formulas but even after you’ve drizzled them into the chain’s inner sanctum, you’re still needing to wipe away the excess before hopping on and scooting off.  I’ve left the fixed and Ursula’s curing for a day, primarily since I applied having purged their drivetrains and given both bikes a seriously good sudsy bucket wash and wax.  

One thing led to another, and I whipped this 28mm Schwalbe One 365 up front.  All weather/ al conditions tyres are a big ask and to some extent, there’s always an element of compromise somewhere. In my experience, with lighter, swifter tyres it tends to be puncture resistance.  

The Schwalbe weigh in at 332g apiece, less than half the weight of The Pirelli Angel ST Urban Tyres Pirelli Angel DT Urban Tyre | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) and indeed, the super dependable Kenda Kwick Journey KS Plus KENDA KWICK JOURNEY TYRES | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) . However, these Vittoria Rubino Pro Control Graphene 2.0 Vittoria Rubino Pro Control Graphene 2.0 | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) are a much closer comparator and 5g apiece heavier. Will be interesting to see how the Schwalbe perform across the board and compared with the Vittoria and to a lesser degree, the Maxxis Refuse 700x32c 60 TPI TR Folding Maxx Shield Tyres MAXXIS REFUSE TR FOLDING TYRE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

I’ve also been further contemplating the benefits of hub transmissions and bikes built around them. Genesis Day One employs a double-butted aluminium alloy frame and Cro-moly fork and is built around the humble 8-speed Nexus hub. Cable-operated discs might lack the low maintenance bite of hydraulics but are easy to service and repair.  

Budget but a practical workhorse cum commuter. Nice enough but not so pretty you’re petrified by the thought of tethering it to hardy street furniture with a decently stout “fuck off” lock. Long story short, I’d be interested in racking up some proper miles on one.  

Another enticement, given the flooding and generally adverse conditions are hub dynamos that can be serviced “in the field”.  By that, I really mean models that can be stripped, bearings replaced and regreased without going back to the factory. Interestingly one side of the Alfine hub dynamo Shimano Alfine UR700 Hub Dynamo | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) can be accessed and the bearings replaced.  

While the SP series of hubs have been impressive despite some extreme and persistently wet conditions, I’m tempted by the KASI FS DynaCoil CL/D6 units which are designed to be opened using a 36mm headset spanner. I’ve had 20,000 miles plus from the PD8 before the sealed bearings got sloppy. However, given the miles Ursula and fixed gear trainer rack up in foul weather, the ability to strip, clean, and rebuild the hub, without dismantling the wheel is a definite draw.   

Forever Bikes

 

 

A term that can, like many others, mean different things to different people. Some would describe a “forever bike” as one you can pop into storage and feel instantly connected, like you would an old friend, months, possibly years down the line. I can broadly agree with that sentiment but tend to regard forever bikes as part of the family. Machines that have been with you throughout life’s twists, turns, turned massive mileages and evolved. Tourers often fell into this category.  

Sometimes they start off as a high-end bike for long-haul rides and tours but evolve over the years. Low gears, mudguards, and stable handling mean they often evolve into go-to beasts of burden, towing trailers, and tagalongs when the children are small, practical for other general riding but deeply revered in the same way you would a family pet. No prizes for spotting Ursula falls into this category. The lightweight triple-butted 4130 cro-moly frameset is rugged, fun to ride and has a wealth of nifty braze-ons/ features that cater for most contexts.

  

Full length guards (fenders) ensure year-round comfort, loads of clearance for big tyres, three bottle bosses, four-point carrier fixings. She’s rides beautifully, laden, or otherwise. There are the memories of the rides with Joshua on his tagalong, cakes, and goodies in the pannier- sociable resistance training, essentially. Times when he and I were close. The old girl could go anywhere we wanted, on a whim. 

Especially with good quality dual-purpose tyres, such as the now-discontinued Vittoria Randonneur Trail.  Spiked tyres, and I can slither along the lanes and backroads safely.  No such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong kit.  

Loved, cherished and regularly waxed, she’s a machine I’ve been confident about riding, no matter how wild the weather gets. There have been evolutions, constant component changes (not least since the stuff to make her go, stop and handle in great proportion wears out). I’ve tended to upgrade as I’ve gone along, but on a working bike, reliability and durability trump glamour.  

These things must be cost-effective, too. The full-length guards and rugged tyres make a huge difference as the roads become coated in a greasy mulch. I was stunned to find a complete loss of drive the other morning. Pre-dawn and sans Sigma Buster 2000 (or similar helmet light) I was convinced yet another chain had broken and slithered off, into the undergrowth, meaning another six-mile scoot home. Imagine my relief discovering it had simply slipped off the front ring- no damage. No obvious cause, either.       

I’ve toyed with hub gears and may eventually go the Alfine route when the XT hub finally gives up the ghost and I’m looking at another wheel build. Ok, so it’s 700c, not 26 inch but I’ve always felt something like Genesis Day One 20 is a very well equipped “from the crate” package with hub transmission (30-90 inches) drop bars, full-length guards and clearance for 700x35c tyres.  

Personally, I’d want a hub dynamo and disc calliper upgrade, and knowing me, I’d go for an external BB & crankset but otherwise a very practical road-going workhorse. One I’d gladly have in my stable. Well, if we’re going with my opening narrative, taking this route, I would build a similar machine around a higher-end frameset.  

Reynolds 631 might be overbuilt for some tastes but I’ve found it very responsive and built correctly, it will certainly serve the test of time. Some Waxoyl sloshing around its inner sanctum and a high-quality powder-coated After The Gritters Went Home | Seven Day Cyclist dove grey finish. Disc brake mounts, clearance for 700x42c plus, four-point carrier mounts and some other personalised nick nacks...