Showing posts with label Implied nude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Implied nude. Show all posts

Monday 26 March 2018

Concentrates & Curmudgeonly Cats










This bottle of Crankalicious Pineapple express concentrate arrived while I was on a photoshoot with Marie https://www.facebook.com/mariemeggidoartist/. Bike washes are one of those products that polarise opinion and I personally prefer concentrate versions. Why? Well; they allow me to brew custom strengths and work out considerably cheaper, too.
Gentle for bike washing duties, neat for stripping lubes and greases with minimal effort. Again, there are several approaches to this. Chain baths are nice, in that they keep mess minimal and allow solvents/cleaners to be reclaimed, if appropriate.
My approach, is closer to that of old school team mechanics. I pour about 100ml of solution, into an old, cut down trade bottle and apply this directly to the chain, rings, cassette etc via “pound shop” paint brushes.
Drivetrain stripping tends to be the precursor to bike washing, removing the grotty stuff-so there’s no issues with cross contamination later. In the zone, a good, basic clean shouldn’t take more than 20minutes.
Maintenance should not be regarded a chore, rather part of riding. Some describe it as bonding, others in more rational terms. A means of inspecting everything, minimising the likelihood of problems occurring during a ride, let alone, racing.
Little and often saves a lot of time in the long run. If you’re someone who leaves servicing to your friendly local bike shop, they will appreciate working on a clean bike. This makes their job easier, which saves you time and ultimately money, in the longer term.
There’s been plenty of scope for testing washes these past few weeks. For these reasons, I’ve been extending maintenance periods to see how they tackle impacted grime, whether organic, or petrochemical.  https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/sks-wash-your-bike
Similarly, when testing tyres (which we regularly do at SDC www.Sevendaycyclist.com and other titles, I freelance for). During these phases, I deliberately resist the urge to brush casings of glass, grit and similar objects to test puncture resistance.
Road tyres, at least those for general riding have become portlier.
Time was when we’d commute, or winter train on 700x25/28c. Now, thanks in part to the evolution of ‘cross and gravel type builds with generous clearances, 32mm upwards is increasingly the norm. I used to tour on 32mm and these days, prefer something around the 35mm mark for general riding.
All things being equal, they’re reasonably swift, ride quality is more compliant, taking the sting from washboard surfaces. Ultimately, less rider fatigue, especially at the end of a long ride.
Working bikes, however they earn their keep, need to be dependable. Unable to finish a race/big ride; or turning up late to work because of a mechanical is deeply undesirable.
Hence, reliability trumps weight saving in these instances. Season specific equipment, such as light aside, I enjoy night testing. I find the darkness useful, adding another perspective when evaluating performance.
Decent technical clothing enables me to forget about the weather and enjoy the ride, is that tyre superior/inferior to a competitor. Is this so, or is perhaps, visual prejudice skewing my perception?
Plunge yourself into darkness and see… https://www.facebook.com/Sevendaycyclistmagazine/videos/1868668746497381/  Ever noticed how climbs become less taxing in the dark?  Night will open a completely different riding experience, go-on, embrace it.
My slightly tyrannical, though much loved feline, can also object profoundly to some equipment…
He’s very taken with my waxed cotton messenger bags, commandeering them as his bed. However, he can launch savage assaults on test tyres and I’ve often discovered a phantom flat.
Often there’s a very rational explanation- I’d pinched a tube/rim tape moved when mounting, or indeed, a sharp lodged in the casing, following a very wet ride.
However, our furry friends can be very sensitive to very subtle changes and different odours. The latter may explain his recent hostilities towards these very likeable Panaracer T Serv PT, yet not the Vee Tire Co Zilent 700x42c.
Talking of punctures, the Soma Shikoro have finally succumbed to a sharp, which I only discovered while washing the bike down. This presented the ideal opportunity to swap over to the Vee Tire Co Baldy. Another 32mm section, and an interesting comparator for the Panaracer.
Another plus, it compelled me to root through the spare tube mountain, identifying those which can re-join the wedge pack and those for recycling.