Bolts & More Boing

 For some reason, Ursula’s Cycles Berthoud Soulor Leather Saddle CYCLES BERTHOUD SOULOR LEATHER SADDLE | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) is disagreeing with me- shouldn't given the miles we’ve been doing over the past two years. However, I've never got along with Brooks iconic B17 either. Might be a short/pad incompatibility. Either way, I decided I’d switch in favour of this old-school Sell San Marco Concor Super Corsa Saddle. The Super Corsa was originally introduced in 1978 and arguably a more obvious choice for a retro road build. I’ve contemplated fitting it to the Teenage Dream 1991 ROAD BIKE REVAMP | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) on a few occasions but I’m strongly wedded to its Selle SMP Strike Plus.  

The Concor is surprisingly narrow too. 265 long and140mm (about 5.51 in) at the widest point, so we’ll see how we fare in the next few hundred miles. The hide’s colour is also a good fit with the Souma Leather bar tape. This also presented an ideal opportunity to re-grease the Kinekt 2.1KINEKT 2.1 SUSPENSION SEAT POST | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) cradle hardware.  Since we're talking contact points, here's my review of the Funkier Apiza Gents Elite Bib Shorts Funkier Apiza Gents Elite Bib Shorts | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) 

Given the heatwave, it was time to get some more miles in on the Holdsworth. The stem bolts I’d turned to as contingencies (having switched to the Star Fangled Nut and re-greased the Saturn Aheadset a few weeks back) were also extracted and replaced. The heads were completely chewed-I'd only snugged them to 5nm with a torque wrench and decent quality tool bit, which says something about their quality.  

Replacements seem fine, but then, they’re the same as fitted to the fixed gear winter/trainer’s Redshift Sports Suspension Stem.  Several pre-dawn rides confirm everything is bang on and I’m making the most of the dry spell, it’ll be autumn and then winter, soon enough.  

 

Maybe the heat was addling my thought processes, but I’d even toyed with the idea of switching the Holdsworth’s Torus Titanium Stem TORUS TITANIUM STEM (sevendaycyclist.com), for the Kinekt Suspension stem KINEKT SUSPENSION STEM | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com), but it's out of kilter with the bike’s build and purpose It also adds 150g or so to the build. Not massive and easily countered by switching to lighter inner tubes, possibly a lighter seat post. Arguably, other than experimenting, or possibly proving a point, there’s little to be gained and its time better spent elsewhere.  

After some deliberation, I switched the Kinekt to my fixed gear winter/trainer. Now, I have a soft spot for the Kinekt, having run it through December 2020. It’s very plush and refined, although I would still prefer a stiffer elastomer than those supplied. A moot point when in the cruising stance but aggressive, out of the saddle efforts-say when ascending (which is more common on the fixed), and I found it was a little too active.  

I’ll freely admit to being a fan of the old Girvin Flex stem. I had one of my (long gone) 1990 Kona Lava Dome (“Lotti” in case you wondered). Critics suggested the elastomer system was too whippy, but it curried favour with me. By the same token, suspension stems are considerably lighter and less mechanically complex than suspension forks.  

I’ve run hardtail XC mountain bikes for many years and was similarly fond of the Rock Shox Indy SL with air cartridges. These were a relatively expensive and unintended upgrade, having foolishly followed the “guidance” of someone claiming Castrol Red Rubber Grease was superior to Judy Butter and similar elastomer-specific products.  

Sure, it was cheaper but ruined the elastomers. I was racing at the time, so suspension forks were well worth the investment and added weight (especially since I was also riding plain gauge 7005 aluminium alloy frames between autumn 96 and autumn 99). Ok, so I’ve gone a little further along the suspension trajectory and memory lane than initially intended...    

 

Back on track, there are rumoured to be stems employing air shock technology, reckoned to be around the 300g mark but I haven’t seen any production models, at least on these shores. Anyhow, if anyone has an innovative design, they’d like reviewed, feel free to contact me directly. No sooner had I typed this last paragraph, a postal worker arrived, brandishing some lubes and degreasers from Green Oil. A welcome and unexpected surprise.  

 

Optimal...

