The Big Squeeze

Well, if you weren’t hunting down a quick discourse on compression/less housings and their significance in bicycle control cables then chances are you’re a first year economics undergraduate seeking some inspiration or possibly salacious carnal misinformation. Let’s be clear, I have nothing whatsoever against higher education or indeed the seemingly unlimited powers of the Internet, which has revolutionised the way in which we communicate, research and approach life. However, before I examine a bevy of beautiful blinkeys (not to mention more potent see-by systems) in greater detail these Jagwire Hyper brake cables induced a sudden, slightly surreal flashback to 1993. Low compression improves modulation and feel by a good notch or two. However, brakes require some degree of compression at the cable for proper function. This is not the case with derailleurs, so you can appreciate the dangers of mixing and matching them. Recovered from his strange delusion that stripping Cro-moly framesets of paint would save weight without detrimental effect upon corrosion resistance-especially in a cross-country mountain biking context, a friendly acquaintance at Polytechnic justly decided wholesale cable replenishment was in order due to weathered, kinked housings and frayed ends having a pronounced and unwelcome effect upon braking and shifting. With that all too precious grant cheque a couple of weeks over yonder, imagine his excitement having acquired several metres of outers and a bundle of inner wires…gratis.

Owning a decent set of wire snips, it wasn’t long before he beat a path to my front door asking me to cut inners and outers at strategic points. Nothing particularly significant there, nor the intermittent discussion around component choices, build projects and other incidental gossip common to those afternoons. Job done and cud chewed he shot off home to perform the operation, only to discover a distinct lack of feel from the lever upon engaging the brakes at a busy junction…
As the clocks chime the onset of winter, it is timely that I should receive a bountiful supply of lights for testing. Rest assured, I didn’t hit the lanes all guns blazing, ensemble on full beam (Although one poor soul thought he was entering the Twilight zone... Just breathe into this bag for me sir...) These here Genetic road bars boast lights for most tastes and purposes. Suffice to say I’ve been suitably impressed relative to their design brief, from cutesy Knog Boomer rechargeables with their 50 lumen outputs to the super-commuter types from Cat-Eye and Lezyne belting out a whopping 200 and 450 respectively in exchange for £100 and a full USB fuel-up.
Time was when this sort of technology commanded several hundred pounds and required hefty bottle/frame mounted battery packs. Run times between charges are middling, although three to five or so hours is quite feasible if you were prepared to toggle to a lower setting (My preference, at least with the Lezyne would be to procure a second, fully charged battery in my jersey pocket and swap over for extended playtimes). With great power comes great responsibility…don’t mount either of these to helmets-on their highest settings at least since you will blind oncoming drivers. Some might, in your minds-eye deserve this sort of rebuke courtesy of a pronounced inability to dip beams or otherwise display anything resembling road-craft. This latter construct isn’t concerned with passing the basic test(s) for the vehicles you operate but the ability to use them with care, skill and consideration for others.
I have seen too many drunk, incompetent, careless drivers who kill with seemingly casual indifference go about their lives without prosecution or consequence. Now, I understand the legal rationale and concepts of public interest but it seems to me that a driver who ploughs into a cyclist, phones a friend to come and collect her, leaving the rider to die in agony and without reporting the accident to the police was treated with phenomenal leniency on the grounds she was pregnant. I accept the judges’ reasoning that the unborn child was an innocent in all this and therefore, didn’t deserve to be born into a prison environment but still feel such casual indifference needs to be tackled on a collective level and with very stiff penalties for those who treat others with such blatant contempt. Sadly, if government plans to make the MOT inspection bi annual reach fruition, the death rate is likely to rise quite dramatically when un-roadworthy vehicles and drivers come into the equation…
Polaris has introduced a hi-viz collection dubbed RBS (Really Bright Stuff) to their range of high quality attire. I’ve been playing with this incarnation of their classic Hoolie glove and am suitably impressed. Not by the retina ruinous road-worker yellow and black livery so much, although this is a godsend on really gloomy November days but because of superior gel padding designed to protect the vulnerable Ulnar nerve from tingling and more serious carpel tunnel injury.

