I’d been waiting ten days for
one, then, in alignment with Murphy’s law, two arrived-a day apart. Some of
you will be thinking hmm, couldn’t you just use a cassette lock-ring, after all
they tighten using the same tool? Yup; got curious and took that route, with one
from a 12tooth cassette but can confirm incompatibility.
No matter, a lick of Park PL1 grease,
nipped 40nms tight, wheels were swapped, and testing of the Halo/ShutterPrecision SL9
commenced.
Size was the SV9’s initial
draw. I was curious to see how it compared to the SV8. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/halo-rim-and-shutter-dynohub-disc-b
Some Audax and winter roadies were
impressed with the SV8’s output. Several commented they would want something
sleeker than this and other, more traditional dynohubs.
According to the Shutter
Precision blurb, the SL9 is an improvement on its predecessors, achieving
similar output and lower resistance in a more compact package.
A moot point with smaller
wheels, its been suggested there may be some loss of output on 700c builds,
depending on other factors, such as lamp output/quality. I’m yet to notice any
drop thus far but we’ll see what presents in the next 400 miles or so.
In other
respects, the wheel arrived true and very well tensioned, with no hint of
pinging, or similarly disconcerting sounds, associated with bedding-in.
Stark contrast to the Teenage
Dream’s Mavic Ma2/Campagnolo Athena wheelset, bought mail order, back in 1991.
Right from the first few pedal strokes, those stainless spokes were pinging n’
popping for the first five miles. I let them bed in for a week, or so, then
headed to my local wheel builder, for a quick tune up.
Admittedly, said machine
doesn’t do massive mileages, at least compared with my Univega and working
fixed. However, 27 years hence, they’re still serving me well enough, so
can’t’ve been too badly built!
Back to the SP, I will alternate
between the Trelock https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/trelock-ls960i-dynamo-front-light
and Exposure Revo (MK1) lamps, see how
the hub behaves over the coming month, 400 miles. With autumn’s silent,
incremental creep, I’m working through summer kit, treating the KA’s chassis
and underside with home brewed Waxoyl and contemplating the winter riding
wardrobe.
The working bikes chains are
presently dressed in this Weldtite TF2 advanced ceramic chain wax. Now, there
will be some of you, who will say wax lubes can be made for literally pennies,
at home using a mix of candle wax, Xylene and other solvents. True and I’ve
been very impressed by this backyard alchemy.
However, these are very
volatile and could very well result in a major, life changing explosion.
DISCLAIMER: ANY BACKYARD ALCHEMY IS PERFORMED ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
If price is your sole motivator,
buy five litres of basic 15w/40 motor oil and apply half a capful to your
chain(s) wipe away the excess fastidiously and clean contaminant from the side
plates, on a weekly basis. Cleanliness, low maintenance and indeed, low
friction are the main draws of wax lubes.
With the traditional/emulsion
types, contaminant became embedded and then flaked away, leaving a thin layer
of lubricant behind. Fine in dry, dusty conditions, they were easily dismissed
come the first hint of a shower.
More recent, sophisticated
formulas tend to run cleaner in the first instance and are becoming
increasingly durable. So far, I’ve done 250miles on the first helping, in
changeable, although primarily dry conditions.
I am expecting it to cruise
past the 400mile marker, without relenting. Cleanliness, is closer to Smoove
Universal Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/smoove-universal-chain-lube-summer-
https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tf2 rather than its TF2 counterpart. There is
some modest contaminant and a 10hour curing period won’t suit everyone, but on
the plus side, it seems more resilient.
I’m naturally intrigued as to
its longevity during precipitation and general seasonal dampness. Given forecasters
are promising an Indian Summer, it may well be in evidence several weeks down
the line.
