Been a little “out of sorts” for
a while now. There’s a lot to be grateful for and plenty of reasons to smile.
Safe, secure home for me and the bikes, lots of lovely test kit to research,
review and enjoy but the global and more localised instability can sometimes
prove exhausting. Especially if you’re a deep thinker with a predisposition
toward catastrophising. Some carefully considered introspection is good
for us-planning a course of action, ways forward etc. Sitting in a dark corner
wringing our hands solves nothing.
Being Generation X, I am very
grateful for the childhood and teenage years we had. Not least the freedom to
explore and navigate the world, people and situations in real time. We made our
own entertainment and for the most part, learned patience, and conflict
resolution of sorts. Childhood without screens wasn't strictly true. Many an
afternoon was spent in front of the hypnotic glow of a VDU, practising the
basics of programming and playing the latest video game releases of that era.
Not forgetting television, and
video.... The video nasty moral panic, championed by Mary Whitehouse and the
Conservative government prompting the video recordings bill in 1983. One
requiring all video recordings were certified in the same fashion as cinema and
indeed, banned in many cases with widespread use of fines and
prosecution.
It's easy for people to punch
down at younger generations, whether it be parenting or wider behaviours.
Blaming children and parents for a screen addiction, anxiety and depression
conveniently swerves around some inconvenient truths. These things are
incredibly layered and complex. However, factors such as playing fields and
other public spaces sold to developers, the very gradual collapse of
communities and looser social cohesion are highly influential, at least here in
the UK.
Governments are supposedly there
to govern in the best interests of their citizens and protect the most
vulnerable, but I've witnessed les e faire indifference for the most
part-regardless of which administration assumes power. By the same token, a
society's citizens must also shape change. The post war explosion in public
services, housebuilding and other infrastructure projects was not attributable
to a benevolent political class.
Given the disruption to global
supply chains resultant from the Strait of Hormuz, shortages are inevitable. At
some point, governments will be forced to step in with some form of rationing.
The question in my mind being will they intervene before the point of crisis or
leave it until they have no option?
I often reach solutions to a
wealth of things during a ride, whether tweaking a component-a recalcitrant
rear mech, spongy brake, bothersome bracket, or a deeper, personal dilemma.
That said its crucial to be mindful of our emotional state and remain
focused on the roads, trails, and potential hazards.
Obviously, the same goes when operating any other vehicle. That out of the way and having reached some firm conclusions regarding the Genetic Hi-Grip Handlebar Tape Genetic Hi-Grip Handlebar Tape | cycling-not-racing, I’m racking up some proper mixed terrain miles with Denise and the Continental Terra Trail.
Though typical of most gravel
tyres when popped on the scales, their low rolling resistance, snappy, engaging
persona gives them an edge over those with a knobbly profile when tackling
metalled roads, dry to moist dirt roads and similar hardpack.
No cuts, or punctures to date and
it’s worth noting I’m running ours with tubes-bog standard butyl and TPU to be
precise. Tubeless has some definite advantages, most notably, the ability to
run lower pressures for additional grip but I’ve found things decidedly gooey
should you catch an aggressive thorn. Or your cat take exception to a certain
brand of tyre…
Strange as that may sound, my
dearly departed farm cat had a definite dislike of Panaracer. He’d induced
a few flats by gnawing and clawing the sidewalls. Curiously this wasn’t the
case with Schwalbe, Kenda, Continental and indeed, V-Tire Co. Seemed quite fond
of the V-Tire Co Zilent TEST &
REVIEW VEE TIRE CO ZILENT TYRES and Zilent II TESTED:
VEE TIRE CO ZILENT MARK 2 TYRES (as was I).
Having packed the WP823 with
Peaty’s Speed Grease PEATY'S SPEED
GREASE | cycling-not-racing and whipping them aboard Muffin’s cranks, I
headed out for a few 20-mile loops. I’m pleased to report the thinner viscosity
grease was trafficked deep within the pedal’s inner sanctum, eliminating the
squeak and any roughness.
This prompted me to port some Shimano XT over to Denise. I love the Shimano PD ES 600 SPD Shimano PD ES 600 SPD Pedal | cycling-not-racing aside from the soft finish but fancied a change. I’ve also switched the Roswheel Lightweight Tour Rack Roswheel Lightweight Tour Rack | cycling-not-racing for the M-Part Summit M Part Summit Rear Rack | cycling-not-racing which is slightly broader, so doesn’t cause the Zefal Shield G50 Mudguards Zefal Shield G50 Mudguards | cycling-not-racing to tickle the rear tyre so readily. Right, I'll leave it here with my long term review of the Muc-Off Waterproof socks, since May is proving a little changeable weather-wise Muc-Off Waterproof Socks | cycling-not-racing