The lockdown is showing obvious signs of recession, although outside of certain hours, the roads remain refreshingly silent. Another week, a further 150 miles drumming my shape into the Univega’s saddle, while enjoying the more willing persona and supple ride quality, provided by those aptly named Continental Speed Reflex tyres.  

I’d also set aside some time to dial in the shifting (which wasn’t quite so precise at the lower half the cassette), then craft some custom paint protection using the Zefal Frame Armor. Rubberised cable buffers have greatly reduced the dreaded cable rub and my fleet has very thick, powder-coated finishes.

  

However, grit and oily contaminant can get lodged between the frame and soft polymer cuff, gnawing away at the lacquer and colour coats, albeit at a comparatively pedestrian rate.  

Pre-cut sticker sets have been around for donkeys and the more expensive versions are not only thick but employ strong adhesives. The sort highly resistant to solvents, oils, UV light and frequent washing. High-quality workshop type rolls are the most cost-effective options. They also permit custom shapes. The trade-off being achieving this demands a methodical, unhurried approach.  

Whether you’re applying these, or pre-cut types, give the frameset a sudsy bucket wash, then designated areas a quick rub with an alcohol-based wipe. This will remove anything dirty oily/waxy that would otherwise impair adhesion. 

I’ve also applied a strip to the underside of my fixed gear winter/trainer’s downtube since opportunity presented. Placing a strip here is a good move, even on a mountain bike using a crud catcher style guard, since the zip ties securing them can slip/move gnawing into the frame finish, over time. Especially when wet, gritty mud’s thrown into the equation 

Staying with the fixed, I’ve switched to the 32mm Kenda Kwick Journey KS Plus-wholesale. Much roomier around the rear triangle (Not that 35mm was problematic, per se) and true to their moniker, noticeably livelier, than the otherwise likable and very dependable VEE Tire Co Zilent https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/vee-tire-co-zilent-mark-2-tyres.  

This also brings the gearing down a fraction, to 75.6 inches, which is also more manageable in less fluid traffic and when climbing.  The 5mm thick puncture repelling strip doesn’t run bead to bead, which hasn’t proved problematic thus far and may also account for the friskier persona.  

However, we’ve passed hedge clipping season and wet, slimy winter roads might reveal some vulnerabilities.      Those looking for a budget digital pressure gauge might find this Lifeline Digital Pressure gauge fits the bill https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/lifeline-digital-pressure-gauge 

32mm was once the preserve of traditional touring and off duty ‘cross bikes but allowing for the trend towards bigger sections (I’m more inclined toward a 700x38c for road-biased touring)  it still strikes a good balance between speed and comfort, especially given the UK’s patchwork infrastructure. Talking of which, I’ve just received this latest incarnation of the Cane Creek Thudbuster.  

Specifically, the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST G4. The latter denoting 4th generation. The Thudbuster ST https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cane-creek-thudbuster-suspensuin-se had a phenomenally long run and still has a lot of merit, especially on older, higher-end cross country mountain bikes. Not least since it's available in more sizes, with shims to bridge the gaps.  

This time around, it's only available in 27.2 or 30.9 and 31.6mm. (There are also two lengths-345mm for 27.2 and 375mm for 30.9 and 31.6mm). However, they’ve updated the linkage design. Elastomers are more easily swapped around, and it theoretically caters for riders up to 350lb.  

I say theoretically since the saddle clamp is a single bolt affair. A moot pint for a 70 old kilo “whippet” but experience suggests riders teetering around the 110-kilo mark might notice some saddle-rail creep. In terms of travel, the G4 has 50mm. 17mm more than the long-serving ST and 15mm more than the Redshift Shock stop Suspension post, presently pride of place on my Holdsworth. I’ve had to forgo the Carradice Carradry SQR bag https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/carradice-carradry 

But thankfully, this Altura Aero Post Pack was doing something close to nothing and capacity aside, the powder-coated aluminium alloy frame keeps it away from the post, thus solving potential compatibility hassles. Of course, you could always go the rider mounted route, for commuting and light trail duties. Oxford Aqua Evo 12 Litre Backpack is a lightweight and genuinely waterproof option. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/oxford-aqua-evo-12-litre-backpack