Deceptively flat, the gel offers commendable comfort over long distances and variable terrain, while the wind and water resistant polyester/nylon shell offers excellent protection from the elements without feeling bulky or remote at the controls. That said, dexterity’s not quite up to addressing punctures or similar roadside mechanicals and some suggested Scotchlite detailing should extend along the finger tips but frankly, in practice this has been a moot point with my hand signals perfectly visible to the majority of traffic.

Snow Joke!

Snow is big news here in the UK, although to be fair, the last few winters have been quite dramatic as a result. The much promised white-out finally hit this corner of the South East on Monday night/ early hours of Tuesday morning. Frustrated by a lack of creativity and working on the basis conditions would be fine so long I took it gently; Univega and I popped out to test some kit and chase the blues away. Once we'd negotiated the lanes, main roads seemed relatively clear so I increased the tempo to 14mph monitoring every tyre rotation for sheet ice and anything else that might result in an intimate encounter with Terra firma. Deserted backwaters are always a bad bet and quickly present a false sense of security. Two and a quarter miles into our twelve mile saunter, Mother Nature reminded me of her unyielding superiority. Negotiating a slippery section, I un-clipped my left foot and was paddling through when the otherwise exemplary Schwalbe lost traction- attempts to counteract the inevitable proved futile. Miraculously, I caught the bike's fall so, completely unscathed, we continued and ultimately finished the excursion as planned. Ironic then that these Continental Nordic Spike 120 should arrive the next day. As the name suggests, these are an extreme conditions tyre designed to cope with ice, snow, sleet and slush. Available in 700c, their 42mm profiles can present compatibility hassles with more traditional 'cross, touring and hybrids while 900g a piece might seem unpalatable to some but with notable exception, they're the safest tyres for treacherous roads and indeed trails. Bearing striking resemblance to the archetypal cross country mountain bike tyre, the open tread ploughs through the snow while 120 steel studs provide the traction, biting deep into the ice beneath. Phenomenal braking and cornering prowess along with ultra dependable three-ply casings inspire confidence and speeds of around fifteen mph, although sharp acceleration-say entering a roundabout can induce momentary losses of grip. Given the level of performance, £80 for a pair is money well spent-especially those of us employed on a "Don't work, don't eat" contract basis who can ill afford time off and a crash damaged steed into the bargain. Being critical, reflective sidewalls would've been a nice touch and I'd love a 26 inch (MTB) version!
Markedly cheaper performance upgrades are these pro series cantilever pads from Jagwire that offer plenty of smiles per mile at £10 for a complete set. To my surprise, they're compatible with all rim types from polished alloy to ceramic and carbon exotica, toeing-In's a cinch and (decent cables allowing) will transform the modulation and feel of older designs (e.g. mid nineties Shimano M system) employing 7mm threaded stubs. Better still, the secret formula all-conditions compounds are cartridges so simply slip out of their shoes with the help of a two millimetre Allen key should you fancy something less generic. Whether a Christmas treat for the working bike or a stocking filler "thank you" to someone special, it's hard to see where you'd go wrong.

Reasoning a top mounted axillary lever might facilitate greater control, enhancing our centre of gravity when scrubbing off the speed in inclement conditions, I offered this rather befitting Specialized model to the bars. Ball burnished satin, black, 31.8 diameter complete with hinged clamp it was the perfect, unobtrusive cockpit compliment... However, said lever scampered back to the spares drawer once it became apparent the WTB are only over size at the bulge diameter.Inviting the tubby tourer into the kitchen for a well-earned polish presented the obvious opportunity to fit this very fetching pink wrap. (Being a test sample, you takes pot luck) but the macho boys will be relieved to hear there's a choice of several primary colours too. Teasing aside, it's remarkably generous and very compliant, winding elegantly around the most extreme drops- perfect for those Midge/ Major Taylor's. Often, less expensive wraps are let down by poor adhesives but these sit just where they're put yet remain tolerant of surreptitious unravelling. First impressions seem favourable but long, steady winter miles are key-especially when it comes to such a pale hue. Now, I'm looking for a nail varnish to match the frame's metallic red... there's this small but infuriating nick along the top tube......